Farlington Marshes (22 August 2026)

On a beautiful Saturday morning 16 of us gathered on the car park overlooking the estuary and marsh at Farlington. A pleasant breeze took the edge off the heat as we began our birding scanning the nearby bushes, producing a lovely yellow Willow Warbler and several Chiffchaff, we then moved through the gate and on to the dyke between the estuary and marsh. Disappointingly few waders other than Curlew, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Little Egret and possibly a distant Great White. Down the bank and on to the grazing marsh, being very careful where we trod, we came across flocks of Linnets and Goldfinches, and as we moved towards an area of Hawthorn and Bramble we saw Blackbird, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap and another Willow Warbler. Further on we had several very obliging Lesser Whitethroat and at least three Spotted Flycatchers showing their wonderful agility in true Flycatcher fashion, stunning little birds, also many Swifts and Swallows seemed to be feeding well for their long journey south. A small pool and reedbed yielded a flock of Redshank among the assembled geese, a Black Tailed Godwit flew down the channel and several Common Sandpipers scuttled around the margins. We adjourned to the imaginatively named building called the Hut for lunch, some stayed outside hoping for Bearded Reedlings but no such luck other than a few Meadow Pipits. However, there were Yellow Wagtails, mainly juveniles and some very handsome adults along with families of Pieds in the nearby fields. 

The path from the Hut to the estuary dyke was uneventful but as we looked out over the saltmarsh from the dyke there were several Grey Plover some in superb summer plumage, Great Crested Grebe, Curlew and Oystercatcher. On the grazing marsh among the cows were several Cattle Egrets still in their peachy summer finery and more Yellow Wagtails.  Further along we came across the wader flock at last with Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Curlew, Whimbrel, Redshank and Oystercatcher. Walking along the top of the dyke and looking across the marsh, two Wheatear were spotted, more Linnets and Goldfinches and Common Whitethroat. From the benches overlooking the lagoon we saw Avocet, Gadwall, Shoveler, Shelduck, Teal, a distant family of Stonechat and a female Marsh Harrier quartered the reeds and marsh upsetting the local gulls and a Kestrel hovered. It was time to make our way to the car park for our journey back at the end of a hugely enjoyable and very full day of wonderfully varied birding, the highlight for many being the superb Spotted Flycatchers.

Many thanks are due to Rebecca, for the organisation of the day, impeccable as usual, Julia, for keeping the list of species, our wonderful drivers and the good humour of the group.

by Roy Pattison

Species List

Avocet, Black-headed Gull, Black-tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Blackcap, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Greylag Goose, Carrion Crow, Cattle Egret, Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff, Common Gull, Common Sandpiper, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Feral Pigeon, Gadwall, Goldfinch, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Plover, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Lapwing, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Lesser Whitethroat, Linnet, Little Egret, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Robin, Stock Dove, Shelduck, Stonechat, Shoveler, Spotted Flycatcher, Starling, Swallow, Swift, Teal, Turnstone, Wheatear, Whimbrel, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Wren, Woodpigeon, Yellow Wagtail.   Total: 63

Butterflies: Clouded Yellow, Common Blue, Small Heath, Small White, Meadow Brown.

Miscellaneous Species: Common Hawker Dragonfly, Harbour Seal, Common Rabbit (Bunnius Vulgaris.)