29th December - Blashford Lakes, Normandy, Pennington and Key Haven Marshes, Hampshire

It has been a while, 29 days to be exact since I have been able to get out.  A combination of the seasonal celebrations and some appalling weekend weather have been the reasons, but finally I was off along the M27 to meet Ian at Blashford Lakes.  The beauty of this time of year is that you do not have to get up early to be able to be in place at dawn.  The sun was due up just after 8.00 am, but the thick cloud cover meant there was no chance of seeing the sun rise.  It was also very mild, but with very little breeze.

We walked around to the Tern hide, which we knew would be locked, but a sighting the previous day of a Short-eared Owl was the incentive.  The owl was predictably not to be seen, but we were able to witness the gull roost departing north to the farmland up the test valley.

We headed then around to Ivy Lake, again a little early for our main reason for being here, we wandered on down to the the Ivy Lake South Hide.  A flock of Long-tailed Tits, a couple of Goldcrests, a Chiffchaff and possible Firecrest kept us entertained here, but it soon became time to walk to the north hide, where we hoped to get some views of Bittern.  The tricjk here is to get their early to be able to get the seat by the only opening windows.  The rest of the hide has fixed windows that are covered with a film that reduces the visibility from the outside, but makes photography impossible.

We did not time it very well, and as we arrived we had been beaten to the window, and there were several other people in the hide.  Out in front of us was a small reed bed, and that was all we could see until someone said that there was the Bittern in the middle.  Scanning the reeds at first there was nothing, then we could make out the Bittern, sat unusually at the top of the reeds.  This was the first record shot, through the windows.

It had clearly bee disturbed by something in the reeds and was taking refuge on the top of the reeds.  Also fortunately for us the guy buy the window moved enough to let me photograph through the open window.  A considerable difference

It was standing in the defense position, head up and perfectly still, not moving at all

It was also possible to get some good views outside the hide through the space between the fence and the hide.  

What ever was in the reeds was moving, and the Bitterns turned still with the head up, but as if to keep an eye on whatever it was.

Then two Cormorants appeared at the edge of the reeds, were these what was frightening the Bittern?

I was back in the hide when it suddenly hunched down.

I then watched as it looked at what was ever moving below it, the feathers on the back of the head were raised and it opened its beak in an aggressive stance.  I missed this but did manage to get a shot of the feather raised and the beak slightly open

Then all seemed to calm down and the Bittern settled down into the reeds.

Some absolutely superb views, of a bird that can be extremely difficult to watch let alone photograph.  Bittern is regular here, and it is amazing as it is a small patch of reeds.  The hide is not the best due to the windows, but as we discussed in the hide, this is probably the reason why it is possible to get such good views.

This was what we came for, and by 9.30 we had succeeded.  We decided to move on to the Tern Hide, as we approached a drake Goosander flew over, and a large flock of Linnets were in the bushes adjacent to the hide.  The recorded count was 108, but there only seemed around 50 odd when we were there

The Linnets would fly down to the ground in front of the hide, and would also move to the water's edge to drink.  They were very flighty though and would fly off at the slightest noise or movement.

Out on the water there were around 30 Pochard, and the usual Tufted Duck.  A scan of the lake failed to locate the Black-necked Grebe, but we did manage to find several Goldeneye, a drake swam slowly across the open water, the movement in the water sending different colours and framing it.

As we were about to leave a drake Goldeneye appeared close to the hide.

We then decided to move on, next stop was to be Pennington, we took the risk and headed for the car park at Lower Pennington Lane, on arriving after a tourist trip through the New Forest, we were fortunate enough to get a couple of space.  Our timing though was just right  as several cars arrived behind us.  As we got ready in the car park, a large flock of Brent circled Pennington Marsh.

We were heading for Normandy Marsh so decided to take the footpath at the back of the marsh, as we walked down Pennington Lane the sky filled with Lapwing and Golden Plover, we had to stop and watch as well as search for the reason.

Pretty soon the plovers were joined by Wigeon, Teal ad Pintail, there was total panic but no sign of the reason.  A birder walked past us and then pointed out two Peregrines above us.  We watched them, and I photographed them as they flew.  We then thought we had pciked them up again, only to realise they were a pair of Golden Plover.  When I checked the birds I had photographed they too were Golden Plover, so we were not sure there had in fact been any Peregrine.  Nevertheless the birds were spooked by something.

The walk was uneventful, and as we walked out onto the sea wall at eight acre Lake the tide was low.  We headed for Normandy Marsh, where the first bird to stop us was a Spotted Redshank sitting close to the edge of the water by the sea wall.

As we stood photographing the redshank the sun broke through.

There was another a little further around, which this one joined, but for now this one was content to stand on one leg.

We made our way around the the south east corner in th hope we could find the reported Twite, but there were no small passerines at all on the marsh.  There was though a Greenshank, which like the Spotted Redshank was close in, but a little more active

Water drops falling off as it raised its head.

The sun was still making appearances and this would change the views.

Making the water dark to frame the Greenshank.

We made our way back to where the Twite has been frequenting, and stood and waited.  Apparently the Linnets that it keeps with go out onto the marsh at low tide, and are best seen at high tide.  The tide was still low, but rising, we stood and waited.

A Kingfisher flashed past, and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers were just off the sea wall, but no small passerines.  A Dunnock did a very good impression of a Dartford Warbler, and the odd Linnet and Goldfinch would tease of larger flocks, but nothing happened.

In the end we decided to walk back, there were only about two hours left of good light and we also hoped to catch up with a Short-eared Owl at Keyhaven.  Walking back we stopped for an Avocet feeding close to the sea wall.

I always under estimate the distance from Normandy, as you have to wind around Moses Dock it is a lot further than as the crow flies.  Off Oxey Marsh were five Goldeneyes, and a couple of Eider, both female types, here a poor record shot.

A flock of about 20 Common Scoter were picked up at first flying west, but they then dropped onto the water and we lost them, only to pick them up a little later as we approached the Jetty, again on the water in mid channel.

It was 14.30 but the sun was low, and with a small window of cloud just above the horizon the light was sparkling across the sea showing the Needles on the Isle of Wight.

At the back of Pennington Marsh a Marsh Harrier appeared.  A male it headed away from us scattering the duck feeding on the marsh.  As it turned in land it was joined by a larger female and they both headed in land.

On the marsh behind the lagoon were a pair of Raven, early breeding birds this pair were probably already re-bonding in preparation for breeding soon.

We walked on to Butts, and then up to Fishtail.  The lagoon there was dominated by Brent Geese.  On the little pool by the path a Little Grebe was tucked in under the gorse close to the bank, just a head against the dark black water.

Back at the car park a Cetti's Warbler announced its presence.  I though I could see it in the gloom, but it turned out to be a female Blackbird!

We walked the Ancient Highway, the Short-eared Owl had been see here yesterday, it was a chance but we had faith.  Unfortunately the faith began to wane as the sun dropped low on the horizon and there was no sign.  Gadwall were on the lakes, and the Lapwing were nervous once again, here though I think the reason was the Marsh Harrier, you can just make a blurred image in the middle of the Lapwing

A Kestrel appeared around us, and at one time was buzzed by a very plucky Meadow Pipit.

There was though no sign of the hoped for owl.  As the sun set and the light dimmed a shape flying in from Fishtail had me excited only to watch as the shape flew to a perch and turned into the Kestrel

We decided it was not going to turn up, and if it did it would soon be too dark to see it.  As we headed back to the car park a Marsh Harrier flew west above us, on its way to the roost at Keyhaven

It had been a good start to the day, but and faded a little in the afternoon with the sought after birds not materialising.  Never mind it was great to be back out, and the company was great too 

30th November - RSPB Pagham Harbour & Selsey, West Sussex

We were off to Sidelsham once again, but with the weather forecast being awful for Saturday and Sunday, this time we changed our plans, and arrived early in glorious blue skies and sunshine mid morning, and set off to walk the route to Selsey from the Crab and Lobster.

The light at this time of year is always special, but it always seems so much more around here.  As we passed the cottage with the wonderful pond for a garden a Little Grebe was preening amongst the reflections of the reeds and blue sky.

We were last here in early July, a time of Sunshine and world cup fever.  As we had walked the footpath towards the Ferry then we put up clouds of butterflies on the bramble lining the path, today there were bees around, but with the sunshine I would not have been surprised to have seen a later Red Admiral

On reaching the Ferry we stopped to look over the pool.  For once there was quite a bit about, Wigeon feeding close to the road, and many Teal spread out across the water.  However it was the Lapwing that dominated the view with a good four to five hundred of them flocking over the fields at the back of the pool.

There were as many on the ground as there were in the air, and birds would drop down onto the ground while those on the ground would fly up and float around the fields, quite a sight.

From the Ferry we took the footpath to Church Norton.  Again back in July this was covered with butterflies, mostly Gatekeepers, the ground to was bone dry. Today no butterflies, and very little else to see, while the path was pitted with deep mud puddles, the recent storms starting to make the ground a little bit more like it should be at this time of year.

Looking across the fields from the sea wall there were more opportunities for black and white photography.

A Kingfisher flew past across the saltmarsh, having probably been sitting on the mud or a convenient old post.  On reaching the oaks that sprawl out across the beach I was taken by the leaves that were still clinging to the branches, and the back light against the black background.

The tide was fully out, looking across the harbour there was very little about.  Close to the path, as we walked to the beach, were several Redshank.  This one, like the oak leaves had its red legs picked out by the low sun

I had expected to see many Brent Geese, but this was the only sizeable flock that came past us.  They flew around and finally settled in the fields behind the railway carriages.

It was a lovely day, but walking south was difficult as there was the southerly wind, and the low sun in your eyes.  This produced a silver effect out on the sea.

At East Beach there was a detour around the car park.  A small flock of Black-headed Gulls were resting on the concrete, and some in the puddles.

Herring Gulls sitting on the roofs of the fish stores

And on the way back more Black-headed Gulls in softer light

With the sun setting at 4.00pm, the light at 2.00pm was taking on that golden glow

We disturbed a Kingfisher, probably the same one as we had seen in the morning, as we approached the Ferry, and as we walked back  the only clouds about were inland over the South Downs

Past the Ferry we were entertained by a Spitfire high above the peninsula

This was one of the adapted planes for taking paying customers fro a flight in a Spitfire.  The huge dome at the front of the plane for that all round view.

Having reached the Crab and Lobster we just kept going.  We thought the walk to the North Wall would be through muddy fields at Halsey's Farm, but they were remarkably dry.  Walking up to the sea wall another Kingfisher zipped low across the water, while we were greeted by the whistles of Wigeon in the channels as the tide was rising.

Wigeon looking splendid in the afternoon sunshine

Even Coot can look special in the reflected water.

And the view across the reed beds was also lit up by the golden light.  A little later on a very distant Marsh Harrier was seen at the back of the reed bed

We walked to the sluice in the hope of finding another Kingfisher but it wasn't about.  Waders were collecting on the mud, the low setting sun catching the outline of the Lapwing on the dark patches

Black-tailed Godwits, Grey Plover, Dunlin and Redshank fed on the rising tide in White's creek

Lapwing flew over the North Wall to join the many others gathering on the mud

It was almost sunset, and despite the mild conditions as the sun slipped away for the day you could feel the temperature change

We made our way back as the sun finally set, the light on the water turning a golden hue, and as the light ebbed away you were left with the whistles of the Wigeon, and every so often the bubbling call of a Curlew somewhere.

The decision to make the most of this day was borne out in the morning when heavy rain fell until midday, then followed by a drizzle that made it very unpleasant.  While the weather had been lovely, the low tide and time of year did not make for the best birding, but even so it was much better than if we had gone out on the Saturday.