Visiting family in Southampton has the added bonus that it’s close to the River Hamble as it goes into Southampton Water at Warsash, always a good spot for Waders and other coastline / wetland birds, especially through the Winter Months.

A visit there at high tide this week gave sightings of over 200 recently arrived Brent Geese, Curlews, Plover, Turnstones, plenty of Redshanks, Pochard, Wigeon and more all along a stretch of half a mile northwards from the Hamble / Warsash ‘Pink Ferry’.

   

Regrettably the tide was just on the turn when I arrived so there was no sign of the often seen resident Kingfishers.
I also hoped to see the Seals who, as the tide starts going out, are seen swimming back downstream and into Southampton Water.

Female Stonechat

Meadow Pipit

Smaller bird wise, apart from the usual, just some Pipits and Stonechats.
After walking this stretch I usually drive further along to Hook-in-Warsash, have a stroll to the beach then into the Fields and Woodland where a number of Green Woodpeckers and a Little Owl are seen, but insufficient time.

Wigeon

The Southampton area is a good base for various Reserves; Arne, Selsey, Pagham and the New Forest all close by and easily reached. I’m never bored down this way!
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