Brian writes:
With the weather being influenced by the warm air masses and strong
winds crossing the Atlantic, the early forecast for the first field meeting of
the winter programme was not very promising. In the event Brian + 6 completed a
circuit of 8 Acre Pond and Normandy Marsh, returning to Maiden Lane via
Pinckney Path and Normandy Lane, before the rain set in. Even with some notable
absentees (Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Shelduck, Shoveler), 30+ species were
seen. Some birds retained vestiges of their summer breeding plumage whilst some
male ducks in eclipse.
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Michaelmas
Daisies © Richard Coomber
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Selected sightings:
Amongst a few colourful plants were the ubiquitous Michaelmas Daisy Aster novi-belgii and the blushing red
Common Glasswort Salicornia europaea.
8 ACRE POND: Kingfisher, Little Grebe, Little Egret.
4 ACRE POND: Lapwing, Turnstone, Dunlin, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit,
Bar-tailed Godwit.
OXEY LAKE: Eider (♀), Great Crested Grebe (9).
NORMANDY MARSH: Teal, Wigeon, Curlew, Greenshank (7), Pied Wagtail, Meadow
Pipit, Northern Wheatear (8), Stonechat and Whinchat. A male Kestrel was claiming squatters
rights to a Barn Owl box!
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Northern Wheatear © Richard Smith
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The highlights were probably the excellent views offered by a number of
the Africa-bound Northern Wheatear, with the Whinchat identified by Richard Coomber a
close second. Finding a Bar-tailed Godwit feeding amongst Black-tailed Godwits enabled
us to compare the two species side-by-side.
(BM)Note: This was the first of our regular 'winter' bird walks that take place on the first Sunday of each month until the Spring. The next one will be at Keyhaven on 05 November.