Autumn 100 Birds in a day

The weather was cloudy and warm. Highlights were Crossbill, Ruddy Duck, Mediterranean Gull, Gannet, Shag, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Cattle Egret, Yellow Wagtail and Green Sandpiper.

We met at the Canadian War memorial and several Crossbill (1) and Siskin (2) flew over. We had a short walk on the heath and heard Wren (3), saw Stonechat (4), Long-tailed Tits (5), Blackbird (6), Chaffinch (7), Carrion Crow (8), Meadow Pipits (9), Woodpigeon (10) and a Feral Pigeon (11) and a Mistle Thrush (12) flew over.
Down to Mark Ash woods and we got Stock Doves (13), Nuthatch (14), Robin (15), Great Tit (16), Blue Tit (17), a Grey Wagtail (18) flew over and we heard Treecreeper (19). This was the only place we were likely to get Marsh Tit and on the way back to the car Dennis spotted one (20). A quick stop at Bolderwood toilets gave us Pied Wagtail (21), Magpie (22) and a much needed comfort break.
We drove to Hurst Spit and did a short sea watch. On the drive there we saw Great Spotted Woodpecker (23). On the mud next to the spit there was Mute Swan (24), Turnstone (25), Herring Gull (26), Black-headed Gull (27) and Little Egret (28). A few Linnet (29) flew over and there was a Reed Bunting (30) in the field. Before we started the sea watch we saw 1 Wheatear (31) on the beach. It was very quiet on the sea. Several Gannet (32) were fishing out to sea and a couple of Great Black-backed Gulls (33) were loafing around. A Cormorant (34) flew by and then a young Common Gull (35). Two Shag (36) were found fishing off shore – a good find for the day and lastly another Grey Wagtail (2nd for the day) flew over. Walking to Keyhaven we saw Redshank (37), Black-tailed Godwit (38) and Curlew (39) on the mud, Dennis and Simon found a Whinchat (40) in the field and several House Martin (41) and Starling (42) were about. By the houses we heard a Chiffchaff (43), got brief views of Goldcrest (44) and a few House Sparrow (45).
On Avon Flash by Keyhaven car park there were Redshanks, a Greenshank (46), Mallards (47), Wigeon (48), Coot (49), Pintail (50) and a Heron (51). Jackdaws (52) were sitting in nearby trees. At the reed fringed pool there were several Teal (53), Little Grebe (54), Moorhen (55) and Lyz found a Kingfisher flying past (56). A Snipe (57) flew over and in the distance we saw a Buzzard (58) circling and several Lapwing (59) in a field. We walked towards the balancing ponds up the track hearing Cetti’s Warbler (60) and seeing a Great Spotted Woodpecker on the way. Skylark (61) were in a field just past the pond and a Jay (62) flew by. We were looking for, and found, a Cattle Egret (63) with several Yellow Wagtail (64) and Rook (65) in a second field past the balancing pond. There were a few Shoveler (66) on the pond with the expected Mallards and Coot.
Walking towards Fishtail Lagoon, Goldfinch (67) and Dunnock (68) were in the bushes. On Fishtail were Oystercatcher (69), Shelduck (70), Ringed Plover (71), Black-tailed Godwits and Redshank. Some Greenfinch (72) were in bushes and Dennis found a Little Stint (73). Great crested Grebe (74) was on the sea, Sand Martin (75) and Swallow (76) overhead and Dunlin (77), Grey Plover (78) and Whimbrel (79) were on the mud. We walked towards Keyhaven Lagoon seeing an adult Mediterranean Gull (80) on the way. On Keyhaven Lagoon many Knot (81) were with the Grey Plover and we found singles of Golden Plover (82) and Curlew Sandpiper (83). Another Wheatear was on the grass nearby.
Lunch in the Gun Inn, then off to Blashford Lakes seeing Collared Dove (84) on the way. At Blashford we looked over Ibsley Water first. New birds for the day were many Grey-lag Goose (85), Canada Goose (86), Tufted Duck (87), Gadwall (88) and a few Ruddy Duck (89) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (90). On the way to the North Hide several Long-tailed Tit (91) flew past and a Green Woodpecker (92) called. After a while Neil found a Green Sandpiper (93) on the mud in front of the hide. Dennis wandered off and managed to see a Hobby which the rest of us missed. Our rule was that half of us should see or hear the species so, frustratingly, we couldn’t count that! However brilliant views of 2 Kingfisher did cheer us up.
Back over the forest and a quick stop back at the Canadian War Memorial gave us Dartford Warbler (94). We went on to Blackwater Arboretum in the hope that some Hawfinch may come in to roost, but none did and so we got a total of 94.
Amazingly we didn’t record Pheasant, Kestrel or Song Thrush!!
Simon Curson