Farlington Marsh and Hayling Island

Female Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus

Sunday 4 October 

Very misty as I set off but arriving at Farlington Marshes at 9am the mist had cleared giving a very warm and sunny start to the day.  Straight to the old barn and the reedbed where I quickly found Robin and many Chiffchaff before enjoying the sight of both male and female Bearded Tits.   A female Reed Bunting arrived behind me and then the lagoon presented a half-dozen Shoveler plus a number of mallards and Canada Geese plus Moorhens and a few Coot.  In the field next to the reedbed  six Cattle Egrets joined the beast and present good, but distant, views.

Male Bearded Tits Panurus biarmicus

Moving on and walking the length of the river to the sea wall I observed the very many Teal plus Mallards, Gadwall, Wigeon and Pintails.  Other than a few Lapwing no waders in site but more Moorhens and Coots along with both both Black-headed (mainly) and Herring Gulls.  On the grassy path ahead of me the second cock Pheasant seen this morning.  Lots of Robins and Cetti's Warblers calling as I walked along plus a few Woodpigeon and Carrion Crows.  A pair of Linnets, a Dunnock and more Magpies at the seat and a Grey Heron was hiding in a woody corner.

Cock Pheasant Phasianus colchicus

Once on the sea wall chance to scope the extensive mud flats which provided many Black-headed and a number of Herring Gulls.  Also, well away, at least eighty Redshank in a feeding group and three Curlews.  A couple of Cormorant were resting in one of the empty channels.  Slightly nearer to me a single Bar-tailed Godwit and a couple of Little Egrets.

Cattle Egrets Bubulcus ibis

On the lake from the observation area a number of both Shelduck and Lapwing.  However, in the far left bay a lone Little Stint feeding next to ne of the Shelduck. More Coots and Teal nearer to the me.  A large flock of Starling was moving around the distant meadow near many Canada Geese.  Away to the right of me on the fence a resting female Kestrel and at least six feeding Meadow Pipits on the nearby ground.  Back to the car and time to mov on to Hayling Island but as I reached end of the narrow lane next to the exit, I looked to my left, stopped, and admired the tightly packed two hundred Black-tailed Godwits.

Distant Shelduck Tadorna tadorna with Little Stint Calidris minuta to its left

I found the last space in the full car park upon arriving at Hayling Island just after 11 o'clock but found very few birds.  Maybe three Black-headed Gulls along with single Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit and Little Egret in the empty, muddy bay then off to the Billy Track to check both sea and oyster beds. A few gulls on the coast but very little else recorded and not a single Oystercatcher to be seen.  On the other hand I did find a single Grey Plover.

Reaching the main breeding lake the muddy expanse to the right held three Curlews and Grey Heron and a few Starlings had been seen moving around above the bushes.  Both Magpies and Woodpigeon noted and on the walk back along the main trail I came across a couple of House Sparrows.  Once back at the car park a Dunlin had arrived at the water's edge and as I made my way out of the car park a flcok of twenty-five Rock Doves (Feral Pigeons) flew across the road.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Shelduck, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Pheasant, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Heron, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Little Stint, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Bearded Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, Linnet, House Sparrow, Reed Bunting.

Female Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus

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