Keyhaven and Pennington

20 Oct - A trip to Keyhaven and Pennington on the Hampshire coast, in calm but fairly cloudy weather. A fairly strenuous walk, firstly east from Pennington Lane towards the lagoons, and then west to Keyhaven village. A good variety of wildfowl and waders seen - Brent Geese have returned, and flocks of Teal and Wigeon present with the odd Pintail and Shoveler. A pair of Red-breasted Mergansers, and a drake Eider, were on the sea. A single adult winter Med Gull (7,8) was at Keyhaven beach with the Black-headed Gulls. Waders included Grey (6) and Ringed Plovers (5), Curlew (4), Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin and a single Sanderling - also a Greenshank (2) and 2 Spotted Redshanks (3) with the Redshanks. Turnstones and Oystercatchers also seen. At least 25 Little Egrets (1) on the saltmarsh, also a Kingfisher seen in flight, and raptors included Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. A migrant Wheatear was on the beach. Photos JM.