Bird Meeting from Binfield to the Folly and return.
Just five people met at the car park at Island Harbour on the east side of the River Medina on an extremely windy but mild morning. The light was not good either, but we did see some birds during the course of the morning. It was lovely to see a good number of Brent Geese on the foreshore and we noted and heard quite a few Oystercatchers. A small flock of Canada Geese were grazing in a meadow. The evocative call of the Curlew was heard, and we saw them both feeding on the mud and flying. Two Black Tailed Godwits were on the edge of the water and then took to the wing displaying their characteristic black tail markings. We spotted one lone Redshank. Mallard were swimming and five Moorhens swam under the pontoons at the Marina. The wreck on the other side of the river had half a dozen Cormorants standing drying their wings. Most of the small birds were absent as they were sheltering from the strong wind but we did note Goldfinch, Skylark, Robin, Dunnock and Pied wagtail.
There were a few gulls; Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull and Great Black Backed Gull. As we expect to see at any of our meetings Woodpigeon did put in an appearance and, of course, Crows, Rooks and Jackdaw. 22 species of birds were recorded during the course of the morning.
Jackie Hart.
