Testwood Lakes

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Sunday 27 April

A beautiful, sunny start to the day with clear blue skies and warm sunshine so before 9.30 I was on site at Testwood Lakes to the north-west of Southampton. As I walked from the lower car park to the Visitors Centre Blackbird, Magpie, Robin and Song Thrush noted along with the many Blackcaps and Wrens.  On the main lake to my left a trio of Great Crested Grebes and a pair of Mallard. 

Then it was on the the path through the tree to the two hides.  Stopping at the Sand Martin Hide there were dozens of Sand Martins feeding over the water and on the grasses between the water pools a number of Lapwing plus a trio of Egyptian Geese and a single Oystercatcher.

Checking the water itself I noted the occasional Moorhen plus a couple of Coot and a quartet of Gadwall plus a few more Mallard.  Just the single Greylag Goose immediately in front of me and off to the right a single Canada Goose.  Further away three feeding Little Egrets.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Looking more closely and taking distant record shots to confirm or otherwise I also caught sight of the visiting Wood Sandpiper but, in contrast to the weather above me, much inn shadow and poor light making recognition more difficult but eventually succeeded.  I also had a single Redshank to my right in almost similar conditions to add to the confusion!  Meanwhile, resting on a pole next to the hide the only Cormorant to be seen.  At the other extreme, on the furthest pool a Heron could just be made out below the nearside bank.

Distant record shot of Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola

Making my way to the Heron Hide I came across a pair of Mute Swans with the cob resting at the water's edge and the pen sitting tight on her nest just inside the reeds three metres away to the right. The nesting float held a pair of Common Terns and a further two were busy hunting above the water. Away in the trees behind me a tapping Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Common Tern Sterna hirundo

Accompanied by the many calling Cetti's Warblers and Chaffinches, not to mention Wren, Robin and Blackbird, I made my way back through the trees to take the circular path round the site stopping at the first of the two screens overlooking the pools from the south.  Good sightings of the many Lapwing plus Moorhens and the distant Heron and Little Egrets plus a few more Mallard.  Then, right in front of me at the water's edge, a lone Little Ringed Plover.  The bid remained foraging for a while until it moved off up one of the channels.

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

By now the Chiffchaffs were becoming very vocal and no shortage either of Blackcaps.  In the small section of reeds to my left a Sedge Warbler and the shallow pool on the far field was playing host to a dozen Back-headed and a couple of Herring Gulls.

This small wooded area with lots of bushes also produced a number of Garden Warbler with their delightful song and they were joined by a pair of passing Goldfinches.  Finally, as I rounded the last corner of the lake before heading towards the car park, a pair of Linnets passed in front of me resulting in a final total of 37 species for my two hours.

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Wood Sandpiper, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sand Martin, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

Redshank Tringa totanus

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Fishlake Meadows, Romsey

Friday 25 April

A somewhat dull start to the day but dry and little wind as I made my way over to Fishlake Meadows in Romsey. Arriving just after 9 the birds were singing and I soon had a list including Wren, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Robin and Woodpigeon.  Moving off down the canal I quickly added both Blackcap and Garden Warbler before arriving at the first bench.

Garden Warbler Sylvia borin

A long stop near the seat eventually produced a good, long sighting of the singing Grasshopper Warbler plus another Garden Warbler and many Cetti's Warblers.  behind me a singing Chiffchaff and Dunnock.  Indeed, there seemed to be singing Chiffchaffs and Wrens all around me.

Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia

Over towards the water I could see both a Little Egret and a number of Mute Swans plus the the very flighty Greylag Geese.  A couple of Cormorant were also noted and above the water at least a score of feeding Swifts plus a handful of Barn Swallows.  A Carrion Crow flew in front of me towards its nest and behind, sitting of a roof, a calling Collared Dove.  Not to be outdone, a pair of Magpies flew in from behind to explore the meadow. In the far distance a Great Spotted Woodpecker was foraging atop a tree.

Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus major

Moving on down the canal path many singing Sedge Warblers and stopping to find a couple I succeeded in watching the brief arrival of a pair of Whitethroat. On round and down to the path to the screen where I came across the breeding territory of the newly-arrived Reed Warblers and on the small pool to my left a pair of Greylag Geese along with a Coot.

Greylag Geese Anser anser

Once at the screens, on the main water a number of Gadwall and Greylag Geese along with a pair of Black-headed Gulls, single Teal and a quartet of Tufted Duck plus a number of Mute Swans. Both Coot and Moorhen also present.

Anas strepera

Making my way back towards the car park many more Sedge and Garden Warblers plus a departing Great White Egret and, on the Osprey platform, a pair of Common Terns. A short deviation took me to the roadside viewing point where, on the main lagoon, I noted a Great Crested Grebe, a number of Mute Swans, more Tufted Duck and a couple of Herring Gulls.  Even a Heron departed as I approached the viewing point and a Common Tern was resting atop a tree pole.

Common Tern Sterna hirundo

I made a slight diversion on the way home to check on the breeding Peregrine Falcons at Romsey Abbey but they were not to be seen, albeit I did note the trio of Rock Doves, a quartet of Jackdaws and a single Starling to make a morning's total of 40 species.

Jackdaw Corvus monedula

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Gadwall, Mallard, Teal, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Heron, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Swift, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling.

Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla

Garden Warbler Sylvia borin

Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia

Robin Erithacus rubecula

Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus major

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Scilly Isles Birding

 Monday 21 April

The Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis colony

The second of three stops on our week's cruise from Tilbury, London was at St Mary's in the Scilly Isles.  Once again, a lovely sunny day and upon landing in the harbour we soon came across a single Redshank and a dozen Turnstones on the sandy shore.  In the harbour as we arrived a number of Herring Gulls.

Whilst the others went for a stroll around the town, I joined a two-hour bird and seal boat trip out to the Puffin colony beyond St Agnes.  Here, not only lots of Puffins on the water, flying and or near their burrows but also a number of Herring and a handful of Great Black-backed Gulls.  We did see a Fulmar and also a single Razorbill.

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus

But, on the outlying rocks and a few on the shore we also noted very many Shag, including those in flight.  Great to have the opportunity to compare the the identifying aspects when compered to the more -widely seen Cormorants.  making our way back to St Marys we came across more Great Black-backed Gulls and even a couple of resting Oystercatchers.

 Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus with Shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis

Once back on land I took an anti-clockwise walk up to the Garrrison and and around the cliffs finding a few Starlings, House Sparrows and Blackbirds.  However, the biggest and most pleasant surprise was to come across a Red-billed Chough foraging on a grassy bank and as I looked on in almost disbelief a second individual flew over me to the cliff behind.  Most annoying to regret not having taken a camera with me and even more so when, having returned to the ship, discovered that the mobile had not taken the photographs I thought it had!!!

Continuing on down to Old Town I added Collared Doves and Robins to the birds seen during the day and as the ship set sail for Ireland, a good number of feeding Gannets just off shore.

Birds seen:

Fulmar, Gannet, Shag, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Turnstone, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Razorbill, Puffin, Collared Dove, Robin, Blackbird, Chough, Starling, House Sparrow.

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Rambla de Almanzora & Vera Playa

Woodchat Shrike (PHOTO: Gill Elliott-Binns)

Thursday 24 April

Well, not only back to "normal" for the Arboleas Birding Group but making sure that Gilly attended also drew the crowds and birds! And what fabulous photos Gilly; well done!

Marbled Duck, Woodchat Shrike and both Squacco and Night Heron, no wonder everyone must have been happy.  For me, I was on a week's cruise to Honfleur, France followed by St Mary's in the Scilly Isles and finally a very wet Cohb for Cork in Ireland.  But I did get to see many Gannets and whilst in the Scilly Isles, Puffins, Shags, Razorbill and Fulmar but, perhaps best of all and a great surprise to many locals when I reported in, a pair of Red-billed Choughs on St Mary's itself.  Now that's a species I did not expect to see this year.  But, still very pleased to read of such a good turn out for your visit to the Rambla de Almanzora and Vera Playa.

Rambla de Almanzora & Vera Playa: Wednesday 23rd April

After two weeks of enforced absence it was good to be back!  Richard picked Gilly and I up from home and we headed to the Almanzora rambla, joining just past the Desert Springs golf complex.  To begin with there was no water to be seen, but we did see Magpie and a pair of Bee-eaters.  Next came Woodpigeon and Spotless Starlings before we came across lots of shallow pools.  All seem to have at least one pair of Black-winged Stilt thereon and some Mallard.  Also seen were Coot and Moorhen, Goldfinch and White Wagtail.  Gilly found a Little Grebe.  A few Little Ringed Plovers were seen before we saw a Woodchat Shrike perched in a shrub.  Gilly added a Shelduck.  Also seen were Red-rumped and Barn Swallow, House Sparrow, Sardinian Warbler and  Iberian Grey Shrike.

Shelduck (PHOTO: Gill Elliott-Binns)

At the parking area above the ford we met up with Ab, Jenni, Trevor and Alan.  Richard was first to spot a Marsh Harrier heading up the rambla.  Nothing new was seen so we made our way to the beach. The sea was as flat as a tack so we could've seen any swimming birds with ease.  Unfortunately there was none!  There was a single Cormorant on the harbour rocks.  A Yellow-legged Gull flew past as did a House Sparrow.  A Turnstone was also seen on one of the rocks.  Gilly heard then later saw a Zitting Cistacola.  Trevor found a Spotless Starling on the tower.  A pair of Common Swift flew by as did some Audouin's Gulls.  Alan spotted a Sandwich Tern.

Squacco Heron (PHOTO: Gill Elliott-Binns)

We drove round to the far side of the estuary.  We heard Reed Warblers and Nightingales calling from the reeds.  Gilly then spotted a Squacco Heron just below us.  She also added a Grey Heron.  We were joined by Val.  (Yes, Peter, I handed over the envelope!)  I found a Little Egret and was first to spot an immature Night Heron which flew over a few times before settling in the reeds.  Alan added a Kentish Plover.  We adjourned to the Tiburon cafe in Villaricos for coffee.

Kentish Plover (PHOTO: Gill Elliott-Binns)

We convoyed down to the dual carriageway opposite the Consum Supermarket behind Vera Playa  where we came across Jacky.  There were the usual Greater Flamingos, Black-winged Stilts, Moorhens and Coots.  We added Common Pochard and Shoveler.  Jacky found an Avocet.  Some Redshanks were seen.  I found a single Spoonbill and a Black-headed Gull.  Gilly then found a Purple Heron.  Alan saw some Red-crested Pochard.  A Whiskered Tern was quartering over the water.  A White-headed Duck was seen before Jacky found the birds of the day...a pair of Marbled Duck.  Also seen were Blackbird, Greenfinch, Serin and numerous House Martins.  Beyond the hump, Alan added a Common Sandpiper. Kevin, Troy and two friends unexpectedly joined us.

Marbled Ducks (PHOTO: Gill Elliott-Binns)

We moved round to the elevated platform opposite the Aguaparc.  Jacky found a Black-necked Grebe.  I spotted an adult Night Heron in the reeds.

Well, what a great day we had!  Very good birds, weather and company.  A total of 53 species seen or heard.

Best wishes to Juda, Nigel, Seamus, Linda and Peter 2.  Hope you all get better soon.

Regards

Dave

Photos by Gilly

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Cabo de Gata & Rambla Morales

 Thursday 17 April

So, not only the UK that gets a regular bowing to try and upset the birding!  Looks like Kevin was the only member of the Arboleas Birding Group at Cabo de Gata for the pre-Easter meet and he certainly, despite the windy conditions, had some good sightings. I certainly liked the sightings of Slender-billed Gull, Ruff and Kentish Plover, two of which I have never seen back here and the Ruff only on very rare occasions, mainly we lived in Stamford and I was able to make regular winter visits to Frampton Marsh near Boston in Lincolnshire. On the other hand, strange that I now see regular sightings in the south on the Keyhaven marshes and even at my local patch in nearby Titchfield.  Then, of course, there were the Gull-billed Terns, Bee-eaters and Subalpine Warbler; how I miss them.  Must try and get back to Spain either in the Autumn or early next year.

Cabo de Gata & Rambla Morales: Tuesday & Wednesday 15th & 16th April

Please find below Kevin's report and photograph.

He had some nice birds in there.  I think Gull Billed Terns are my favourite in the tern family!

Dave

Cabo de Gata Salinas and Rambla Morales 15/16 April

This report covers Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.  As is my frequent habit, I drove

down to Cabo de Gata on Tuesday evening, aware that there was a yellow alert for wind in the

area.  I knew it was accurate as the van was rocking and rolling on the way there.  At the Lay-by

Hide, about 7pm, in what was almost a howling gale, I managed to find Avocet, Black-tailed

Godwit, Black-winged Stilt, Ruff, Yellow-legged Gull, Spoonbill, Greater Flamingo, Shelduck, Dunlin,

Little Stint and Barn Swallow.  I drove through the village to check out the beach access to Rambla

Morales and it all seemed clear at last. I didn’t try it though.

I then headed on to the Original Hide.  The lagoons looked browner and more churned up

than I’ve ever seen them.  I added Sandwich Tern, Kentish Plover and excellent views of a dozen

Slender-billed Gulls feeding very actively on the mud at the near edge of the right-hand lagoon.

Fourteen species so far.  Time to find a spot at La Fabriquilla facing the wild sea and settle down for

the night.

Slender-billed Gulls (PHOTO: Kevin Borman)

Wednesday dawned still windy but definitely less so than Tuesday evening.  First bird of the

day, seen from inside the van, coincided with first cup of tea of the day: House Sparrow.  Next,

back to the Original Hide where, among several species seen the previous evening, Little Egret was

a new tick.  I put the Merlin app on and it informed me that it could hear Short-toed Lark.  I couldn’t

but then a) my ears barely work these days and b) even if they did I wouldn’t know what a Short-

toed Lark sounds like.

On to the Guardia Civil Tower, where Swift, Jackdaw and Spotless Starling swelled the list.

Back to the Lay-by Hide at the appointed time just in case anyone else turned up.  No-one did.  I will

obviously have to change my deodorant.  Some of the same birds were there as on the previous

evening but I did add Mallard, Yellow Wagtail, Bee-eater, House Martin and Magpie.  A car-load of

Spanish birders with serious lenses arrived and one of them asked me what was about.  Just the

usual, I replied.  He then said: “Has visto combatiente?” I looked blank, thinking: ‘Have I seen a

fighter?  What’s he on about?’ so he found it on his phone.  Ah, Ruff!  So I said, “There was one here

last night but I haven’t seen it this morning.”  Another new Spanish bird name learnt: Ruff =

Combatiente.  What a great name!

A few minutes at the Second Hide revealed only Crested Lark and on yet another visit (my

third of this outing) to the Original Hide I found a very confiding Yellow Wagtail but nothing new.

I then opted to go to Rambla Morales but approached from just beyond the campsite to

get the full RM experience.  It being Easter week there were more people than usual, especially at

the seaward end, hence no waders there.  New birds were Carrion Crow, White-headed Duck,

Pochard, Blackbird, Thekla Lark, Subalpine Warbler and best of all, at least three Gull-billed Terns

which I saw several times, sometimes very close.  Regarding access, from the seaward end of the

pool, looking back along the beach-side track, it did seem as if there was work going on so maybe

the obras have simply moved further along and access will still be cut.  That remains to be seen.  I

made the total 33 species, not bad in the very windy circumstances.  No Collared Dove, no

Moorhen, no Coot: what is the world coming to?

KB 16.04.2025

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New Forest Birding

Wednesday 16 April

Black Swan Cygnus atratus (back left) with a Mute Swan Cygnus olor and Greylag Geese Anser anser at Kent Meadows

The light rain stopped the skies cleared to give some lovely sunshine and all set for an enjoyable morning at Blashford Lakes in the New Forest.  Within five minutes of entering the Tern Hide upon arrival all went dark and a very heavy drizzle coupled with the strong wind left very little visibility over the water. Still many Tufted Duck and very many Black-headed Gulls but as the weather cleared, visibility (and warmth) increased chance to really see what was about.

So many gulls, mainly Black-headed but also a good number of both Herring and Lesser Black-backed plus a lone Little Gull.  In addition at least three Common Terns.  Over the water, especially during the cold spell, numerous sand martins plus at least a dozen Barn Swallows and about ten House Martins.  Single Redshank and Common Sandpiper were seen foraging near to the hide's right and out on the water at least a score of Coot plus three Great Crested Grebes.  At the back just  quartet of Cormorants on one of the distant islands. On the banks to the far left at least a half-dozen Egyptian Geese whilst n the bank to the right another individual along with  pair of Canada Geese.  In addition to the many Tufted Duck about six Mallard were recorded.

Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca

Crossing the road to the main reserve very little to be seen in the woodland and with no feeders in use not the usual small birds to be seen. However, apart from a trio of Robin and a couple of Blackbirds, arriving at the unoccupied Woodland Hide I was in time to see the Goldcrest gathering nesting materials from the bushes just outside the window.

Both Blue and Great Tits apparently doing the same as I walked down to the South Ivy Hide and once inside just a few Tufted Duck and Black-headed Gulls to see on the water along with seven roosting Cormorants atop the trees to the left.

Blue Tit Parus caeruleus

Off the North Ivy Hide where nothing appeared to be present at first sight.  A Moorhen appeared in the channel on my extreme right then a trio of Mallards on the open water.  Finally, the appearance of a couple of Reed Warblers foraging in the reeds and chance for a quick record photograph.

Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus

A quick visit to the Kent Meadows on the lane between Ibsley and Harbridge produced an astonishing sight.  Not the number of Mute Swans nor the total of eight Egyptian Geese, nor even the five Greylag Geese, but the solitary Black Swan that seemed to have befriended one of the Mute Swans!

Black Swan Cygnus atratus

Then it was back along the single road through the Forest to Cadnam's Pool where, again, very small numbers such as the quartet of Canada Geese, a few mallards (one pair of which had already produced seven ducklings) and a single Mandarin Duck resting amongst the tree roots on the island. Also a couple of Chaffinches in the neighbouring trees.

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Black Swan, Egyptian Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Mandarin Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Little Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Robin, Blackbird, Reed Warbler, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Rook, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch.

Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Mute Swan C.olor and Black Swan C.atratus

Greylag Geese Anser anser

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Weston Shore, Southampton

Monday 14 April

Brent Geese Branta bernicla with a Mute Swan Cygnus olor

By 9.40 I was in the southern car park at Weston Shore at the top of Southampton Water immediately before the dock.  Sadly, the tide was further in than expected so an earlier visit might have produced more.  In the end over forty Carrion Crows on the remaining beach as the tide was half-way in along with a score or more resting Herring Gulls.  Just the one Oystercatcher in front of me bout another handful at the northern end of the beach.

Mute Swan Cygnus olor

Moving to the northern car park nearer to the docks I found the other Oystercatchers along with a couple of Mute Swans.  Walking the nearby path alongside the fenced off woody area a few Woodpigeon but very little else so back to the original car park.  One of the Mute Swans and a party of seven Brent Geese had moved downstream and were now in front of the car park with a couple more Oystercatchers.  Even a couple of foraging Rock Doves along the beach wall

Brent Goose Branta bernicla

Crossing the road I took a short walk through the adjacent Westwood Nature Park and found a selection of smaller birds to add to the many Carrion Crows, albeit there were mores in the wood itself.  First a Blackbird quickly followed by both Blue and Great Tits along with Chiffchaff, Wren, Robin and Nuthatch.

Birds seen:

Brent Goose, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Carrion Crow.

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