Keyhaven walk - 4th January

The weather was cloudy! Highlights were Merlin, Dartford Warbler, 6 Greenshank and a female Goldeneye.

6 people met us in the car park opposite the Gunn Inn at Keyhaven. As we turned to leave the car park the first bird species we saw was Woodpigeon – a large flock flew over. At Avon Flash (just over the road from the car park) a tree branch had come down obscuring the view. However, Lyz and Jane spotted a Heron each and we also managed to see lots of Teal and Wigeon with a few Mallard, Pintail and Black-tailed Godwit. We walked along to the reed-fringed pool opposite the harbour. A few Brent Geese and Curlew flew over. The pool had a Little Grebe, a Cormorant and 2 Mallard – pretty quiet.
The Turnstones and Mute Swans were in their usual places in the corner of the harbour and the Turnstones showed even closer than they usually do. We looked at the trees by the house as Little Owl is sometimes seen here, but not by us today. Just a female Kestrel on the wire.
In the harbour there were a couple of Little Grebes and Cormorants with Black-headed Gulls sitting on the moored boats. We walked around the harbour edge. A few Redshank and Curlew showed quite close by and large flocks of Dunlin with some Grey Plover were flying around out on the mudflats. Also out on the mudflats were a few Shelduck and Little Egrets, while three female Red-breasted Merganser swam out on the water.
We got to the gorse scrub by the path and saw Meadow Pipit, Robin and Dunnock feeding on the grass. Behind us all the waders suddenly flew up. A sure sign that a bird of prey was about. There was – a Merlin darting amongst the waders attempting to catch one. Just after this had disappeared Jane saw a small bird in the gorse. A Dartford Warbler. This gave good views, fairly close by for a couple of minutes as it worked its way along the gorse bushes. A pair of Stonechat were also in the gorse bushes here.
At the first large lagoon there were lots of birds as usual. Teal, Wigeon, many Lapwing, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls, a few Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, some Oystercatchers and 6 Greenshank. There are often a few Greenshank around Keyhaven in winter, but 6 together is a good number.
We walked back and saw a Roe Deer in a field by Avon Flash. We walked along the harbour edge going towards Hurst Spit. The waders are often quite close here at low tide. There were Dunlins, Redshank, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Little Egrets and a few Black-tailed Godwit. As we got to the base of Hurst Spit there was a few Red-breasted Merganser on the water and a female Goldeneye.
The sunset looked great as we walked back to the car park. We had seen a total of over 40 species – not bad for the first walk of the year. To round this off a large flock of Brent Geese flew over us as we had a cup of coffee in the car park. Their ‘V’ formation and quiet, rolling call is always a breath taking sight.
Simon Curson