30th April - Normandy Marsh and Lagoon, Hampshire - Part Two

Still in the same spot on the sea wall path, the birds kept coming. There had been Bar-tailed Godwits on the west side of the lagoon, a small group of about ten flew over heading east.

This one close in showing the barred tail.

The Grey Plover once again on the sand close by me.

There were Dunlin scattered around the lagoon, feeding in the shallow water close to the islands and the sand bar in front of me.  Almost all were in summer plumage showing the distinctive black belly.

Every so often they would fly along the shore to move to another spot to feed.

And with the Dunlin were the two Sanderling, this one being the one showing signs of breeding plumage.

The Avocet was feeding close once again.

I have often wondered what the Avocet are able to sieve out of the water with their scythe like action.  Here it has clearly caught a shrimp.

There were a few Ringed Plover scattered around the marsh, this one being the closest to me.

There has been a couple of Curlew Sandpipers in amongst the Dunlin and another birder pointed out that there was one with Dunlin in the centre of the lagoon.  It would be better seen from the east side so I walked around and was able to pick it out as it moved around one of the islands.

The larger size and longer bill than the Dunlin standing out and of course the lack of any black belly, in fact there were signs of the red breeding plumage on the flanks.

The pools on the east side had receded quite a bit and in the sunshine the mud and sand was bleached.  There were several pairs of Avocet.  This one wasn't sitting on eggs, but just resting on the mud. staying out of the wind and enjoying the sunshine.

But it was sonn standing up and going through some stretches.

And then showing off the elegance of this wader.

Some of the Bar-tailed Godwits showed the stunning brick red plumage while others were still in the drab, grey brown non breeding plumage.  Bar-tailed Godwits do not breed until their third year but will undertake the long migrations with the adults.  It is also possible that the female birds do not have the bright red plumage that the males do.  Females are typically larger than the male and they have a longer bill.  There were two birds that came close to me on the east side, both in non breeding plumage but showing off a long bill, possibly females?

I walked back to the south side once again and settled in to have lunch, but this was interrupted when a full breeding plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit dropped in.

This one looked smaller and the bill also appeared to be shorter.  It flew around the disturbing the Dunlin feeding on the shore.

Of the two godwits we see in this country the Bar-tailed for me looks the most spectacular, with the brick red colour extending all the way under the chest and belly, while the Black-tailed is pale on the underneath.

And being able to look down on the godwit, you get to see the barred tail and lovely brown detail on the wings.  The under wing is pale, if it was black we would have something special.

With the tide now falling it flew out to the mud on the other side of the wall.

The terns were a challenge as they flew past heading out to the sea and then returning.  Here a Common Tern.

Then Little Terns, looking stunning against the azure blue sky.

From this shot it is possible to see the yellow ring on the leg.  I am able to read the characters, so hopefully an update on the details for this bird later on.

The mewing calls from above heralded the arrival of Mediterranean Gulls.

The black edges to the primaries indicate that these birds are in their third calendar year and not yet ready to breed despite the full black hood.

Oystercatcher crossing the lagoon.

There is an inlet that comes closer to the path and there were five Bar-tailed Godwits that were feeding along the shore that started to move closer.  Fortunately there were two, that looked like males, in full breeding plumage and one showed really well.

Showing off the stunning colour, a lovely brick red which contrasts with the brown of the wings.

A scratch as it preened dipping the bill in the water to smooth out the wing feathers.

And then a shake.

I had been in one spot for just over four hours and had some great views.  It was time to head back to the car.  The weather had been stunning with to blue skies dominating, the wind though a little cool, but probably the reason why the waders were here in good numbers today.  As I walked up on to the top sea wall I looked back at the scene I was leaving.

A lovely day to end the month of April.

30th April - Normandy Marsh and Lagoon, Hampshire - Part One

Last day of April and a clear blue sky and a very fresh easterly wind as I left home and when I arrived at Normandy Lane I thought maybe I should have headed for the coast as there were some great records of skuas moving.  I was here for the terns, Little Tern in particular.  

After parking in the lane I headed out past the eight acre pond and then on to Normandy.  The wind was very strong and took the edge off the temperature and on the lagoon the birds were using what shelter they could find.  On the first pool there were Bar-tailed Godwits in various stages of summer plumage and a few Avocet.  As I walked at the bottom path I picked up the only Swift of the day over the lagoon.

There were very good numbers of Common Terns on the islands and every so often they would take to the air and circle around the marsh.

Dunlin, almost all in summer plumage fed a little way from the south path around the marsh.

Redshank were feeding in the ditch below the path and flew up to the post.  This one colour ringed.

It flew off and was then joined by another bird, probably a mate, not ringed.

It proceeded to call.

A single Avocet feeding close to the path, at this time of year it probably has a mate sitting on eggs somewhere close by.

As well as the skuas moving today there were good numbers of waders moving too.  This almost summer plumaged Grey Plover had probably dropped in some time this morning.

Then the first close view of Little Tern, the bird I had hoped to see today.

The bat like flapping flight as it hovered over the open water with a lovely dark green background.

There were quite a few Little Terns scattered around the islands, good to see this delightful little sea bird thriving well here, lets hope they can have a successful breeding season.

With the sun on my back and being able to shelter from the cold wind on the lower path I stayed pretty much in the same place for the whole visit.

Grey Plover flew through with several showing off their breeding plumage.

Whilst not quite a complete breeding plumage, this Grey Plover looked quite smart feeding close to me on the path.

Another unusual wader here was a pair of Sanderling, again probably a product of the wader movement here today.

One of the Sanderling showing the start of its breeding plumage.

Off with a Dunlin.

An unwelcome visitor on the lagoon, an adult Great Black-backed Gull and it doesn't look happy.

The reason, Common Terns on the attack.

Then joined by a Black-headed Gull.

Finally it was off, but no doubt this will be a fearsome predator as the eggs start hatching around the reserve.

Some more Little Tern action over the lagoon.

I wasn't going far, but there was plenty of photographic opportunities.  Overall I took a hell of a lot of images while here so I have split the posts in to parts one and two.  The rest of this day will now be a seperate post.