Fishlake Meadow and Testwood Lakes

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

 Friday 24 April

A beautiful, warm, sunny day for the morning visit to Fishlake Meadows, Romsey with friends Richard Osman and Adrian Enzner before then continuing on to relatively nearby Testwood Lakes on the other side of the M27. No sooner out of the car than our first Magpie having already recorded a Collared Dove as we approached the site.  Immediately to the fence beyond the canal path entrance to check the bushes but nothing seen other than Woodpigeons.  However, in this opening area many Chiffchaff and  Robin but, also, looking up into the sky Adria noted the passing Mediterranean Gull whilst I manage to recognise the passing Hobby at a great height.  But we all saw the pair of Common Swifts.

Record shot of Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti

Continuing on down the canal path we were constantly in the presence of the many Cetti's Warblers and Chiffchaffs along with the occasional Wren, Dunnock and Blackbird. Soon we had also added both Whitethroat and a singe Garden Warbler.  A handful of Long-tailed Tits were also foraging on our left.

Whitethroat Sylvia communis

Away over the meadow on the water were a number of Mute Swans and a regular passage of Greylag Geese as they moved around the site.  then a quartet of Egyptian Geese flew away and I managed to pick up a distant Common Tern.  Whilst in the area six Gadwall flew over.  Continuing on with long stops at the two viewing points we found Blackcaps and, eventually, a number of Sedge Warblers but no clear views re photographing of the latter. However, the soaring Marsh Harrier was a welcome sight.

Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus

Reaching the path down to the entrance to the hide walk we came across first  a foraging Blue Tit then a Stonechat. The small pool jut inside the entrance gate was devoid of bird life but plenty of singing Sedge Warblers in the nearby vegetation.  Then it was back to the car park to start our drive across to the Testwood Lakes but first a stop, once back on the main road, to check the viewpoint overlooking the main water.  here we found many Mute swans and a mall number of Greylag Geese along with seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls.  Also on the water a small number of Tufted Duck and Coot along with a single Great Crested Grebe and a pair of Pochard.  Not many resting Cormorant but we did have a passing Heron and Richard and Adrian saw the Kingfisher flash past the hedge immediately in front of them.

Stonechat Saxicola torquatus

Arriving at Testwood Lakes at 12.30 first time for our picnic lunch before walking across the field in front of the Visitors Centre to take the path to the right and visit the screens overlooking the Scrape. Lots of Canada Geese and Lapwing to be seen along with a Heron and Black-headed Gulls. A Barn Swallow flew past and to our left we found a Pied Wagtail.  of the distant right a Great White Egret an then a pair of Mute Swans to our extreme right. Just before leaving one of the other birders found the male Wheatear on the gravel nesting area in front of us but no decent photograph to record the bird.

Canada Geese Branta canadensis with Lapwing (centre middle) and blurred image of Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe immediately to the right

Time to make our way back along the path and then continue on through the wood to the main hide overlooking the water and just visited Scrape now below us to the right. First a Blackbird then Chiffchaff and Blue Tits plus a Jay seen by three three of us to add to the individual that was was resting on the entrance gate back towards the Visitors Centre and a few Blackcap.

Common Tern Sterna hirundo 

Once ensconced upstairs in the hide a good view of the water in front and the artificial Sand Martin bank to our right which was being regularly visited by the now-arrived Sand Martins. Lots of Lapwing and both Canada and Greylag Geese to be seen plus a pair of Moorhen.  On the grass in front of us a resting Egyptian Goose and a Common Tern atop a fence pole in the water.  

Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegytptiaca

The area between the two waters held a lone Redshank and on the pol to our left we found a quartet of Gadwall plus four more Common Tern. A second Great White Egret put in an appearance as it flew across the pool to our left.  Having seen the lone Great Crested Grebe we finally, having noted the Magpie at the far side of the water, also saw our first Woodpigeon in the area.  Time to set off home having recorded almost fifty species during the morning.

Record shot of  Sedge warbler Acrocephalus schoenobanus

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Great White Egret, Heron, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Hobby, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Redshank, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Swift, Kingfisher, Sand Martin,  Barn Swallow, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Wheatear, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Jay, Magpie, Carrion Crow. 

Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus

Whitethroat Sylvia communis

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.