Farlington Marshes & Hill Head.

Saturday 28th January 2023.

An early start down at Farlington Marshes ensured us that we were going to give the reserve a good search. 

Farlington Marshes was on my radar this morning as we had the potential of grabbing a few more ‘year-ticks’ under our belt with a few outstanding species that have been recorded here of late. There was always the off chance of the Short-eared Owls this morning, but they did not appear well after we had left the reserve for Hill Head. Bloody typical! Nevertheless, I was more than happy by grabbing another three more species for the year: Bearded Tit, Knot and Dartford Warbler.

Above, this Little Grebe swam close to where we were sitting by the main Lake. Below, one of the 8 Avocets, with a Brent Goose, on the main Lake.

There was a high blanket of cloud overhead on our arrival at 8.20am, but as the morning wore on, it eventually moved south, leaving a clear blue sky and sunny weather; though it was damn cold again with the temperature only just above freezing. It was low tide within Langstone Harbour as we made our way along the seawall to the Viewing Platform, to view the main Lake. Here, we spent a good hour or so enjoying the superb bird life over a cup of coffee from Andy’s flask. There was hardly any wind this morning and so checking the reedbeds on the reserve proved fruitful. 

Above, the lone Mediterranean Gull on the Lake and below, a good variety of wildfowl and waders in the same area.

While checking out the Common Snipe one the edge of the Lake, I found Andy’s first Water Pipit of the year, busy searching for food, just south of the Lake on the short grass. That was just after I spotted a small flock of 4 Bearded Tits, my first of the year, flying low over the reedbed, but the birds quickly flew down into the reeds to remain hidden. I counted 8 Avocets feeding on the Lake among the many Lapwing and Common Snipe present, with a few Redshank also feeding along the fringes of the reedbed. Among the Black-headed Gulls, Andy spotted an adult Med Gull swimming on the water, which is always a bonus and I picked out a calling female Reed Bunting perched in the reedbed in front of us. Below us on the water, a Little Grebe was busy searching for something to eat close to the viewing platform and I watched it catch a small fish and devour it.

Above, not the best photo in the world, but the light was not great and this Water Pipit was distant, but a reasonable 'record shot' of the bird. Below, there is nothing more amazing than a huge flock of Geese flying low over your head like these Brent did this morning.

Up to four species of Raptor were seen on our trip here, starting off with a pair of Marsh Harriers seen over the reedbed, near the Stream area. A male Kestrel was hunting out over the fields and a female Sparrowhawk put a lot of the waders up when it flew low over the main reedbed behind the Lake and then perched on a fencepost. A Common Buzzard was seen later in the morning, perched on a bush near the seawall. 

Above, the female Sparrowhawk that flew over the reedbed behind the Lake. Below, some of the Russian White-fronted Geese among the Brent Geese.

From the viewpoint, I regularly checked the Point Field, should the Owls fly up, but though there was no sighting of them, however, I did spot a Fox walking across the field, flushing a lot of the Geese in doing so. Later, when we neared the Point Field, checking the Brent Geese flock in the adjacent field, we found the long staying family flock of Russian White-fronted Geese feeding among them. Cracking birds. 

Above, the female Stonechat perched on this bramble and sharing it with a Dunnock and a Wren! Below, one of the many Common Snipe present on the Lake.

Though it was low tide, I had my scope with me to check the waders in the southern half of Langstone Harbour. Knot was on the menu and I found some very distant birds among other waders through the scope to add to my year list and better still, when we reached the Point Field we also got onto our first Dartford Warbler of the year. Several Dartford Warblers have been wintering here on the reserve, but they are hardy creatures and spend a lot of their time deep within the brambles, though occasionally pop out to explore. I saw something small fly out of a bush then land nearby and we then confirmed that it was a male bird. Earlier we had seen a female Stonechat perched on a bramble that also held a Dunnock and a Wren. Sadly, the Owls never showed, but we did get onto Andy’s first Cetti’s Warblers of the year by the main footpath by the Point Field. We had waited patiently for the birds to show after I picked up a pair of birds calling to one another (that scolding one note call) and were rewarded with some superb views of the bird.

This Pale-bellied Brent Goose showed well within a large flock of Brent as we neared the Info Centre.

Out in the harbour, looking east, the channel held at least 6 Great Crested Grebes and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers swimming on the still water, but nothing more exciting than that. The Deeps area was relatively quiet, as was the walk to the Blockhouse. The black Rabbit was on show again, being chased by two normal coloured Rabbits in the field adjacent to the seawall and a Song Thrush flew up and perched on a bramble before flying off. Walking towards the Info Centre, the field to the south, I decided to check out the large flock of Brent grazing there and promptly found the Pale-bellied Brent Goose among them.

We were perplexed on what species of Goose that these birds were as they were circling over the fields with the sun in front of us and quite high as well. Eventually, they landed behind the Stream area and settled on the Scrape behind the reedbed, where I could confirm they were in fact Grey Lag Geese.

We stopped off by the Viewpoint near the Info Centre where we waited for any Bearded Tits to show, joining another female Birder present who was also waiting for the same birds. I thought I caught sight of a Water Rail flying from one bit of reedbed to another, but I wasn't 100% sure and so I will not add it to my year list; however, two Water Rails called behind us within the reedbed to the north of the main footpath. On the Stream, there was a single Avocet swimming on the water and a good number of Brent Geese present, with most having a good bath in the freshwater. There were no signs of any ‘Beardies’, so we walked westbound towards the harbour wall, keeping in line with the white posts, hoping to hear the birds calling, but all was quiet.

This drake Eider was all on its own on the Solent, but another two more birds were found further east on the sea.

Pleased with our sightings here at Farlington Marshes, I wanted to try Hill Head for the Eiders out on the Solent, which were present yesterday and thankfully, the species duly obliged. We parked up near the Chalets, where typically, the ticket machine wasn't working properly (another bonus!) and I was soon onto a drake Eider sitting on the very calm sea; our first of the year. Whilst here, I gave the sea a very good scan and found two more immature drakes further east and at least a dozen or so Great Crested Grebes on the water that also included a flying flock of 8 birds heading west over the sea.

This male Fox was seen urinating opposite the car park on the reserve, then went on to have a good scratch before making his way west. 

Though it was very cold here, despite the sunny conditions, we persevered and made our way further east along the seawall. From here, we enjoyed another female Marsh Harrier flying over the reedbeds and a Kingfisher was seen several times flying back and forth over the main body of water in front of the reserve. I was just about to put my binoculars and camera away when Andy spotted something interesting flying high heading north. He called out that it was a Spoonbill and sure enough, it certainly was; another superb bird to add to our year list as we watched it circle north of the main reserve and landing around the ‘Frying Pan’ area of the reserve which rounded off another superb morning's birding.  

Some of the small flock of 8 Great Crested Grebes flying west over the Solent from Hill Head.

Later in the day, Andy went off to Petersfield Lake to ‘tick off’ the two ‘dodgy’ Ruddy Shelduck (whether they are genuinely wild or not is anyone’s guess, but this species is always controversial) and then up to Beacon Hill for possible Woodcock late afternoon. Sadly, he ‘dipped’ on those and saw, as he puts it, ‘Bugger all’!