Tracy's birthday treat at Hengistbury

The weather was sunny, but there was a cold wind. Highlights were a Wheatear and Dartford Warbler.

Tracy wanted to record 50 species this morning. Would we do it? Firstly, Ian from Christchurch Harbour Ornithological Group stopped by and gave Tracy a present to start the morning off on a high! The sun was shining and everyone was happy as we set off. Tracy waved at a Kestrel (1) hovering near the car park and a Carrion Crow (2) flew past. As we walked towards Barn Field a Wren (3) sang and then shot across the path and Skylarks (4) were singing too. On Barn Field there were several Greenfinches (5) singing and a couple of Stonechat (6). A Woodpigeon (7) flew past and a Blue Tit (8) was in the bushes, but no Wheatears.
We turned and had a look at Barn Bight and Wick Hams. Quite a few birds out here. Little Egret (9), Wigeon (10), Black-headed Gulls (11), Cormorants (12), Little Grebes (13), a couple of Mallard (14), some Teal (15), Herring Gulls (16), Great and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (17, 18), Brent Geese (19), a Coot (20), Oystercatchers (21), 3 Gadwall (22) and a few Shelduck (23). The Dartford Warbler (24) started singing behind us and we had a lovely view of him. We walked up the side of Barn Field to the sea. More Skylarks were singing and we saw a few more Stonechat. As usual there was absolutely nothing out there, but it is always pleasant to see the sea. The wind drove us back inland and we walked towards the wood. 3 Jackdaws (25) flew by and a Heron (26) flew up towards the nests in the pine trees. A Robin (27) was in the bushes near the woods and we heard Green Woodpecker (28) and Chaffinch (29). Great Tit (30), Magpie (31) and Blackbird (32) were on the edge of the wood too.
We walked through the wood and I did some pishing. The only thing that reacted was Mandy, who rang up on my mobile phone to say she had arrived in the car park and would walk up to join us – so it really does work sometimes! Once through the woods we got to Holloways Dock and saw a Curlew (33), several Redshank (34) and more Black-headed and a few Herring Gulls. We walked on to the beach. A few Pied Wagtail (35) were on the sand and some Cormorants were on the sea, but not much else. It didn’t matter at all because Mandy caught up with us and she had some cake for Tracy and Derek’s birthday treat! Suitable refreshed we walked past an Oystercatcher on the beach and headed back. There were about 10 Turnstone (36) very close to us on the stony beach which was lovely to see.
Tracy then spotted a bird flying towards her along the beach – it was a Wheatear (37). On the way back we saw a couple of Meadow Pipits (38) fly past and saw a Chiffchaff (39) in the scrub next to Holloways Dock. There was also a Pheasant (40) and we saw plenty of Starlings (41) around the cafe.
We were 9 short of our target, but had had a lovely mornings walk in the sunshine. The next couple of hours eating roast in the pub made a great end to the walk.

Simon Curson