On a grey still morning, we gathered at Eling
cemetery car park for a walk around Goatee Beach, Eling Church and the nearby
lower reaches of Bartley Water that empties into Eling Creek through a sluice
under the toll bridge. Around the car park and approach to Goatee Beach, a
designated SSSI, we heard Green Woodpecker and saw large clumps of Greater Snowdrop
Galanthus elwesii and the yellow flowers of Lesser Celandine.
 |
| Lesser Celandine © Claire
Kidger |
 |
| Primrose © Sue Skarstein |
We paused at the beach as the tide rose rapidly in
Southampton Water and saw Oystercatcher, and Wigeon occupying the raised
areas around the pylons that cross the water here. Black-headed Gull were
predominant on the water and in the air, and we had distant views of
Great-crested Grebe feeding mid-channel.
 |
| Yew flowers © Claire
Kidger |
 |
| Wych Elm flowers © Claire
Kidger |
We followed up the path into the older part of the
cemetery surrounding Eling Church - this more overgrown area has been enhanced
with several bird boxes, a bug hotel and Bill’s Bees - a single beehive which
despite the overcast weather was quite active this morning, with pollen-laden
bees coming and going. A large Yew tree was in flower and when shaken, the buds
cascaded pollen into the air. Amongst the trees we saw and heard Blackbird,
Great Tit, Blue Tit exploring the nest boxes, and a Collared Dove.
 |
| Wall-rue © Sue Skarstein |
 |
| Bill's Bees © Sue Skarstein |
 |
| Bill's Bees with pollen sacks © Richard Smith |
Returning to cross the toll-bridge, we followed the
small footpath around the edge of Eling Marsh and onto the boardwalk section.
Amongst the trees lining the path, House Sparrow and Chaffinch sang noisily and
a Mistle Thrush was also heard from the boardwalk. Mute Swan and a few Mallard
were the only occupants on the mill pond and surrounding reed beds. A rather
uneventful visit today and we were fortunate to return to the car park just as
the weather changed to a light drizzle.