When I arrived at the car park at the end of Lower Pennington Lane my concerns were realised. Recently parking charges were introduced for the camper vans that parked along New Lane at Cut Bridge. Consequently the owners have looked for somewhere that doesn't have charges and the closest of course was this car park. Fortunately Ian andI were able to find spaces along Normandy Lane.
Our normal route out on to the reserve now changed we walked down the side of the Eight Acre Pond. On reaching the sea wall we decided to walk to the west. It was very quiet, both bird wise and people, but with the sunshine we assumed we would soon be inundated with day trippers.
There were a few Wigeon on Salterns sitting in the morning sunshine.
We walked across the fields and then up to the sea wall at Pennington. As we reached the Jetty there were a few Brent Geese on the marsh, numbers have fallen as the birds start their journey back to Siberia for the summer.
Another Wigeon on one of the pools.
We walked from the Jetty to check the Shoveler Pools, this time of year and weather would be perfect for Garganey , but nobody seems to have told the Garganey. There was very little on the pools.
A Cetti's Warbler sang from the scrub bushes, for once showing really well.
We were able to creep closer without disturbing it.
We crossed the Old Tip and then walked alongside the ditch at Fishtail. A pair of Tufted Duck were a little concerned as we approached.
And eventually took off.
Fishtail Lagoon was quiet, the water levels are still very high. There were Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler and Gadwall, but no sign of any Pintail. The Lapwing were displaying over the water with their acrobatic flights. Here the sun catches the plumage on the back of the Lapwing.
There were sic Pintail at the back of the Keyhaven Lagoon and a good sized flock of summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwits. A Greenshank was also feeding in a distant pool. We decided to walk around the Ancient Highway in the hope we might find some early butterflies. However aside from singing Chiffchaff the walk was very quiet.
Rather than walk back to the sea wall we carried on along Lower Pennington Lane. Ian stopped and pointed out a White-tailed Eagle coming across the marsh with a few Shelduck shadowing it. The light was not helpful unfortunately.
You can make out the radio transmitter on its back and from the all dark plumage this was an immature bird.
Walking along the back of the marsh you are almost guaranteed to find Roe Deer, and we did.
A young buck shedding the winter coat.
Things brightened up when we reached Normandy, there were a good number of waders on the lagoon. Close in was this Spotted Redshank, already beginning to show some dark feathers, let's hope it stays around.
A roost of breeding plumaged Black-tailed Godwits, reflecting well in the sunshine.
I recalled it was three years since I acquired the camera my first photographs with it of summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwits.
Black-tailed Godwit and Avocet alongside each other.
A Greenshank on the shore of the lagoon close to the path.
The Greenshank preening.
Many of the Avocet were paired up and could be seen going through the mating display. This one was being aggressive to the godwits, chasing them away for no clear reason other than they were there.
Some nice reflections in the still water.
A qucik shake after a preen.
We had lunch with the tide very high, but nothing to show for it. After there was some time to watch the waders once again. A few Ringed Plover and Dunlin appearing on the shingle, while out on the lagoon there were four Pochard and red head Red-breasted Merganser.
To be fair we had walked a long way today and were beaten, it was time to head home. As we walked buy the Eight Acre Pond a male Stonechat sat nicely on the tip of a branch.
March can be a frustrating month, in good weather it can promise so much and deliver nothing and that was definitely t he case today. Never mind, wonderful weather, good company what more do you need?
