- - ~- - --- ~ Birds in Southampton is a report by Southampton Wildlife Link, a body comprised of representatives from the Natural History and Conservation groups in Southampton. It was produced with the assistance of Southampton City Council. For further information contact: Reg Russell 7 Nightingale Grove SOUTHAMPTON 50153HQ , Front cover: Waxwing, Bevois Valley, 1996 1 J J This booklet is dedicated to the memory of Pat Loxton, the secretary of Southampton Wildlife Link since its formation. She was a tireless worker for the Link, and a passionate conservationist. I l - J J BIRDS IN SOUTHAMPTON Finally, the vital role of suburban Recent action by the City Council gardens should not be The position of Southampton at the has resulted in the development overlooked. Gardens provide a confluence of its two rivers, and the of a series of Greenways large expanse of habitat large open spaces and wild areas within throughout the City. They are throughout the City, relatively its boundary, makes it a prime urban principally wooded valleys free of predators and with a base for the bird watcher. forming green corridors that run plentiful food supply. into the centre of the City, In addition, the proximity of the New enabling wildlife to move in Cemeteries too provide a similar Forest: the internationally important safety. service, allowing birds to nest or wildlife areas of the So lent and roost undisturbed. Southampton Water increases the The Central Parks provide a ornithological interest of the area. remarkable open area in the City 2. River and Estuarial Sites Centre, some species of birds The purpose of this bookJet is to show visit these parks, but the variety The Itchen, running through the the reader where birds may be found in is inconsiderable. However, industrial area of the City, still the City area, to touch on other sites other public open spaces offer a has extensive mud fiats, which adjacent to its boundaries, and to far greater variety. support wintering waders. emphasise the need to protect the Chessel Bay Local Nature remaining wildlife habitats in the City. The Sports Centre and its Reserve enables the bird watcher adjacent wood and heathland; to get close to the flocks. Other I' 1. Inland and Urban Areas Lordswood both in and without Q!£hen sl® sites will be the City boundary; Riverside Park i / discussea later. The main area of considerable interest along the Itchen and into the i~ I is the Common. This is a large area Itchen Country Park are such Upstream, above Cobden Bridge, near the City Centre of mixed woodland, areas. They support a wide the salinity decreases and the open scrub, and two interesting range of woodland birds and bird life is markedly different. I freshwater lakes producing an imposing wildfowl, with a small but regular bird list. migratory passage. At the confluence with the Test on the Woolston side is the ....,. j I. Weston Shore. This is a much Hampshire and Isle of Wight Weston Shore within the City used recreation area, and birds Wildlife Trust. Only partially boundary has been the subject of attempting to roost at high tide within the City boundary, it offers a biological report by the are much disturbed. At low tide a wide range of wetland birds, Southampton Wildlife Link, and is the exposed mud provides which can be viewed in comfort now being updated. feeding space for a wide variety from 3 hides on the west side of of birds. The winter months also the river. It is best viewed from the car produce wildfowl, Red breasted park at the northern end of the Merganser, Goldeneye, the four The Sites promenade; this gives views of Grebes and Diver species are Weston Hard shingle/mud bank regular. This section will deal with some for waders. At the southern end of the more accessible areas, of the promenade a small car The Test provides fewer and will give a brief description of park gives views of the mud ~ opportunities for the birdwatcher the birds one might see there. It banks around the freshwater being completely industrialised is by no means an exhaustive outfall and across to Hythe. ] on the Southampton bank. list, many bird watchers have However, from Totton Causeway their own patch even in the City and Goatee Beach, Eling Great Centre. Marsh can be viewed with its nationally important First the estuary sites. concentrations of winter Wigeon. Southampton Water is an I important wildlife area, the Both these river courses are subject with the Solent, of a migration routes, and Marsh proposed Special Protection ] Harrier and Osprey are among ArealRamsar site. For the the more regular sightings. purpose of this booklet the eastern shoreline from Netley Above the busy Totton Country Park to Weston Shore is Curlew Causeway is the Lower Test of general interest. Reserve administered by the -- --. Waders in winter are Redshank, necked, are regular as are the and shingle shore, with a small Curlew, Ringed Plover, Dunlin three Diver species, with Great reed bed, backed by a belt of and Turnstone. Black tailed Northern the most frequent. trees with a rich understorey. Godwit are regular, and more infrequent is the Bar tailed. Floating Bridge Hard, Itchen It can be entered by a footpath Bridqe from Ath lestan Road. In Woolston go down to the The principal shore birds here riverside. In winter small groups are Redshank and Curlew as of Dunlin and other waders may regulars. Large flocks of Dunlin be seen. This area is notable for in winter, with fair numbers of a winter resident Mediterranean Ringed Plover in autumn. Gull that can be attracted with Turnstone are frequent with Black headed Gulls by scattering occasional Common Sandpiper bread. Also for periodic visits of and Grey Plover. Brent Geese Black-headed gull a Peregrine onto the roof of the are increasing in numbers and large shed in Vospers yard. can be considered as 'explorers' Brent Geese have a small flock Black Redstart has been from the Weston Shore flock. at low tide. More uncommon reported here. gulls noted among the larger numbers of Black headed are Other points' of interest are at Herring Gulls and Mediterranean, Crosshouse Hard on the west Common and more rarely the bank, and Spitfire Quay at Glaucous Gull. Woolston. Red breasted Merganser and Chessel Bay L.N.R. Goldeneye with the occasional Common Scoter and Eider are This also has been the subject of the principal sea ducks. All five a detailed report by Southampton Heron Grebes, included the Red- Wildlife Link. It is an area of mud I .. '\ J .__' . Also along the shore Heron, Grey can be viewed from several also predominate. Some Teal Wagtail and Rock Pipit may be points in the trading estate. and Godwall also found, with found, and Reed Warbler and Moorhen in the marshy area. Sedge Warbler in the rather This is the highest point in the battered reed bed in summer. river regularly reached by Red On the River Test estuary breasted Merganser. Red viewing from the City bank is In the wood a selection of throated and Black throated restricted. woodland and garden birds Divers, and Great crested Grebe reside with visits from Kestrel and have been recorded. A Velvet Lower Test Reserve (H & I.O.W Sparrowhawk. Scoter has also been seen from Wildlife Trust) the bridge. Dunlin and other waders are present in winter, with A very large area of wet grazing, the occasional Kingfisher. reed beds and tidal mud. It can be viewed from the old This area can also be viewed Redbridge below the main A35. from Vespasian Road and Bitterne Manor where wintering There are 3 hides facing artificial Common Sandpiper occur. scrapes that can be reached by 1 walking along Salterns Road in Cobden Bridge to Woodmill Totton, northwards. The path Kestrel (Riverside Park) continues via a board walk to the ~ Nursling trading estate and Northam Bridge Here the river is embanked, with returns to Totton via Test Lane. one small area of marsh on the The easiest (and quietest) place Bitterne Park side. A very wide range of birds have to view the mudflats and the river been recorded here, Wigeon is from the small Industrial Estate Birds found here are primarily dominate, with large numbers of on the Bitterne Manor side. Turn Black-headed Gulls, a large Teal, Shelduck and other wildfowl left at the traffic lights after loafing flock of up to 600 in mid- including a resident flock of crossing the bridge. The water winter, Mallard and Mute Swan Canada Geese. I is thought to have bred, stronghold in late In the scrapes Green Sandpiper, summer/autumn for the Yellow Wood Sandpiper, and Little Access is open, but do not leave legged Gulls, and other sub- Ringed Plover are regular in the paths or board walks, it can species of Herring Gull have spring/autumn. Kingfishers are be dangerous. been reported. Cormorants roost common in the scrapes, this is on one of the electricity pylons, the best place in Southampton Eling Great Marsh and Goatee unless they are ousted by up to area for Kingfisher. Beach three Peregrines contesting the observation point. The reserve is a Hampshire Eling Marsh can be viewed from stronghold for two uncommon the Totton Causeway on the Rarer migrants have been White birds; Cetti's Warbler, and in main A35, but be careful the rumped Sandpiper, Temminck's . winter Water Pipit. It also holds traffic is fast and furious. The Stint, White winged Black Tern, very large numbers of Reed Marsh is being rapidly eroded Glaucous and Mediterranean Warbler and Sedge Warbler. because of recent dredging work Gulls.