Curlew Sandpipers and a variety of waders at Farlington Marshes.

Monday 31^st August 2026.

Farlington Marshes & Langstone Harbour:

There were plenty of waders to search through this morning including good numbers of Curlew Sandpipers.

I took a trip to Farlington Marshes late morning to see the Curlew Sandpipers and the other waders on the main lake. I arrived around 10am having already heard that there were 11 Curlew Sandpipers on the lake this morning and a Ruff on the Stream area. However, instead of walking the perimeter of the Reserve, I decided to relax and simply spend the two hours there from the viewing platform overlooking the lake and the Reserve.

Above, the footpath leading to the viewing platform overlooking the lake area. Below, there were plenty of exposed muddy areas for the waders to feed. It is just a shame there was no reedbeds for the Warblers to look at.

Above, a Little Egret in the harbour below the seawall. Below, a Curlew Sandpiper among the Dunlin.

It was rather breezy with a westerly blowing in off the harbour and I nearly lost my hat due to the strong wind, but it was sunny most of the time with some high cloud quickly passing over. Setting up the scope overlooking the lake, I got about checking the many smaller waders and it didn’t take too long for me to clock my first Curlew Sandpipers of the year (my 195th Hampshire species of the year). A small group of four birds were swimming in the shallow water within the centre of the lake, just in front of a large flock of around 60+ Black-tailed Godwit.

Above, a mixed flock of waders including two Avocets, a Curlew Sandpiper and several Knot. Below, Dunlin and Curlew Sandpipers flying over the lake.

Above, another mixed flock of waders on the lake including Dunlin, Redshank, Ringed Plover and a Curlew Sandpiper (far right). Below, Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Curlew Sandpiper and Dunlin.

More Curlew Sandpipers were dotted around the lake feeding with the Dunlin and over on the north side of the lake, by a pair of Avocets, up to seven Knot were feeding in a tight flock of which one was still in its smart summer plumage. The water level was very low on the lake, but at least now the Sluice gate is mended, there was plenty of exposed mud for the waders to feed on.

Above, Knot, Avocet and a Black-headed Gull on the northern fringe of the lake and below, a pair of Dunlin came in a bit closer to the Viewing Platform.

Above, a pair of Black-tailed Godwit and behind them, a pair of Dunlin. Below, Dunlin flying around the lake after a Peregrine spooked them all.

Above, a large gathering of Black-tailed Godwit in the centre of the lake and among them were Teal and a lone Shelduck. Below, more waders had gathered on the south side of the lake that included mostly Dunlin and Ringed Plover.

Other waders present included around a dozen Redshank, a small flock of 7 Lapwing and roughly 20+ Ringed Plover. Dunlin easily outnumbered all the species here with at least 150+ counted although a few flocks did fly off out into the harbour. A single Turnstone dropped in near where the Knot were. All the waders were then rudely interrupted when a passing male Peregrine flew low over the lake and headed west into Langstone Harbour.

Above, a Shelduck coming in to land with a pair of Avocets and a couple of Dunlin behind them. Below, a mixture of Dunlin, Knot and Redshank.

Above, waders gathering on the lake and below, another shot of the Shelduck arriving on the lake.

Other sighting during my two hour stay here (I did have plans with the wife later today hence the short stay) included several Linnets passing over; a Yellow Wagtail flying east, 4 Ravens in the fields (I think two of them were immature birds judging on how tatty they looked) and a Kestrel hovering over the fields. The tide was on the way up, pushing more waders onto the lake as I watched several Curlew land in the fields and a Greenshank was heard calling somewhere in the harbour.

Above, the nearest any Curlew Sandpipers got was this individual.

Above and below, the male Peregrine heading west into the harbour after putting up all the waders on the lake.

I did search the wire fences out in the fields for any Chats, but nothing was seen and no Osprey sat on the bare trees in the eastern side of Langstone Harbour either. I was glad to help some more inexperienced birders identifying and pointing out the variety of different waders on the lake and one of the chaps kindly said that he was really made up for finding him the Knot and Curlew Sandpipers. If you have the experience, simply use it to help others that are new to the hobby.  I thoroughly enjoyed the couple of hours I was there, despite the wind, and from this viewpoint, you can certainly see a lot more if you simply sit and wait. I didn’t go looking along the Stream for the Ruff as time was against me and so made my way home to sunny Southsea.