Trip reports
The Lower Test Marshes and Testwood Lakes - Saturday March 15th 2008
Saturday, 15 March 2008
A generally quiet morning was much enlivened by Peregrines. Firstly, a male was soaring and calling above the reserve. Later, both he and his female were seen perched on adjacent electricity pylons, before he left his pylon to mate with her. A second male then arrived on the scene to dispute the territory.
The promised rain arrived at midday, but did not spoil our views of up to 6 Water Pipits perched obligingly on scrub.
An abbreviated afternoon at Testwood added a small selection of wildfowl and waders, but not the hoped for Little Ringed Plover which breeds here. The first Sand Martins of the year (for most people) were seen from the main hide.
Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pochard, Great Crested Grebe, Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Curlew, Green Sandpiper, Snipe, BH Gull. Common Gull, LBB Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Sand Martin(4), Green Woodpecker, GS Woodpecker, Water Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff(including 1 in song), Blackcap (including 1 in song), Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, LT Tit, Starling, Jay, Magpie, Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Siskin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting. (59 species)