Warsash and Solent Shore

Wednesday 28 January

A beautiful, sunny morning with next to no breeze and warming up as the morning progressed.  Time to tale along the shore from Warsash to the Meandering Pool off the Solent shore before returning three hour later having recorded 37 species including three for the year.  What really stood out was the number of Brent Geese, slightly lower than of late and the much reduced Wigeon flock in the Spit at the mouth of the Hamble River.

Brent Geese Branta bernicla

No sooner past the harbour than the first Brent Geese along with Oystercatchers, Turnstone and the occasional Redshank.  Then came the first massed flock of Dunlin, hundreds of them, as the tide made its way out.  A couple of Herring and a single Great Black-backed as well as the many Black-headed Gulls.  Approaching the navigation pier a Woodpigeon flew over and a singe Meadow Pipit on the path in front.  Out on the water a couple of Shelduck as two Mallards flew away and a lone Little Egret foraging under the pier.

Hundreds of Dunlin Calidris alpina

Once past the pier and looking out over the now well exposed mud flats many more Brent Geese and Oystercatchers plus another large flock of hundreds of Dunlin.  However, this time there must have been a score of more Knot feeding/resting with the Dunlin.  Best of all there was a single Barnacle Goose in with a group up of Brent Geese near the mouth of the Spit.  Also present a singe Bar-tailed Godwit and out on the main water a pair of Mute Swans.  The first Carrion Crows of the morning along with a handful of Cormorant were seen on and over the Spit.

Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis with the Brents

Once at the Spit and looking back towards the Hamble River I found a pair of Pintail in with the Brent Geese and in front of me on the mud two score of more Ringed Plovers.  Even a Little Grebe put in an appearance.

Male Pintail Anas acuta

On down towards the Scrape and Blackbird, Robin and Great Tit were recorded as I walked through the small spinney.  Once at the Scrape itself very little bird life but with the two resting a Shelduck a male Goosander taking up the centre spot on the only island due to the excessive recent rain.  At the far end, on the pontoon, another Shelduck along with a couple of Black-headed but also a single Mediterranean Gull.

Male Goosander Mergus merganser between two Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

Carrying on down past the gorse area to the Meandering Pool I noted five Skylarks singing and hovering on the grassy patch and upon arriving found a single Little Egret and five Snipe.

Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Time for the return walk and in the gorse area came across a pair of Linnet and more (or the same) Skylarks. A Moorhen in the canal alongside the Scrape and on the island the Goosander had finally lifted his head for a few seconds to prove who he was!

Linnet Carduelis cannabina

Back in the Scrape a couple of Common Gulls in with the Black-headed and a single Grey Plover walking the edges.  Near the Brent Geese a half-dozen Teal on the water.  Finally, in the trees alongside Strawberry Field both Blue and Great Tits to complete the morning's observations.

Common (Mew) Gull Larus canus

Skylark Alauda arvensis

Birds seen:

Barnacle Goose, Brent Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Wigeon, Mallard, Teal, Pintail, Goosander, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Knot, Dunlin, Snipe, Bar-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Turnstone, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Skylark, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Linnet.

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola

Knot Calidris canutus

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis (below)

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Lots of Dunlin Calidris alpina with a few added Knot Calidris canutus

For the latest news follow the Axarquia Birds and Wildlife Facebook page for more photos and comments and the opportunity to share with the wider birding world.