03-04-14 Hengistbury head, Bournemouth

Arriving at noon in mild conditions in hazy sunshine my wife and I decided to walk up towards the headland overlooking Christchurch Bay. Passing the Cafe we discovered the new lottery funded visitor centre which I must say is very impressive. The facilities are good and there is even a live webcam focused on the nearby heronry showing fantastic views of the young herons at the nest. After a wonderful couple of hours walking we headed back to the car and spent an hour or so in Bournemouth walking the full length of the pier before heading home.
A full list of species observed as follows:-
Little Grebe (1), Great Cormorant, Little Egret (4 inc at least one nesting pair at heronry), Grey Heron (4 pairs occupied nests), Mute Swan, Brent Goose (c50 on far shoreline of Christchurch Bay), Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Eurasian Coot, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Eurasian Curlew (1), Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Sandwich Tern (3 from Bournemouth Pier), Great-spotted Woodpecker, Sand Martin (12), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Stonechat (3 male), Common Blackbird, Common Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Eurasian Jay (4), Common Magpie, Carrion Crow, Common Starling, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet (2).     

             
                                                            Common Stonechat (male)

                                                                       Quarry Pond