BOC Trip: Stanpit Marsh, 20th February 2022
A small but intrepid band from BOC met up at the car park of Stanpit Marsh at 9:30 on 20th February 2022. The wind was strong, increasing and soon to be named Storm Franklin. Undaunted we set out to explore the area.
Stanpit Marsh is a 65-hectare area of saltmarsh, sandy scrub, reed bed and estuarine banks lying on the north side of Christchurch harbour with views overlooking Hengistbury Head. Paths were muddy and those who brought their wellington boots had made the correct choice.
The first birds to get our attention were a mobile group of Goldfinch to our right, moving from tree to tree as we approached, and a very confiding Jay who had obviously found a sheltered spot and had no intention of moving!
Walking through the scrubby area towards the harbour. Several Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail were seen on the ground as well as some Greenfinch in the brambles giving their characteristic “dweeeez” call. A male Stonechat was gamely trying to perch high up on a gorse bush but unable to hold its position due to the high winds. He eventually came a cropper and fell into the bush – much like the foolhardy windsurfers further out in the harbour. Several Little Egret and a Grey Heron were patrolling the creeks.
Approaching the water’s edge, a group of perhaps a dozen Dark-bellied Brent Geese were feeding on the grass and more were seen on shingle banks stretching out into the harbour. A large group of Black-tailed Godwit were further out, some of them with signs of summer plumage but all tucked up against the wind and relatively inactive. Closer inshore, a large number of Wigeon were apparent and clearly audible, whistling over the sound of the wind. Keeping them company was a mixed flock of gulls. Beyond them on a shingle spit, a few Cormorant and Greater Black-backed Gull were perched trying to ignore the increasing wind. A handful of Curlew were also present, giving evocative calls as they flew by. Oystercatcher were seen among the Wigeon with a small group of 10 or 12 probing along the shoreline.
Turning away from the water’s edge, a pair of Little Grebe were just visible above the waves. A small number of Teal were present in the more sheltered bits of water. We watched a Kestrel managing to hold its position, hovering over a reed bed. We came upon a bush festooned with curious cocoons and it was felt these could be the work of Brown-tailed Moths. Turning along the Purewell stream on our way back to the car park a Kingfisher showed as a flash of blue and was seen no more.
Back at the cars we made a decision to carry on to Lepe Country Park near Exbury, Southampton but on arrival, the sea conditions there were too rough. A combination of wind and high tide pushing some waves over the coastal road. Council workers there were still trying to repair damage caused by storm Eunice two days before. The car parks had also been closed so we decided to move round the coast to Calshot Marshes, a local nature reserve and SSSI.
En-route to Calshot the lead car of our convoy deftly avoided two Red-legged Partridge walking along the road and on arrival we had lunch.
Suitably refreshed we spend a couple of hours exploring Calshot. Walking along the shingle beach past deserted beach huts we saw Cormorant on a distant floating platform and close by our feet, three Turnstone. Black-headed Gulls, some approaching summer plumage, together with Common Gulls were drifting in the wind. Further into the marsh we came across more Brent Geese together with less conspicuous Redshank and a couple of Shelduck amongst the Eel grass. Two large black birds were seen half-way down an inland tree which were initially thought to be Cormorant but on closer inspection were corvids. We speculated whether they could be Raven but could not get a positive I.D. and the matter was left as a maybe. Looking further out into the Solent, we saw a group of Pintail and a solitary Slavonian Grebe, which was seemingly heading for the relative shelter of Southampton Water.
With strengthening winds and the rain starting, we headed back to the cars. A bracing but enjoyable day’s birding was had by all.
Gary Kirsopp and Karen Lynch