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Blackwater
(North Solent NNR)
By
following the footpath opposite the parking area and main hide
you can access this area after crossing a field and small
brook which can be good for feeding Ducks and Geese as well as
Egrets, Greenshank and the occasional Spotted Redshank.
Four hides can be accessed, all of which can be very
productive at different times of the year and depending on
water levels. The Easterly hide (Estuaire de l’orne) can be
very productive at high tide when large numbers of waders
gather to roost directly in front of the hide especially in
the autumn. During the winter months good numbers of commoner
wildfowl also gather in front of the hide.
Other hides surrounding the Blackwater are Blackwater Hide,
which can be good for wildfowl on the water and passerines in
the surrounding scrub; in particular Cetti’s Warbler favours
this area. Also both Water Rail and Snipe can regularly be
encountered at close range in front of the hide. The NFOC Hide
is a little less productive, however good number of wildfowl
can congregate here and when the water level is low enough
waders such as Greenshank, Spotted Redshank and Black-tailed
Godwit can often be seen roosting on the opposite side.
Finally James Venner Hide often has large numbers of wildfowl
which roost on the small island as well good numbers of Little
Egret and the occasional Black-tailed Godwit or Oystercatcher.
The
Point
The point provides a good vantage point into the mouth of the
Beaulieu estuary, during the winter months goods numbers of
shorebirds can be seen, and the scarcer grebes such as
Black-necked and Slavonian are usually present. Peregrines are
regular in this area as is Barn Owl, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and
Merlin. During the summer months good views of the Gull and
Tern colony can be had which is now sadly much smaller that it
has been, Oystercatcher and Ringed Plover also breed in this
area.
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