New Forest Birding

Sunday 25 October

Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia with a lone Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta (extreme left)

After the double storms that created so much stress and damage to the west and north, we escaped with just heavy rain and very strong winds. But today was mainly clear blue skies and warm when out of the strong breeze. Putting the clocks back an hour helped as I was up at the normal time, but now an hour earlier, so down at Normandy Lagoon on the Solent coast south of Lymington by 8 o'clock. My word it was difficult holding the scope steady never mind the camera when called upon. All seemed very quiet when I arrived at the lagoon apart from the distant 15 resting Spoonbill, which I later discovered also included a single Avocet.

Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia

Once on the outer sea wall with the sun behind me I soon found the large resting flocks of both Dunlin and Ringed Plover, not to mention all those that seemed to be in constant flight mode.

A few of the Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula

Just a fraction of the Dunlin Calidris alpina present

Checking the edges of the islands I also found a range of waders including Redshank and Greenshank plus Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Grey Plover and Turnstone. 

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola with 2 others and Dunlin

Having found a small group of Black-tailed, I was surprised to see 2 Bar-tailed Godwits resting in their company.

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

Ducks were mainly Teal with good numbers of Wigeon plus Pintail, Tufted Duck and Mallard. Both Little and Great Crested Grebe recorded along with Cormorant, 4 Little Egrets and a lone Grey Heron. Very few gulls present represented by a single Great Black-backed, Herring and couple of Black-headed until just before departing at the arrival of a Little Gull.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Smaller birds included handful of Linnets, Robin, Great Tit and a few Chaffinches. In total a list of 36 species.

Female Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs

Moving the three miles over to Pennington Marshes I found a number of both Magpies and Carrion Crows along with many Canada Geese in the paddock at then of the lane.  Then it was on down to the car park, noting a Great Tit on the way, and start the anti-clockwise triangle.  After all the rain the lagoons were now well flooded with plenty more Canada Geese and a small number of Brent Geese as I started out.  The wind had picked up so, at times, a little problematic actually walking in a straight line and the prospect of fun and games once exposed to the elements on the seawall! 

Group of Canada Geese Branta canadensis

A few Woodpigeon, a Cormorant and a small flock of Starlings then time to check the bird life on Fishtail Lagoon. A handful of Shelduck plus Shoveler and a small number of resting Wigeon.  On a small patch of care ground on the spit a few Ringed Plovers and a Lapwing plus a foraging Pied Wagtail.  nearby a few resting Redshanks.  On the opposite bank an immature Herring Gull and at the far end a small number of gulls including Black-headed, Herring and a single Great Black-backed Gull.

Resting Redshank Tringa totanus

Just a pair of Mallard on Butts Lagoon but more of a collection on Pennington Lagoon where I found many Wigeon and Teal along with a few Pintail.  On the seawall a couple of Pied Wagtail and once at the "pier" and turn inwards to the car park, fifteen Turnstone foraging on the small shingle beach.  Ahead of me in the main lagoon the only Little Egret seen at this site.

Male Pintail Anas acuta

Teal Anas crecca

The path inland immediately produced a Blackbird, Robin, quartet of Goldfinch and a single Linnet. And approaching the half-way mark a lone Lesser back-backed Gull flew over so producing the 28th species at the site.

Robin Erithacus rubecula

Then a slight diversion on the way home to call in at Eyeworth Pond but no Mandarin Duck in sight. However, I did finally find a couple of Moorhen along with Robin, Dunnock, Chaffinch and House Sparrow plus the 14 Mallards on the water. So ended the morning with a final total of 46 species.

Dunnock Prunella modularis

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Spoonbill, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Greenshank, Turnstone, Little Gull, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet.

Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba (centre) with Ringed Plovers

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula

Teal Anas crecca

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus

Oystercatchers with Dunlin Calidris alpina

Redshanks Tringa totanus

More Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula

Robin Erithacus rubecula

Female Pintail Anas acuta

Oystercatcher, Wigeon Anas penelope and a Turnstone Arenaria interpres (Ringed Plover at top)

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