Rose Hips and Flowers

Approaching the Wooden Bridge

Overlooking the Container Port

September - Goatee Beach

Eleven of us including Mike our guide met up at Eling toll bridge. A smaller number than usual as several enthusiasts were on the continent. We made our way along the river inland from the Mill taking the first wooden bridge and wood slatted path back through Eling Cemetery to Goatee Beach where the low tide revealed the exposed mud banks. We had two hours before rain made us hurriedly return through Eling Church back to Totton. During that time we saw many birds including Godwits and Oyster Catchers.
Mike told us the origin of the name Godwit, it has been suggested it may be a corruption of the two words good and the antiquated word wight, the latter meaning swift, though the Godwits are not birds of very rapid flight.
Apparently the black-tailed Godwit in the year 1766 was sold in England for half-a-crown. Ben Jonson speaks enthusiastically of this bird as a delicate morsel for the appetite.

Note from Mike
Well over 30 species were encountered including those birds actively involved on 'visible migration' such as Swallows, House Martins and Meadow Pipits. A Kingfisher tantalised us by constantly calling along the reed-fringed creek but not showing at all until I unlocked my bike after everyone had gone and there it was, just below me!
On the Shoreline two Bar-tailed Godwits were slightly unexpected and were reasonably close but the taller and much commoner Black-tailed Godwits, together with the Wigeon were very distant and unfortunately the rain stopped play before the incoming tide pushed them closer to our watch point. An adult Yellow-legged Gull, breeding mainly in Southern Europe, is occurring more frequently now in the Test estuary in the autumn and winter and one gave us good views before sitting down for a sleep and thereby hiding its best feature.
Overall a good stroll - pity about the rain; much needed but never convenient.

Regards, Mike