Back down to Hampshire

Sunday 1st August 2021

Lepe,  Hampshire

Hampshire Ornithological Society (H.O.S)

My second outing with H.O.S. took me to Lepe Country Park on the Solent on the western fringes of Southampton.  This time our group numbered 10 and our 4 hour walk started at 08.30 from the car park.  The weather was excellent - dry, sunny and just a gentle breeze.

We headed off east, following the shoreline just after the high tide, returning by the same route and then going round the small nature reserve on the western side of the road opposite the entrance to the car park.  We finished off looking for birds on the shoreline at low tide.  There were lots of birds around but nothing of any great rarity.

• One of the highlights was the Water Rail seen at the bottom of the channel in the last lagoon we passed on the outward journey.
• The terns caused a stir again but this time there were no Little Terns seen.
• We saw more Mediterranean Gulls this time.
• Bird of the day for me though was the Sanderling, in summer plumage, seen on the shore at the end of the visit.

A pleasant outing at a superb venue with the Solent and the Isle of Wight providing the wallpaper!