News and Events

Bird spotting notes

December 2019

Just a few notes from recent visit to Hurst.
More of the usual winter visitors are arriving now.
The wildfowl are looking fine in their winter plumage.

Brent Geese – around 400 spread across the area from Sturt Pond to Keyhaven and across the marshes to Hurst.
Shelduck – nearly 2 dozen seen across the marshes
Wigeon – approximately 130 across the marsh. About 50 birds were spooked by a Peregrine, flew west over the Bank and settled on the sea.
Teal – approx., 150 between Sturt and Mount Lake.
Pintail – just 1 seen flying over the Bank and out to sea.
Red-breasted Merganser – 5 seen in the mouth of Keyhaven River, 2 males and 3 females.
Great Crested Grebe – 3 seen feeding off the mouth of the Keyhaven River.
Little Egret – only 3 seen across the patch
Merlin – an adult female seen at Hurst before heading low over the marshes towards Keyhaven
Peregrine – 1 hunting over the marshes.
Golden Plover – approx. 80 seen feeding off harbour wall, Keyhaven
Grey Plover – 23 counted in the creeks, spread over the patch.
Dunlin – only around 200 seen feeding on the mud in the main river.
Black-tailed Godwit – approx. 75 seen feeding on the mud in Keyhaven harbour down towards the start of Hawkers.
Redshank – over 40 counted across the patch
Turnstone – only 12 counted on the visit.
Med Gull – 2 on Sturt in winter plumage
Common Gull – 2 also on Sturt.
Kingfisher – 1 reported seen in Keyhaven Harbour.

Pete Hobby