Birdwatcher’s Diary No.176

Published on: 18 Dec, 2018
Updated on: 18 Dec, 2018

By Malcolm Fincham

As winter began to take shape, the lure of the seaside took me out of Surrey on a couple of day trips in a southerly direction down the A3 to one of my favourite Hampshire haunts, Farlington Marshes, near Portsmouth.

View across Langstone Harbour to the Spinnaker Tower at Portsmouth.

The wide expanse of low level landscape looking out across Langstone Harbour at Farlington gives good scope to focus in on flying shots of the flocks of wintering waterfowl. Even affording good views of the Spinnaker Tower standing out like a monolithic edifice on the horizon at Portsmouth Harbour.

Brent geese at Farlington.

Brent geese had now started to grow in number at Farlington. Arriving for their winter stay, I counted over 500 by the end of November, having flown their 2,500-mile journey following the coastline from northern Russia from their summer breeding grounds in Siberia.

Brent geese at Farlington.

Well over 8,000 brent geese are thought to winter in the Portsmouth area, with over 6,000 geese using the region around Langstone Harbour, and about 2,700 using Portsmouth.

Among them a small group of resident Canada geese could still be viewed.

The number of wintering wildfowl was continuing to grow there, allowing me in-flight photos of various species of ducks as they flew in small family groups.

Wigeon in flight at Farlington.

Wigeon could now be seen in good numbers as they flew overhead.

Shoveller ducks in flight at Farlington.

Also taking a few practise pictures of shoveller ducks to add to my vast growing library of “shoveller-shots”.

A pair of Shelducks at Farlington.

A pair of shelducks flew in together from the sea.

Teal at Farlington Marshes.

A group of teal flew in a curving flight low across the mudflats, eventually landing in the main freshwater lagoon situated on the marshes.

A curlew out on the mudflats.

Looking out to harbour the tide was only just starting to return, pushing a few birds from the now deepening water. Out on the mudflats were quite a variety of waders. Mostly too distant to define for sure without a telescope, though several curlews probed their long bills into the soft soil.

Common redshank flies in.

Common redshanks could also be viewed.

On the waterline the shorter legged dunlins and a few other species of waders were attempting to continue feeding at the waters edge. This was on the rising tide, taking flight from time to time as the sea rose above their legs.

Little egrets at Farlington.

A group of little egrets could also be picked out.

Little egret fishing at Farlington.

While a lone one nearby continued to fish in one of the deepening pools.

Black-tailed godwits in flight.

From the viewing point at the main lagoon, small groups of black-tailed godwits flew in off the harbour to join up with a pantheon of them that had already settled in a large group that had already gathered, heads tucked in, snoozing.

Avocets at Farlington.

A small colony of avocets rested out on the main body of fresh water.

Lapwing at Farlington.

Along with a deceit of lapwings.

Pintail ducks at Farlington.

And a knob of drake pintails, heads tucked in.

Teal at Farlington.

In the reed beds around the edges of the lake a few teal could be picked out.

Common snipe at Farlington.

Alongside them, and as always well camouflaged, several common snipe could be viewed.

A lapwing in the foreground, with a grey plover and two common snipe behind.

Other oddments such as a grey plover and a lapwing could also be viewed.

Shovellers at Farlington.

In a water-filled drainage ditch a pair of shoveller ducks dabbled and sifted with their large spoon-shaped bills in shallow water.

Kestrel at Farlington.

Walking the circular route around the reserve, I first headed in the direction of the information hut. As on my many previous visits to Farlington Marshes, a kestrel could be seen hunting at close quarters.

Although having probably taken more pictures over the years, of kestrels than any other species, I just couldn’t resist a few more snapshots of such an enigmatic bird of prey.

Kestrel bunting at Farlington.

Having watched it as it dived into some long grass, in its attempt to catch a small mammal, I awaited its re-emergence, “snatching” a few shots as it took flight, unsuccessful, on this occasion in its mission.

A short while after I recognised another bird, one of which I have rarely had the good fortune to photograph.

Cetti’s warbler at Farlington.

Cetti’s warblers have become fairly common in recent years in southern-most counties of the UK. They are renowned for being very vocal, but at the same time extremely elusive. To my good fortune this one perched out just long enough for me to focus my camera.

Dunnock at Farlington.

A little further down the track a dunnock perched on a fence, pleading to be photographed!

Stonechat at Farlington.

A stonechat also made an appearance, perching up on a stem in the field nearby.

Linnets in flight.

While a small flock of linnets passed through.

The art of birdwatching certainly involves being alert at all times, especially when in the hope capturing shots of birds in flight. What wasn’t there one minute, can often be flying out of sight the next.

A glance behind me made me aware of a large bird of prey heading in my direction. At first I thought, maybe common buzzard, but soon realised my mistake.