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| Marsh Harrier being mobbed by Carrion Crow |
Rather than retrace the route taken on the previous field meeting Brian
+ 5 (including 1 guest) set off west from Keyhaven
towards the bird hide at Sturt Pond. On an overcast morning after overnight
rain virtually the first sighting was of a female Marsh Harrier at rest,
occasionally provoked into a short, languid flight by the harassment of a Carrion
Crow. On a bar in the harbour a Great Black-backed Gull was making a meal of a
sizeable unidentified fish in the company of 2 Bar-tailed Godwits. Low water
meant much frantic feeding of Dunlin accompanied by Curlew, Common Redshank, Turnstone
and Grey Plover with various waterfowl in the channels. The outward leg
produced Kingfisher, Raven, Reed Bunting, Common Buzzard, Greenshank, Ringed
Plover and a female Kestrel. 3 Spoonbills were seen flying east before dropping
into one of the channels. In the fields were Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Rooks
and Oystercatchers.
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| Common Gull |
Sturt Pond Nature Reserve is a SSSI. The bird hide was erected in 2009
and offers fine views over various habitats including saltmarsh, tidal pond,
reed bed, bird scrape and grazing field. From the hide an indeterminate number of Common Snipe (20+?) were seen on the
saltmarsh, their magnificent cryptic camouflage and skulking behaviour making a
precise count impossible. There were also various gulls, including Common Gull,
and we also watched Lapwing, Cormorant and Moorhen.
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| Rock Pipit |
On the return journey a Rock Pipit showed well along Salt
Grass Lane and the 3 Spoonbills reprised their earlier appearance with a short
flight. Both Marsh Harrier and Spoonbill have now become almost regular sightings
on the Keyhaven bird walks which invariably produce a minimum of 45
species. Several flowering plants were also noted: Shepherd’s-purse, Common Gorse,
Red Dead Nettle, Winter Heliotrope and Annual Meadow-grass.