Lower Hamble River, Warsash

Sunday 24 July

A pleasant day for a walk up the lower Hamble River, Warsash to the conservation area and back as the water reached steadily towards high tide with the only draw back being the strong breeze which had me holding on to my hat at times.  With virtually no exposed feeding area until half-way up the path the only birds to be seen were Black-headed Gulls of varying age and moult ( see the respective head shots).  But as soon as I approached the remaining now grassy islands I was able to pock out a pair of Great Black-backed Gulls and the first Oystercatchers of the morning.  On the inland side of the path a couple of immature Herring Gull with an adult on the river itself.

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus in varying head moult

Looking at the resting Black-headed Gulls I noticed the dark shape which soon proved to be  sleeping Black-tailed Godwit.  However, upon enlarging the photograph not only did I discover that there was a second individual to the left but also in the far background a passing Ringed Plover.

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa with Black-headed Gulls L.ridibundus but note the Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula at the back

Approaching the conservation area I picked up a couple of Herons and a trio of Little Egret before noting the resting group of Black-tailed Godwits with the Black-headed Gulls.  But on the adjacent inland water it was a small party of Redshank that were resting with the Little Egrets.

Six resting Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa

Resting Redshank Tringa totanus with Little Egrets E.garzetta and a Heron Ardea cinerea

Making my way back to the start of the walk and checking the inland edges I soon found a Blackbird, pair of Magpies and a handful of Wood Pigeon.  A single Curlew was feeding on a still exposed mud patch and on the sea side a pair of Carrion Crows were busy foraging amongst the seaweed.

Curlew Numenius arquata

Finally, right at the end of the walk a second Lapwing and another Little Egret then, before leaving the shore, a Wood Pigeon had come to explore the water's edge for food so a closer rather  than distant record shot.   A final total of 15 species but signs that both Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit numbers are picking up even if, as yet, no sign of any Wigeon or teal, nevermind Brent Geese and those awaited waders.

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus (top) with Little Egret Egretta garzetta and juvenile Black-headed Gull L.ridibundus

Birds seen:

Little Egret, Heron, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Blackbird, Magpie, Carrion Crow.

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus

Immature Herring Gull Larus argentatus

Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus

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Hook with Warsash Nature Reserve

Thursday 21 July

Remaining cooler with a very light breeze and low tide set for 11 am I decided to walk along Warsash shore and on down to the Meandering Pool just beyond the beach on Southampton Water.  In the event, I carried as far as the start of Solent bay then turned inland towards Workmans Lane, round the horse fields, back along Newtown Road as far as the School of navigation before taking the narrow path down to the shore to complete the final 500 metres along the front. a final total of 8.4km in just under three hours.  And the end result?  26 species plus a "mystery bird" which I am still trying to identify but first distant sighting suggested either Tree Pipit or female Pied Flycatcher (latter seeming unlikely) but the distant record shot taken seconds later showing moulting head and shoulders leaves me somewhat confused.

Carrion Crow Corvus corone

Approaching the path alongside Strawberry Fields and looking at the exposed mud to my right a nearby Carrion Crow and a handful of Black-headed Gulls whilst a trio of Starling flew across the path inland. Almost immediately the first four of a total of 12 Magpies seen during the morning then five Pied Wagtails working the grass on the field.

Distant Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus

Herring Gull Larus argentatus

Towards the School of Navigation pier more Black-headed Gulls plus the first Oystercatchers of the morning.  A couple of Wood Pigeon recorded and once past the pier far more gulls including a couple of distant Mediterranean Gulls. Two Little Egrets and then a few Herring Gulls whilst, resting on the bank of the spit, a lone Canada Goose.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

The walk along the beach to Hook Pond produced a male Mute Swan on the sea and once at the pond, in addition to more Black-headed Gulls, the female Mute Swan with her three well-grown cygnets.  Resting alongside a flock of 28 Black-tailed Godwits and on the water a couple of Little Grebe plus a score or more Mallards.

Resting Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa

Continuing on southwards just the single Little Egret on the Meandering Pool but approaching Solent Bay very many Black-headed and a number of Herring Gulls.  In addition, numerous Oystercatchers taking the morning's total to a approaching 40.  Lovely to see a Sky Lark fly overhead and land in the grass not so far away. 

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

Leaving the Meandering Pool I then came across the natural disaster.  Sometime in the past few days a  large fire must have taken hold of the gorse site between beach and meadow destroying at least 80%.  This is the guaranteed site for the local resident Dartford Warblers and their habitat almost completely destroyed so, maybe, no more sightings for a year or more.  Hopefully, this year's breeding cycle had been completed, so a good chance that the families may have escaped injury along with other wildlife.

Looking north with 80% habitat destroyed

Looking south to hope that the Dartford Warblers might return.

 As I set off to the turn inland, first a Collared Dove and then a Pheasant calling from the cover, in land, to my left.  Making my way up the path towards Workmans Lane I had a couple of Blackbirds plus more Wood Pigeons and then a Blue Tit on the feeder of the bungalow as I approached the entrance track to the horse fields.  A Song Thrush moved across the track in front of me and apart from the horses, there were numerous Carrion Crows to bring the day's tally up to approaching two score along with at least eight Rooks and a quintet of Jackdaw.

Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus resting in the shade 

At the far end approaching the top lane I stopped to check a small brown bird sitting atop a large bush arrangement; all that could be identified was an apparent even mid-brown colour with what looked like a white "spot" mid wing and a pointed beak.  Probably ruled out Garden Warbler and even suggested a female Pied Flycatcher but the bird moved before I could lift the camera.  However, it, or another bird, came to rest a couple of yards further on and this time it was the moulting head and shoulders that came into distant view with the bins. Given that I could not see the breast, my thoughts then turned to Tree Pipit but I shall have to wait and see if any suggests come back from my "help line."

Resting Heron Ardea cinerea on the Spit

And so the circuit was completed but a mile later on rather than continue along the main road into the village centre I opted to return to the shore for the final leg of my walk. Resting on the bank of the Spit and another nearby a Grey Heron and then on the path alongside the Strawberry Fields a foraging Dunnock on the path to complete the morning's sightings.

Pen Mute Swan Cygnus olor with her three cygnets

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Mallard, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Little Egret, Heron, Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Sky lark, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling.

So what might this "mystery bird" be?

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Lower Hamble River, Warsash

Wednesday 20 July

With a temperature drop to the low twenties, albeit an accompanying slight breeze, a late morning visit to the adjacent lower Hamble River, Warsash at low tide confirmed that all was quiet.  Both a Carrion Crow and a Wood Pigeon on the first mudflat next to the river as I arrived and soon looking at the first of almost an hundred Black-headed and a final total of about a score of Herring Gulls.

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus

Working my way upriver I soon added a quartet of Canada Geese and even a pair of Mute Swans on the water.  A total of five Curlews was seen along with  trio of Oystercatchers.

Curlew Numenius arquata

The first of two Pied Wagtails flew across the path and the a pair of resting Great Black-backed Gulls were noted on a grassy hummock towards the water's edge.

Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarelli

Approaching the conservation area I could see a pair of Heron in the tall grass across to me right and upon reaching my turning point another Heron along with a couple of Little Egret.  However, despite thinking no sign yet of the returning waders and ducks, I then found a flock of 18 resting Redshank.  Just as rewarding was the discovery of a trio of Lapwing when almost back to the path's end along with a Magpie working the car park greens.

Redshank Tringa totanus

Birds seen:

Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Little Egret, Heron, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Curlew, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Pied Wagtail, Magpie, Carrion Crow.

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

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Workmans Lane, Warsash

 Sunday 10 July

Another hot, sunny and calm day with clear blue skies. With full tide through most of the day from about 9, I decided to park up at the far, western end of the village (Warsash) and take a walk down Workmans Lane to the shore of Southampton Water.

No sooner parked the car at the top of the lane and a Robin on the rod immediately in front of me and determined that I, rather than it, should move first! Almost immediately as I moved off a Dunnock flew into the nearby shrubbery.  Continuing ion down the lane I found a resting Kestrel and then  the first of two Collared Doves.  Both Blackbirds and Wood Pigeons recorded on the narrow path leading down to the water and on the pond on the left at the end a single Moorhen.

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

With the tide full in there was no muddy shore but a trio of Black-headed Gulls were resting on the water as I watched  a single Herring Gull fly in from mid-water to land nearer the shore.  To my right the first Carrion Crow of the morning and just as I was about to turn inland and back to Workmans Lane a pair of Whitethroat in the brambles.  Presumably nesting nearby.  Working my way up the path to the lane a couple of Magpies on my left and above them a pair of juvenile Kestrels resting atop a large tree with a couple of bare branches protruding from the top.  Both Goldfinch and Pheasant were recorded at the top of the path.

Magpie Pica pica

So on to the horse fields, with a passing Great Tit above me, to take the boundary path in an anti-clockwise direction to the far end where another small lane would take me back to the car.  No shortage of feeding birds on these fields.  Just the odd Wood Pigeon but good numbers of Carrion Crow, Rook and Jackdaw with a few more Magpies thrown in for good measure.  At the far end of the field as I branched left a pair of Barn Swallows which, I presume , had made their summer home in the open fronted horse shelter.

Jackdaw Corvus monedula

Carrion Crow Corvus corone

Rook Corvus frugilegus

At the end of the path the house on the corner before entering the return lane held a Greenfinch atop a tall tree in the garden and a Common Swift flew over the roof. A final slight deviation on this last leg led me to wander on a path through the adjacent old wood and it was here that I found a couple of Song Thrushes plus another Dunnock.  In total about two miles in 75 minutes and a final tally of 21 species but neither House Sparrow nor Starling.

Birds seen:

Pheasant, Kestrel, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Whitethroat, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Greenfinch, Goldfinch.

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Lower Hamble River

 Sunday 3 July

Forecast says rain later, packing for an away break tomorrow needs to be done later and British Grand Prix live on television later, so what better than an early morning short walk up the Hamble river to the conservation area and back.  The tide was out, it was calm and pleasant and not many people about so no trouble at all in seeing something else other than the resident Black-headed Gulls.  regular sightings of individual Herring Gulls and then the first of four Curlew followed by a Little Egret.  Even a trio of Mallard at the water's edge just after the start of the walk upstream.

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus

Signs that the early summer return migration might possibly be underway with a single Black-tailed Godwit but no less than ten Redshank during the walk.  However, I think my bird of the morning might be the resting pair of Great Black-backed Gulls about half-way to my turning point at the conservation area.

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

Half-dozen Shelduck on their usual feeding ground on the right and approaching the conservation area the first of four Lapwing and a trio of Carrion Crow with an additional couple of the latter near the end of the return walk.  Whilst at the conservation I also recorded a Heron along with most of the Redshank. The sight of a Rod Deer out in the open with the tall grasses behind it was a lovely sight and near the end of the journey I finally found a couple of Oystercatcher on my hour's walk.

Carrion Crow Corvus corone

Birds seen:

Shelduck, Mallard, Little Egret, Heron, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Curler, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Staring.

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Wet Birding in the New Forest

Nuthatch Sitta europaea

 Thursday 30 June

With the promise of heavy rain around 1pm I set off from home in Warsash before 7 in order to complete my birding for the month in the New Forest.  By 7.20 I was at Fishlake Meadows on the outskirts of Romsey and walking down the wooded path alongside the narrow canal at 7.20 in calm weather and the sun trying to break through.  Lots of early morning Swifts above me plus a couple of House Martins and Wood Pigeons in the trees.  A Blackbird on the path as a quartet of Whitethroats dashed across just ahead of it and the both Robin and Dunnock foraging at the side of the path a little further along.

No sooner had I turned left through the swing ate than a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew into the tree above me (the branch not the tree!) but had moved on by the time I extracted the camera from my rucksack.  With the camera to hand I was able to get a couple of shots of the Reed Bunting that was moving around in the next tree.

Female Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus

Another left turn and gate and then the path to the wo hides.  Lots of Chiffchaff now calling and soon joined by the Reed Warblers in the reeds to my right and left. Once t the main screen a number of Greylag Geese on the water, mainly asleep on the far side, along with Mallards, Gadwall and Coot.  A Great Crested Grebe paddled by and soon it was time to start the walk back to the entrance. At this point the Cetti's Warblers decided it was time to let all and sundry know they were about or was it simply an advance call to tell their friends that the wet stuff was on its way?  Minutes later the first rain drops so very much a hurried walk back to the main path where, at least, there was some tree cover which conveniently coincided with the heavens opening.

There then followed a slow journey back to the car with a mixture of shelter and exposed, short runs.  Good job I had a mac with me - but it was in the car!  And the rain stopped as I arrived at the car.  Just tome to do a little drying before moving round to the main road to check the large are of water where very little present but able to add Tufted Duck, a distant Heron and both Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls.

Blue Tit Parus caeruleus

Great Tit Parus major

Once back in the car and off towards Fritham and the large pond at Eyeworth and the rains started again.  At least upon arriving I could park the car alongside the water's edge for some dry birding.  Canada Geese taking shelter on he far side and both Barn Swallow and House Martin feeding above the water.  Also on the water and close to me a good number of Mallards, both mature and well-grown ducklings. But then the rain stopped and blue sky appeared so able to get out of the and see the birds in realm life rather than through misty windows.  The bushes next to me had a constant stream of Blue and Great Tits along with Chaffinches and House Sparrows. 

A rather wet Nuthatch Sitta europaea

Also present, a couple of Marsh Tits and a similar number of Nuthatches, all looking rather bedraggled following the rain.  More Blackbirds behind me a a handful of Carrion Crows at the top of a dead tree on the opposite bank.  But best of all, a couple of Mandarin Ducks right next to me at the the water's edge.  At first I thought they were well-grown youngsters but, on reflection, suspect they were simply adults in eclipse plumage - but I am open to correction.

Female eclipse Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata?

Male eclipse Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata?

Finally to Blashford Lakes, north of Ringwood and a first stop at the hide overlooking the main lake, Ibsley Water.  Everywhere you looked it was white, not snow nor weed but scores, if not a hundred plus, Mute Swans.  Yes, both Black-headed Gulls and Lapwing near the hide its elf but it was then a case of using the scope to look amongst the white blanket.

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus

To my right on and near the small islands/scrapes a dozen or more Egyptian Geese and at the far end scores of both Greylag and Canada Geese.  To the far ledt a massed flock of hundreds of Coot and then, on the more open water, the occasional Great Crested Grebe, a few Tufted Duck and the odd Herring Gull.  A small number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls was also found in the distance before my attention was drawn to the arriving pair of Ringed Plover and a quartet of Pied Wagtails.  Aklso strange to see a single, isolated juvenile Starling working the shoreline pretending to be a Common Sandpiper; most confusing for some!  

Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca and with Mute Swans below

But, perhaps best of all, a newly-arrived birder asked if we had seen the Black Swan reported at the site a fortnight ago to which he received a negative reply.  Then, within five minutes, he was able to state that he had found the bird feeding right at the back of the water, probably some 200 metres or more distant.  Luckily, I was bale to drop on it immediately albeit it took much time and effort to focus with the camera as the bird seemed to have its head in the water the whole time.  So apologies for the very distant record shot which is shown below.

Record shot of the distant Black Swan Cygnus atratus

Next it was a move across the road to the main reserve where very few birds were to be recorded but I did manage Chaffinch, Robin and Wren before entering the hide to note both Blue and Great Tits on the feeders.  A Greenfinch was "singing" outside the hide as I made my way to the far hide where many breeding Black-headed Gulls were located along with a few breeding Common Terns. Another Moorhen as I made my way back to the car along with both Wood Pigeon and a few noisy Cetti's Warblers.  Finally, as I set off back towards Ringwood the usual field held at least a score of foraging Jackdaws to complete a list of 34 species at the final site and almost 50 for the day.

Common Tern Sterna hirundo returning with food

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Black Swan, Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Mandarin Duck, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Heron, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Wood Pigeon, Common Swift, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Marsh Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting.

A rather desolate Robin Erithacus rubecula recovering from the rain

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