Birds at Farlington Marshes (Hampshire & Isle of Wight Trust)

Leaders: Phil Darley and Doug Maughan (HNHS members)

It was immediately apparent that there were large numbers of Brent Geese everywhere: on the sea, on the freshwater pools and on the meadows – there must have been many hundreds. We soon found Greenfinches on meadow-side bushes. On the sea were a group of smart Pintails and a cluster of gulls on a tidal island included a few Mediterranean Gulls amongst the Black-headed.

As a view across the freshwater marshes opened up, we added Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Lapwing and Snipe to the list, plus a super flock of Avocets. In the other direction, out to sea, a Red-breasted Merganser gradually paddled landwards.

Towards the headland we heard and briefly glimpsed a Cetti’s Warbler in the reeds and Meadow Pipits on the fence. Shovelers as well as Pintails were close by in ditches, whilst out on the mudflats a distant assortment of waders included Curlew, Common Redshanks, Common Sandpipers and Sanderlings. An even more distant bird on the sea was quickly recognised as a grebe, and it was a bit disappointing when it turned out to be a Great-crested, considering that there had been Black-necked and Red-necked in the area this winter.

Our list from an enjoyable morning stretched to 39 species.