Lower Test/Eling/Redbridge

[pdwinter]

This morning from Redbridge Wharf 07:50-09:00 (rising tide)

Black-tailed Godwit 126 (my best ever count here - probably spring passage)
Only other waders were 2 Curlews and 2 Oystercatchers

Med Gull 1 smart adult

Shelduck 3 prs

[pdwinter]

Redbridge Wharf 07:30-09:00

Med Gull 1 Adult
Common Gull 50
Peregrine 1 north at 07:58
Greylag 1 south at 08:14
Shelduck 8
Chiffchaff 1 (surprisingly my first of the year)

Lower Test 09:15-12:00

Cetti's Warbler 6 singing
Green Sandpiper 1 (scrape)
Common Sandpiper 4 (11:30 from the old bridge)
Seen by warden on webs count - 22 Water Pipit - unfortunately about as far from the footpaths as possible.

Cheers

[pdwinter]

Two Adult Med Gulls flew in to the mud in front of Redbridge Wharf around 06:55. The most I've ever seen here!

[skatebirder]

Yesterday:
Common Sandpiper
Several Chiffchaffs and Cettis singing
Water Pipit 20 (under the pylon near the Test Way, where they always used to be)
Pale Buzzard perched on a Osprey tree
Swallow 4 (flew along the river in the evening)

Today (A quick stopover on the way to the shops):
Buzzard 7 (one perched on a different Osprey tree)
Peregrine 1 (seem to be scarcer this year)

David

[den121]

An Osprey flew in and settled on the dead tree opposite the echo office at
12 Oclock and stayed until at least 13:30 when I left. Viewed from the start of the Test Way boardwalk, also 3 Water Pipits near the pylons
Regards Den

[pdwinter]

An Osprey flew in and settled on the dead tree opposite the echo office at
12 Oclock and stayed until at least 13:30 when I left. Viewed from the start of the Test Way boardwalk, also 3 Water Pipits near the pylons
Regards Den

Thanks for the info, Den. Managed to get there after work just as the Osprey was flying off!

Cheers

[pdwinter]

The Osprey was present in a dead tree in the centre of the reserve viewed from the Echo Office until 09:35ish when it headed off and was circling high above Testwood Lakes 09:40. I had to go to work so I don't know what happened next!

A Peregrine harrassed the Osprey briefly. One Swallow north.

Good Birding

[pdwinter]

Walked down the top edge of the Lower Test reserve (Mill Lane, Nursling) early(ish) morning and apart from 14 Chiffchaffs and 3 Blackcaps it was a migrant free zone! When I got to Little Testwood Lake there was a Sedge Warbler singing at the top of a bush by the pumping station. It's my earliest ever although one year I had a Reed Warbler at Lower Test on 3rd April which is probably relatively earlier on a species basis.

Good Birding

[pdwinter]

17 Yellow-legged Gulls on the marsh from the old bridge at Lower Test this morning - and another 2 from Redbridge Wharf. 2 Common Sandpipers were the only other birds of note.

[skatebirder]

17 Yellow-legged Gulls on the marsh from the old bridge at Lower Test this morning - and another 2 from Redbridge Wharf. 2 Common Sandpipers were the only other birds of note.

I must have just missed you - there was little of note on the rest of the reserve - not a single sandpiper of any description. There were a few Swifts, Hirundines and the usual warblers (7 species today, so not bad).

David

[skatebirder]

The bushes at Lower Test this morning were busy with small birds, including:
Chiffchaff 24+
Willow Warbler
Whitethroat 2+
Blackcap 8+
Redstart 1
Whinchat 1
Sedge Warbler 5
PIED FLYCATCHER 1 (nice to see one in Hampshire)

And a Little Egret with yellow legs (yes, it was a Little Egret)

David