At the Deeps there were small groups of Wigeon, and ten Black-tailed Godwits feeding along the edge of the pools. A look at the radar on my phone showed it was going to get wet. The only place to provide shelter was the sea wall at the end of Point Field. Here there are steps and a level area where it is possible to get out of the wind, there is still the rain, but without the blasts. The view though was not very impressive.
With the worst of the rain passed it was possible to scan the mud. Of note were the numbers of Ringed Plover. I counted 276 spread out across the mud. In the channel were nine Great Crested Grebes, while on the other side, in amongst the sea weed were 46 Little Egrets, and 54 Oystercatcher. It is interesting that that counting helps to pass the time. With the camera covered up from the elements there were no photographs.
The rain finally stopped, but the wind persisted. The walk from Point Field around the the viewing area on the lake produced very little, on the marsh were four Pheasants and Canada Geese spread out, while on the mud there were Curlews and Redshank.
At the Lake I was able to get the camera out, first to catch the eye was a single Snipe flying into to the cover of the reeds.
Then settled down.
Out in the middle of the lake a Grey Heron waded, not looking like it was fishing.
In front of a group of Black-tailed Godwits, were two Spotted Redshanks, feeding with the usual vigorous action.
The Spotted Redshanks mixed with the godwits, and when the godwits took off they went with them, only to return later at the back of the lake with three others to make five in total.
Another wader in amongst the godwits stood out, this time a Ruff, breaking away to feed alone. With the amount of white, and grey brown on the upper parts this is an adult male in winter plumage
The tide was now starting to rise and waders and duck were coming onto the lake from the estuary. There had been plenty of Canada Geese about, but coming over the sea wall were a group of Brent Geese, their numbers starting to build up. Coming with the wind they were fast, but they turned back into the wind which allowed the chance to photograph them.
A Kingfisher broke out of the reeds and flew around the lake before disappearing into the reeds on the north side. It was then followed by another coming from the same area.
By now the Ruff was coming a lot closer.
Giving some good views.
And had teamed up with a lone Black-tailed Godwit.
For some reason the Black-tailed Godwits all took off, producing a lovely spectacle of black and white wings.
The Ruff went with the godwits, and while the majority landed back on the lake, a small group headed out onto the mud, and the Ruff went with them.
Scattered around the mud were several Curlew, every so often you would hear their bubbling call, but mostly they patrolled the mud.
The Kingfisher appeared again, a welcome flash of brilliance in an otherwise gloomy dull morning.
The reason I had stuck around was in the hope of finding the Curlew Sandpiper that had been seen through the week. The Godwits were forming a large group in the middle of the lake, their numbers well in excess of one hundred. The Redshank too, were gathering together, and as I scanned through the Redshank and the Dunlin that were with them I found the Curlew Sandpiper.
It is a juvenile bird, the breast a peachy tint, and the upper feathers neatly scalloped, which give it a more elegant appearance than the surrounding Dunlin.
The wind was very wearing, and having found the Curlew Sandpiper, it was time to move on. Walking back to the car a Greenshank called, and there were three birds in amongst Common Redshank, coming from the corner of the marsh in front of the cars.
It wasn't a day to be out in the open. Regardless that the rain had stopped the wind was relentless, so Titchfield Haven was the next destination, and the comfort of a hide. Arriving at high tide, on the beach around the sailing club there was a large roost of Turnstone.
Walking to the Meon Shore Hide there was the pings of Bearded Tits, and despite the wind, a pair perched briefly at the top of the reeds before flying off across the reeds and away from the hopeful camera.
Once in the hide, it was calm, and looking out across the scrape very quiet. Two Dunlin, a Lapwing, Redshank and Snipe all fed together off one of the islands.
there were plenty of Black-tailed Godwits, Lapwings and Oystercatchers, but the one wader of note was yet another Ruff. At first at the back of the scrape, but it came closer as the Redshank it was feeding with flew over.
This time it is a juvenile, appearing more golden in colour, with scalloped feathers with dark centres. The colour of the legs is just visible despite the mud, greenish.
When it stopped and stood still it looked quite elegant.
The mud it was wading in was obviously very sticky, and it had to keep flapping its wings to lift itself out to move on.
In the deeper water the Black-tailed Godwits did not have the same problem.
The two Dunlin seen earlier finally came closer to the hide.
But were having the same problem as the Ruff in the mud.
Little was moving in, so it was time to move on. The Spurgin Hide though could only produce a Buzzard on the fence post.
While from the Pumfrett Hide, the only item of interest was a Snipe roosting in amongst the Lapwing.
The rain returned and it became time to call it a day. Not the best of days, but you have to live with these to get the good ones!
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