A New Year's Birding Begins

The first birding day of the New Year is always different. For those of you who don't keep lists then this will be a bit baffling. Today was a day when the slate was wiped clean, each bird stands equal amongst others as it has not yet attained "year tick" status. The rare Lesser Yellowlegs that we were seeking at Lepe Country Park was on a par with the Song Thrush that we noted on the path to Stansore Point. Eagerly we logged Chaffinch, Greenshank and Redshank before spotting the obliging Lesser Yellowlegs. Even the Dunnock and Green Woodpecker were welcome attractions, birds that in the forthcoming months will be more or less ignored whilst we search for more exotic specimens. Back at the car park three Pied Wagtails ensured that we had reached double figures, disappointingly the sea was empty.

A short drive along the flooded coast road, stopping to view the Dark Water gave us Oystercatcher, Teal and Wigeon. A flyby of Shoveler and Greylag, the list was ever increasing

After a while we came to a fork in the road, which way? Martin chose Inchmery Lane and we made for Exbury House - an excellent decision. As we drove along what is the entrance to the Beaulieu River we could see, through the trees and into the sun, that there were lots of birds out on the mud. We parked next to the spot where the Exbury River enters the main river, in the stream a Little Egret and then totally out of the blue a Long-tailed Duck which remained close enough for a decent shot.

 

What - no rain??

 As we returned to Lepe, we noted a Buzzard being mobbed by Crows, a flock of Redwings and another Buzzard, an extremely pale breasted specimen, sat out in the warm morning sun. The list was growing. Where next?  A short detour to Hythe Marina where A Great Northern Diver had been reported, alas nothing but two Mute Swans and a House Sparrow - Tick - Tick!!


Next was a visit to Hill Head just along from Titchfield Haven where some friendly birders conned us on to two Velvet Scoter. Nothing to be seen of the Kittiwakes that had been frequenting the surf line just before we arrived. As we left, the Mallard flock on the creek provided an addition to the list. The Yellow-legged Gull that inhabits Stokes Bay had gone missing, probably due to the amount of walkers both human and canine using the beach. So, as planned, we ended up at Walpole Park to record "Waldo" the Ring-billed Gull, exactly a year and one day since I had last snapped him. Several Common Gulls had us fooled for a time but finally he arrived at his favourite location by the pond. His glinting yellow eye and more "menacing" demeanour clinching the tick. Apparently this is Waldo's eleventh winter spent in Gosport where he is always welcome.

"Waldo"

  

 

 

 

A Common Gull - not the same class as Waldo

 So at 12:30 on our first day out there was a quiet satisfaction of a good day already in the bag. There could be only one venue to spend the afternoon - the North Wall at Pagham - no brainer.  On the wall we were given New Year greetings  from the two Daves who gave us a list of birds present and then happily told us that the Little Owl had disappeared some time earlier. Never mind, the recent heavy rain had flooded the fields to the north and the birds were taking advantage of the available food. Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Lapwings and wildfowl in abundance. It took some time but I finally located the single Ruff and a flyby of a Common Snipe was well received.

Then Dave Shepherd received a call from Ian informing him that two Whooper Swans were on Ivy Lake at Chichester Gravel Pits - a nod is as good as wink to a blind man and off we went. On arrival, before we located the Whoopers, we added Great Crested Grebe, Gadwall, and for Martin, a confirmatory Shoveler as he had missed the earlier flyby. Then as the light faded we found and recorded the Whoopers. Finally, thanks to Andrew House, we added Pochard to the list.  A great day out with the final tally being 67 species, 66 seen and one heard, well what more do you want of the Cetti's Warbler.

Oddly enough the small birds are missing from the list, whether we weren't looking or it may be that the westerly breeze had deterred them from venturing forth, finches and tits were notably absent.