Spent a few hours this morning walking around the Hook with Warsash Nature Reserve. Pretty quiet at first around workman’s lane but as I got to the links things livened a little. Wheatears were the bird most in evidence. I estimate eight different birds were seen along the links and on the beach. I had five at one time together so the total number could have been a little higher but not always easy to tell as they tend to flit along with you as you walk. Also present were a couple of Whinchat but unfortunately they were at distance so no photos. Also seen was a high flying Peregrine which came over Southampton Water. I did think it might have a pop at some of the House Martins which were passing through in large numbers. Probably around a 1000 birds in total. I spent about half an hour at the scrape sat comfortably in the new chair!! At certain times there were literally hundreds of House Martins over the scrape, feeding and drinking the odd Sand among them. I’m 95% certain all the Wheatear shots below are of different birds.

Wheatear 1, Hook with Warsash, 14 Sep 2009