Trip reports

OWN TRANSPORT TRIP TO STANPIT & HENGISTBURY - Monday October 20th 2008

Monday, 20 October 2008

9 Members arrived at a busy Stanpit Marsh carpark, having apparently disregarded the forecast of strong winds and heavy rain. Well the wind certainly blew, but no significant rain fell, so the timing of our visit, on a rising tide, resulted in increasing numbers of waders and wildfowl being enjoyed in acceptable conditions. The first wigeon and Brent geese had already arrived for the winter, with a flock of the latter including a pale-bellied bird of the Greenland race. Lapwing, redshank, and black- tailed godwits were the dominant waders, plus singleton knot, spotted redshank and bar-tailed godwit. Small birds were scarce, but a bramble hedge near the visitor centre held wrens, dunnocks, robins, a song thrush, and blackbirds, which included a first winter continental male.

During the afternoon at a deserted Hengistbury, a short seawatch added distant gannets and a kittiwake, plus, near the car park, a stonechat perched horizontally on a gorse bush, braving the gale.

The day finished early at 2.50pm as the promised heavy weather finally arrived.

Species recorded:- Little Grebe, Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Brent Goose, Wigeon, Mallard, Sparrowhawk, Coot, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Turnstone, Knot, Dunlin, Curlew, Black tailed Godwit, Bar tailed Godwit, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, BH Gull, Common Gull, Kittiwake, Herring Gull, LBB Gull, GBB Gull, Tern spp (poss arctic), Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Great Tit, LT Tit, Starling, Magpie, Crow, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet (51)

Reported by Steve Oakes