Lower Hamble River, Warsash

Mandarin Ducks Aix galericulata

 Wednesday 1 April

Joined by my birding friend, Richard Osman for a mid-afternoon walk up the Hamble River to the conservation area followed by a trip into the nearby woods and meadows before returning home.  The idea was to see if we could find the visiting American Golden Plover which has been present for the past three days.  Midway on the outward walk we managed a brief sighting as the bird changed positions at the water's edge beyond the mudflat formed by the rapidly receding tide.  But first we had many Black-headed and a pair of Great Black-backed Gulls along with the first Little Egret.  Many more Herring Gulls present today but only a handful of Redshank working the edges.

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus

However, we finally recorded 40 Black-tailed Godwits with the great majority already in their summer finery along with a single juvenile.  Made it especially difficult when we then found a young Bar-tailed Godwit mixing with its cousins but able to easily see the elongated supercillium.   We also recoded three Oystercatchers.

Juvenile Bar-tailed Godwit, Limosa lapponica

The now empty meadow side of the path held a trio of Shelduck and at the back, in the neighbouring gardens, a total of four Canada Geese.  Also in the garden both a Magpie with a pair of both Carrion Crow and Jackdaw passing by.  Once at the conservation area a number of both Herring and Black-headed Gulls along with a quartet of Wigeon, the latter yet to start their migration north to join he rest of the previous flock.

Wigeon Anas penelope (Male above, female below)

Making the short detour to take in the local wooded park, we soon found Robin, Blackbird, Wren and Dunnock as we moved higher to take a rest on the provided bench and check the nearby trees we added many Chiffchaff, Blackbirds and a Great Tit before a Nuthatch came to join us and Richard spotted the Great Spotted Woodpecker that landed atop a nearby large tree for just a few moments.

Back to the riverside path and at the conservation area a Cormorant flew north over the inlet and we found a pair of sleeping Mandarin Ducks at the back left.  No sooner had we moved off than our first Curlew off to the left.

Mandarin Ducks Aix galericulata

Midway back we found a Heron at the water's edge and then, near where we had seen the American Golden Plover on the outward journey, a pair of birders who were studying the area and also seen the bird in the company of a couple of Grey Plover.  Nearby a trio of Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Almost back and a Magpie in the trees before being welcomed home by our breeding Blue Tits.

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Wigeon, Mandarin Duck, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Oystercatcher, American Golden Plover, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Greenfinch.

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