Trip reports

OWN TRANSPORT TRIP TO NORMANDY MARSH AND BLACKWATER ARBORETUM - Wednesday December 5th 2007

Wednesday, 5 December 2007

Despite a wet and windy drive down to Lymington, only one heavy shower was encountered after we set out through the boatyard to the sea wall. A Merlin was soon 'scoped, perched on a wooden stanchion, facing into the strong south westerly wind, as a peregrine, with prey, flew low over the saltmarsh. Small birds were a little more difficult to watch, as few were perched up. However, a calling female Reed Bunting, several Meadow Pipits and the occasional Linnet were blown into view. Normandy itself produced plenty of birds. It was good to see Red Breasted Mergansers, Goldeneye, Teal and Wigeon in splendid light, with the added bonus of a female Scaup with the Mergansers. Waders here included many Curlew, some Redshank, Lapwing and 2 Greenshank, plus Dunlin, Grey Plover and Turnstone on the mudflats. A large and distant flock of Golden Plover were in flight over Keyhaven. The bay adjacent to the Marsh was reasonably sheltered and held the stars of the morning - a pair of Long Tailed Duck. Although active, and therefore regularly underwater, these lovely birds had apparently been in situ for at least a fortnight, and could be observed at close quarters. A short distance away, a Slavonian Grebe - a regular winter visitor off Normandy, was fishing, together with the more common Great Crested Grebe. In all some 65 species were counted on our 3 hour walk.


Seen at Normandy Marsh:-
GC Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Teal, Scaup, Eider, LT Duck, Goldeneye, Red Breasted Merganser, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Peregrine, Merlin, Oystercatcher, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Turnstone, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, BH Gull, Common Gull, LBB Gull, Herring Gull, GBB Gull, Wood Pigeon, Kingfisher, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, LT Tit, Starling, Magpie, Jackdaw, Crow, Rook, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Reed Bunting.

After lunch, we drove to Blackwater Arboretum, arriving at 2pm. Shortly afterwards the first of up to 6 Hawfinches came in to sit on the tall pines during the ensuing hour, although never more than 2 were visible at any one time. Coal Tit and Goldcrest foraged close to our watchpoint and 4 Bullfinches- 2 males and 2 females entertained us. A Marsh Tit was heard but not seen, likewise a Treecreeper. Just as it was time to go, a Lesser Spotted Wooodpecker flew over - the only woodpecker of the day, and a first for one of our party. Whilst looking unsuccessfully to see if it had perched in view, a Nuthatch rounded off a delightful trip.

Reported by Steve Oakes