Three days birding with Derek and Barbara Etherton

Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus

Monday 5 January

Very pleased to welcome Derek and Barbara Etherton from Spain who were able to spend three days with us in Warsash, which obviously meant time for some excellent birding.  Mid-afternoon Monday but still time for a short walk up towards the conservation area on the Hamble River as high tide approached -but bitterly cold and a very low setting sun.  Only 19 species recorded and no camera but able to confirm good numbers of both Brent Geese and Wigeon plus approaching a hundred in the Dunlin flock.

More Teal than usually seen (over 40) and in amongst the two score Black-tailed we also found a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits. Just a quartet of Curlew but 27 Shelduck and a small number of Redshank plus a lone Turnstone.

Tuesday 6 January

But today saw we three head out to the New Forest to visit the Keyworth and Pennington Marshes with a start of Normandy Lagoon.  But not straight away as we diverted our outward journey to make a stop in Holbury so that my friends could see the long-staying Great-tailed Grackle.  There the bird was upon arrival, sitting in the branch of a tree opposite its adopted home and even "singing" albeit drawing no attention from the nearby Carrion Crows and Starlings!  The Magpie was not interested, nor even the Dunnock and Robin.

Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus

Moving on to Lymington passing a perched Kestrel we arrived at Normandy Marsh by 9.40 and were greeted by a field full of Canada and Brent Geese.  Stopping at the gate and approaching the fence to check what else might be about we were in time to see the departure of both a Green Woodpecker and Song Thrush.  Almost next to us a single Barnacle Goose resting with the larger Canada Geese. In a clearing between the hundreds of geese a handful of Curlew and Black-tailed Godwits.

Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis

Continuing on down to the end of the lane to park the car and walk to Normandy Lagoon a continuous supply of Robins along with the occasional Chaffinch, Great and Blue Tits plus a Dunnock. And as we set off to the gate a male Bullfinch flew out of the tree in front of us.  As we approached the sea wall a handful of Meadow Pipits on the grass in front.

Pintails Anas acuta and Wigeon Anas penelope

Once on the sea wall, still bright and sunny albeit the temperature still below zero, the spectacle of the lagoon almost covered with ice and very little open water upon which rested the gathered mixed duck flock.  probably manly Wigeon but also many Pintail plus Shelduck, Shoveler, Teal and Mallard. Not too many resting Black-headed Gulls and just a couple of Cormorants. Four Little Egrets also seen.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

In the canal between the sea wall and the lagoon a single Avocet and both Spotted Redshank and Common Redshank along with a quartet of Greenshank. A Turnstone flew across the beach in front of us and most of the many Lapwing seemed to be well spread out across the site.

Spotted Redshank (centre) with Common Redshank Tringa totanus (above)

Waling along the front sea wall we could see the both the Dunlin flock and a small number of Ringed Plover. A Kingfisher flew up and down the canal on a couple of occasions.  Further out in the lagoon a Great Crested Grebe and a handful more of Avocet.

Dunlin Caladris alpina

Looking into the bay in front of Oxey Lake another four Great Crested Grebe and then time to check the off-shore islands as the tide made its gradual way in.  Not only a few Dunlin but a good-sized flock of Knot. Out on the Solent proper a quartet of Eider Duck and then on checking the Herring Gull a Marsh Harrier put in an appearance.  Meanwhile, Derek was focusing on a Herring Gull when a White-tailed Eagle came in, picked up a fish and headed slowly away to our left watched by all three of us and also revealing three Common Gulls.  On the inner side of the island a resting flock of 22 Spoonbill.  More Bar-tailed Godwits were recorded and then the sight of the 44 resting Avocet.

Time to head back to the car via Acre Pond where we noted a pair of Egyptian Geese plus a pair of Mute Swans and four House Sparrows.  Once back on the lane we found a trio of Redwing feeding in the nearby trees.

Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca

The short drive brought us to Lower Pennington Lane and Pennington Marsh where we found an Egyptian Goose in the first field along with Lapwing and Magpies. The field behind us held a good number of both Canada and Brent Geese with a couple of friendly Robins to keep us company. A look at the fresh water lake produced scores of Canada Geese and Coot along with a few Wigeon.  Checking the Canada Geese we found both a full Bar-headed Goose and a Canada/Bar-headed hybrid.

Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta

Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Dunnocks on the grass and a trio of Blackbirds as we made our way down to Fishtail Lagoon but very few birds on show, mainly Shelduck, Mallard and Shoveler recorded along with a couple of Greylag Geese.  Tufted Duck on the open water and along the Sea Wall we found both a Turnstone and Water Pipit and on Pennington lagoon more Shoveler and Pintails.  At the back of the water we noted the passing Marsh Harrier along with a lone Pied Wagtail on the ice itself.

Wigeon Anas penelope and Pintails Anas acuta

A Heron as we turned inland and back to the car and in the tree behind the car a Song Thrush along with another on the hedge to the left.  A quick look in the caravan field behind the lane actually revealed a Snipe which seemed to have made a three-minute stop before flying back over the hedge towards the fresh water lake.  A great day which eventually produced 65 species.

Heron Ardea cinerea

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Bar-headed Goose, Barnacle Goose, Canada Goose, Bret Goose, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Eider duck, Pheasant, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Spoonbill, White-tailed Eagle, Kestrel, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Knot, Dunlin, Snipe, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Spotted Redshank, Common Redshank, Greenshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Redwing, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Great-tailed Grackle.

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

Greenshank Tringa nebularia

Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

Stonechat Saxicola torquatus

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