Trip reports

HENGISTBURY HEAD / STANPIT MARSH - MONDAY 7TH AUGUST 2007

Tuesday, 7 August 2007

17 keen birdwatchers attended for the morning walk, with 10 staying on for the afternoon. In a break with tradition, we decided to beat the tourists and walk Hengistbury in the morning. Conditions were beautiful, with light winds and clear skies, the temperature rising to 20C.

Swallows and Sand Martins were immediately plentiful, with some sunning themselves on the thatched roof of the cottage at the start of the trail to the Head. Bramble bushes held Stonechats, Common Whitethroats and the occasional Reed Bunting and Willow Warbler, whilst Sandwich Terns "kirruked" overhead as they flew between the sea and Stanpit. Looking towards Stanpit, we had a superb view of a Whimbrel dismembering a frog, and in the distance, on the mud, singleton Redshank, Curlew and Common Sandpiper. Gulls included Herring, several Greater Black Backed and a sleeping Common, amongst the 100s of Black Headed. The walk through the woodland yielded a couple of Jays, Blue Tits, plus more Willow Warblers. Returning via the top path, where the heather positively dazzled, gave us excellent views of Linnet, Stonechat and even more Willow Warblers, these mostly bright juveniles. Finally, a Wheatear flew past us as we neared the car park.

Lunch was taken at Stanpit, but with gathering storm clouds, only an hour's birding could be done before a retreat to the Information Hut, in the hope that the rain would pass by. Alas, it didn't, so an early return home was necessary. However, we did manage to add House Sparrow!, Long tailed Tit, Dunlin, Bar tailed Godwit (1), Turnstone (2), Common Tern and Ringed Plover (2)

Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Mallard, Kestrel, Coot, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Turnstone, Dunlin, Curlew, Whimbrel, Bar tailed Godwit, Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Black Headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black backed Gull, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern(jv), Wood Pigeon, Green Woodpecker(h), Skylark, Sand Martin, House Martin(jv), Swallow, Wren, Dunnock (h), Robin, Stonechat, Wheatear, Blackbird, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Blue Tit, Long tailed Tit, Starling, Jay, Magpie, Crow, House Sparrow, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Reed Bunting
(50 species seen or heard in total)

Reported by Steve Oakes