22nd September - Farlington Marshes, Hampshire

Lats week I walked around Farlington Marshes in the hope of finding something.  After spending time scanning through the waders on the lake around high tide I called it a day and left.  Later that evening a Pectoral Sandpiper was found, it is always the way!  The sandpiper stayed through the week, and as always seems to be the way the site went through a small purple patch, a Bluethroat turning up on Monday but not seen since, and on Wednesday a juvenile Red-backed Shrike.  

The weather this last week has been pretty wild, with two named storms whipping up strong winds with some rain.  It was clear the shrike and sandpiper were not going anywhere overnight while these conditions lasted, but as I drove home from Basingstoke on Friday evening the skies were clear and all around the countryside was lit up by a full moon, ideal conditions for them both to take off and leave.

And so it was with expectations quite low I was heading back to Farlington Marshes, the first chance I had since the birds were found.  Pulling into the car park there were only a few places left.  Walking through the bushes there was little about, but I could already see the godwits on the stream, and a lot of Black-headed Gulls.  I quickly came upon several other birders, and the news wasn't good, no sign of either the Red-backed Shrike, or the Pectoral Sandpiper.  I walked along the stream checking through the Black-tailed Godwits, at the back of the stream by the reeds there were good numbers of Wigeon, all still in eclipse plumage.

The sandpiper had been showing close to the Information Hut so I walked there scanning the water and mud with no luck.  I could either stand and wait or go off and search, I decided to keep moving, walking back along the stream towards the lake and sea wall.

Other birders were searching the bushes, still with no luck.  I was convinced the shrike had gone.  As I walked up the sea wall there were waders feeding on the mud that was slowly being covered by the rising tide.  Mostly Black-tailed Godwits but in amongst them were several Dunlin.

I turned back to bushes that were below me now as I walked along the sea wall.  A Chiffchaff was calling as it caught flies from the bush, but would also stop and show well on the branches.

There were three birders watching the bushes a little further back, and as I looked to try and see what they were looking at I picked up a Peregrine flying low over the reeds before the lake.  It then kept going heading out towards the A27.

Last week the water level on the lake was very low, with waders at high tide all over the exposed mud and in the shallow water.  Today though the water lveles were very high in comparison, with almost no exposed mud at all.  There were a few Black-tailed Godwits at the back of the water along with a few Redshank, but the majority of birds were ducks with Teal, Mallard, Gadwall and a few Wigeon dabbling in the mud

I decided to walk around the sea wall, if either bird turned up I was sure I would find out.  Heading past the Lake a single Curlew was standing in the water with the rising tide.

A little further along I noticed a couple of birds moving in the bushes by a fence that made its way around the back of the lake.  A closer look showed them to be Whinchat and they were feeding around the bushes and fence.

One perched in a bramble bush close the wall and I climbed down to get closer and to see if I could photograph it between the bramble strands.

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The Whinchats gradually moved away, but I could still see them sitting on top of the bushes.  I walked on and turned around the corner, and a Little Egret was feeding in the shallow water produced by the rising tide.

The area was also full of Linnets and Meadow Pipits, at times the flock rising up out of the salt marsh, then flying back down to the rocks and vegetation.

The Meadow Pipits were all over the sea wall, and in amongst them were Goldfinches and Linnets.  Linnets too were perched in the bushes around the gate into Point Field.

Robins were singing around me as I walked through the field, but with little else about.  But as I approached the eastern wall there was a large flock of birds in the bramble bushes.  Meadow Pipits were dominant once again, but I noticed a different flight and picked up two Whinchats, one which flew towards me and perched high on a bush close to the path.

The first Whinchat then flew off, and I walked around to another bush where a Reed Bunting sat at the top of the bush.

At this time of year its always an idea to look closely at these juvenile birds, a pink bill and white spot at the back of the ear coverts could be a possible Rustic Bunting.  This one though lacks both.

The other Whinchat then appeared, once again at the top of a bramble bush.

I edged closer to get some lovely shots of this enigmatic little chat.

It flew from the branch to another perch at the top of the bramble, this time against a lovely background.

A lovely face on shot showing the white supercilium.

As always you edge closer, slowly to get the shot, pausing all the time to fire off a few frames.

Then finally it decided to fly off, circling around the bushes, and settling once again on the top of another bush about fifty metres from me.  I left them there and climbed up the bank and onto the sea wall, scattering more Meadow Pipits out onto the mudflats

I walked on towards the Deeps, and in comparison to the Lake the water levels here were very low with much exposed mud.  The ubiquitous Meadow Pipits bathed at the water's edge, and a Common Sandpiper made its way around the far side with the characteristic bobbing action, and frequent stabs at the surface of the water in search of insects.  The only other wader present was this Dunlin, feeding in the relatively deeper water close to the sea wall

As I left the Deeps I noticed another buff coloured bird on the bramble alongside the sea wall.  From behind I could see the white fringed, black wing feathers and realized this was a Wheatear, and as I balanced my tripod on my shoulder I was able to get a few shots

It always though kept it back to me, looking side to side occasionally

As always I edged closer, this being the best shot.

The forecast for the day was for rain, hopefully early afternoon.  The morning had been wonderfully still and calm, but the dark clouds were building up, and as I walked along the sea wall I could feel spots of rain.  I decided to walk back to the Information Hut.  There was a report of the Pectoral Sandpiper being seen there about 15 minutes earlier, so one of the target birds had not left overnight.

There was no one at the hut, and hardly anything on the stream bar a single Black-tailed Godwit and a few Teal.  I could see a collection of birders scoping the stream farther along the path, so headed out there.  It would seem that the stream was now taking the place of the Lake as the high tide roosting site, with large numbers of Black-tailed Godwits collected on the shore, and with them plenty of Dunlin and Redshank.  A Spotted Redshank fed in the deeper water in the characteristic high energy probing into the water and scurrying about.  Wigeon and a few Pintail joined the gathering, but there was no sign of hoped for sandpiper. 

Once again decision time.  The earlier report stated it was seen by the hut, so I decided to return, and maybe wait it out.  Things had not got much better though, the Godwit and teal were still there, and joined by a pair of Little Grebe.  One had just caught quite a large fish for the size of the bird.

The other grebe was quite interested in the catch, and the Little Grebe took to diving to get away from the other, surfacing with the fish still in its bill a little away from the other.

There was some vigorous head shaking to kill off the fish before it was quickly dispatched.

With drizzle still in the air I was beginning to get that feeling of despair that comes with missing out on a bird, nothing seemed to be moving, coming in or leaving.  Looking out across the field though once again there seemed to be some interest in the stream further down.  It was now a case of trying anything so I set off once again.  As I reached the next bench a photographer asked for an identification on a wader he had just shot.  It was the Pectoral Sandpiper, and it was quickly pointed out.  I put the scope up and found it on the mud.  It was slightly larger than the dunlins that were also about.  What separated it from the dunlin as well was the sharp definition between the streaks on the throat and upper chest, and the white belly, a feature that gives the bird its name.  I managed to get a distant record shot.

Then it flew towards us, and at first it appeared that it would drop down on the mud in front of us, but it kept going, passing behind some bushes and then circling over a bit of marsh before dropping into the long grass.

I slowly approached the area where it had dropped, flushing several Snipe in the process, I could just make it out as it extended its neck in a similar way to a Ruff, it then flew up circled once again, called and then flew slowly away towards the stream once again.  In flight there was a very pale wing bar, but the stand out feature was the prominent chest, accentuated probably by the sharp demarcation of the brown streaks against the white belly.

It settled a little further along the stream and was now only visible through the scope as it patrolled the edge of the water, carefully avoiding the juvenile Moorhens that would come down to the water's edge.

Careful attention shows this to be quite a spectacular wader.  From behind the upperpart feathers were black with a lovely rufous fringe, and they formed a lovely scaly effect.  There were also some stand out white stripes on the mantle and scapulars.  The bird has been aged as a juvenile, in the adult birds the white stripes are not as obvious

Slowly the bird made its way closer, and I was able to get a few more record shots

Here the supercilium is prominent, again a feature of the juvenile plumage, the adult being less so.

It then disappeared into the ruts in the mud formed by the cattle.  A Yellow Wagtail though then became visible making its way over the mud.

The rain by now was becoming much more persistent, and it was decision time.  I had managed to get one of my target birds for the day, and with it my best views of Pectoral Sandpiper.  With the rain it was a case of finding a hide.  I didn't fancy Titchfield, and after a long deliberation I decided against the long drive to Blashford Lakes (in hind sight though, maybe I should have!).

As I drove home I decided I could always pop into Alresford Pond, so I did.  The trees at the viewing place provided good shelter, and scanning the lake I found five Green Sandpipers feeding close to the reeds.  There were at leat 150 Swallows and 50 Sand Martins hawking over the water, the swallows goading me as I tried to get some flight shots.  There were plenty of teal, and lone Pochard, and good numbers of Gadwall.

On the island were several Cormorant, and a lone Grey Heron, but no sign of any egrets, Little or Cattle.  As always Mute Swans were everywhere, and there were about 100 Black-headed Gulls along with one or two Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls.

With the rain now becoming very hard I decided to head for home., The morning had turned out to be successful, it would have been nice to have seen the shrike, but I had convinced my self on Friday evening that it would not be there.  

15th September - Titchfield Haven Canal Path, Widley, and Farlington Marshes, Hampshire

The intention today was to meet Ian while still fairly dark at the top end of the Titchfield Haven Canal path.  The hope was that we could maybe catch the resident Barn Owl as it returned to roost from its nightly hunting.  The first part went well, I pulled into the car park just before 6.00 am, it was dark, but with some light away to the east as the sun threatened to rise.

Walking a little way down the path we were greeted with mist hanging low over what water there was around the marsh, and the soft tinge of pink just above the distant trees

This to me is the best time of the day, and autumn enhances further that feeling despite the slightly melancholic time of year when everything starts to think about shutting up for winter.

There was however no sign of the Barn Owl.  We checked its roosting tree which was difficult as the light and leaves made it hard to see properly.  We stood and waited, over across the marsh a grazing horse appeared in the mist.

Slowly the pink tones turned to a fiery red above the trees and the sky lost its indigo hue.

The hope of seeing the Barn Owl was now all but forgotten so we headed down the path.  As the light improved the spiders webs on the marsh started to appear, the dew catching on the silk highlighting the beauty of the over night creations.

We stopped by one web as the owner was still sat in the middle.  However despite his repeated requests this lady would not spread her legs for Ian!

Robins "clicked" from the bushes and would appear on the posts as we walked through the line of trees at Posbrook Floods, it was still gloomy, and even a Woodpigeon flying through would get our attention in the hope of something a little more interesting.  Coming out of the trees there were Goldcrests and Blue Tits busy in the hawthorn bushes and away to the west we could hear the calls of Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

The mist was still with us creating a still and calm atmosphere.

The finally the sun broke over the tree tops, and the whole scene changed.

The golden early morning light picking out the low lying mist and changing it to a warm glow that seemed to touch everything around us.

A mixed flock of tits and warblers were in the bushes, their calls and slight movement in the leaves giving away their presence.  Whitethroats, both male and female Blackcaps moving along the line of the hedge in front of us, and a large flock of Long-tailed Tits, that were more prepared to stop and show themselves.

The best thing to do was to stop and wait, the birds would move away, but then double back.  With the sun catching the leaves of the trees the insects started to move and the birds were taking advantage.

Looking eats the marsh and reeds were transformed with the golden light, the water droplets on this spider web created on a reed stem standing out against the light.

As we stood watching the mixed flock moving about in the bushes I could hear the calls of a Stonechat behind me.  Scanning for it though was difficult into the very low sunlight.  We did manage to find it though perched at the top of an old branch, its shape and jizz unmistakable even looking into the light

Turning away from the Stonechat, above us we heard the familiar call of a Raven, and two flew over heading across the marsh towards the Haven

We stopped at an area of willow trees where there were Willow Warblers and Chiffchaff moving through the branches and leaves.

A Chiffchaff.

Gradually the scene around us was changing as the sun climbed higher in the sky, across the floods though there was still some mist in the sheltered spots.

As we watched the warblers in the trees a Roe Deer came into view in the field behind the canal.  It looked up at us when it heard the camera.

A little further along there was a buck lying down in the field on the opposite side

Another bank of Willow trees produced more Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers.  The Willow Warblers were much harder to pin down, but their longer wings and more lemony appearance standing out from the more confiding Chiffchaffs.

We were nearing the end of the canal path now, with little else about other than the commoner warblers, as we walked into the tree lined area once again I noticed an old tree with what looks like an old woodpecker nest hole.  Above the hole though were further holes, and around these were quiet a few Hornets.

The fearsome-looking Hornet may not be a well-loved insect, but it is not as aggressive as Common Wasps and are unlikely to sting if they are left alone

The Hornet lives mostly in woodland, parkland and gardens. Queen Hornets emerge from hibernation in spring and start to build their nests by chewing up wood - these 'paper' nests are often made in hollow trees, or in cavities in buildings.  Above you can see the 'paper' filling the hole in the tree.  Here the Hornets are chewing the bark and wood to produce the paper.

Inside the nest, sterile workers hatch and look after the new young produced by the queen. At the end of summer, reproductive males and queens develop and leave the nest to mate. The males and previous queen die, and the new females hibernate, ready to emerge next spring and start the cycle again.

Inside the nest, sterile workers hatch and look after the new young produced by the queen. At the end of summer, reproductive males and queens develop and leave the nest to mate. The males and previous queen die, and the new females hibernate, ready to emerge next spring and start the cycle again.

As we stood watching the Hornets I noticed another tree behind the Hornet nest with a large hole.  As I did so a Great-spotted Woodpecker appeared in the hole, and came out and perched outside the hole.  It was a surprise to see the woodpecker actually inside the hole at this time of year.  I can only assume it entered in search of food.

On Friday there had been an Ortolan Bunting close by at Widley, I hadn't expected it to be there this morning, overnight there had been clear skies, and these birds are notoriously one day birds.  Ortolan Bunting is like Wryneck used to be for me, I have missed out on them over many attempts, so as I looked at my phone to see the bird reported this morning in the same spot.  I had made my mind up immediately, but I checked with Ian and we both agreed we had to go after it.  This meant turning around and walking back up the canal path.

The light now was completely different, the softness we had experienced first thing in the morning replaced with  much harsher scene.  As we approached the cark a quick check of the split tree did not find the roosting Barn Owl, but at the top of one of the trees lining the canal was a Kestrel.

Looking all around for any opportunity or threat.

It was a short journey through Fareham, over the M27 and up towards the road that runs above Cosham.  It was a beautiful day and as we ran parallel with the coast to the south there were stunning views out across Portsmouth Harbour.

We parked just outside Fort Widley, and then back tracked and down Pigeon House Lane.  It was only a short walk and we soon came across a group of birds standing in a field, all looking across to a pylon in the north east corner, and below that a hawthorn bush covered in berries.  The Ortolan Bunting had been showing but wasn't about at this time.

We set up the scopes and stood patiently alongside the other birders.  There wasn't much discussion, and talking was between small groups and no information was passed on about what was seen and where.  In the bush which seemed to be the centre of focus were two Chiffchaffs and a Whitethroat, and these, along with a Fox walking through the far field were the main interest until a Sparrowhawk appeared, scattering a flock of feral pigeons before it flew past us.

A bunting was picked up distantly on a wire, but turned out to be a Reed Bunting, and it was now that we learned that the Ortolan Bunting hadn't left the field, and that it had dropped down into the long grass and was probably still there and would continue to be there for some time unless it was persuaded to move.

A consensus was then taken, would everyone be happy if we moved a little closer to move the bird back up into its favourite tree.  Both Ian and I were OK, and after a brief review around others it seemed we had the acceptance, although only a few of us actually made the approach.  Rather than walk straight at the tree we skirted around the area, and made our way to the far hedge, and then slowly walked towards the bush so as not to block the views of those who were still back by the fence.  The tactic finally paid off as we managed to flush the bird from the long grass.

Now if it had flown away, and never to be seen again then I would have questioned the validity of what we did, but we had been assured that yesterday the bird was extremely approachable and stayed loyal to the tree, and that is exactly what it did.  It flew to the top of the tree giving cracking views for us, and for those looking through scoped back at the gate.

A first winter bird it lacks the colour found in the adult birds, this one having a brownish grey head, and not the greenish tinge of an adult.  The back is boldly streaked and the tertials have a wide red brown outer edge.  There is a lateral throat stripe, dark against a pale yellow background.  The bill appears to be quite long and tapered, and there is a pale yellow eye ring.

The throat a pale yellow

The name Ortolan comes from an old French word, hortolan, meaning gardener and refers to it feeding behaviour on the ground and a preference for seeds.  A native of most European countries and Asia, it can be found in Scandanavia and beyond the Arctic circle, having a preference for cornfields and similar habitats.  It is an uncommon vagrant in spring but mostly autumn to the British Isles.  This year has seen good numbers turning up in the south.

The bunting then dropped down into the long grass, but returned to the tree almost immediately without any persuasion this time.

It sat preening and pushing at the hawthorn berries with its bill.

I knew that the Ortolan Bunting was considered to be a gourmet's delicacy in France, but was not aware of the fact surrounding this and how they were prepared.  Apparently the bird was so widely eaten in France that as recently as 1999 laws had to be introduced to restrict this practice, but were not widely taken up.  What is horrific though is the way that the bird is first captured and fed, and then secondly prepared for the table.  I will not describe it here, but leave anyone interested to find out.

Our bird continued to sit tight in the bush, enjoying the sun, and watching its admirers.

The Whitethroat that had been also in the tree finally came to the top of the bush.

Then the Ortolan Bunting dropped down into the grass once again, and this timed stayed there.  It was time to make a decision.  We had enjoyed some wonderful views, and at last I had managed to see one.  I had also met my objective set at the start of this year to see at least one lifer in the United Kingdom this year.  We decided to move on, and as we walked back up the lane towards the cars there was a male Wheatear perched on the overhead wires in the middle of one of the fields.

Next stop was Farlington.  Arriving there at midday the sun was very warm and the tide still well out.  There was lots of mud and very few birds about from the car park as lunch was eaten.  Walking through the bushes and the top of the marsh there were plenty of calling Chiffchaffs and a few Blackcaps.  Stopping in front of a stretch of bramble to see if a Blackcap would show, a small orange butterfly flew around.  As it settled I though it might be a Small Tortoiseshell at last but it turned out to be just a Small Copper.  Amazingly I have seen more Small Copper this year that Small Tortoiseshells.

Exploring around an area of anthills didn't produce the wished for Wyrneck, but did find a very confiding Small Heath.

Coming across a pool of water was a surprise, the marsh is very dry, and a lot of the ponds have dried up.  Here though there were at least four Migrant Hawkers patrolling the bulrushes.

Always a challenge to catch them in flight.

Easier when they finally settle.

The route taken around the marsh was clockwise, heading out past the information hut, and then up onto the sea wall.  Coming up on to the wall I heard the cronking call of a Raven once again, and two flew over, this time I was able to get a photograph

There was little going on out on the mud, but I sat for awhile scanning more in hope than anything else.  The high tide was at 4.00 pm, and there were signs it was beginning to rise.  Walking on, a yellow butterfly flew past me, and I knew immediately what it was and gave chase.

In these situations the butterfly, now known as a Clouded Yellow would just keep going, and the chase would be fruitless, but this one was definitely showing signs of wanting to stop, and would do so for the briefest of seconds.  Finally it settled and I was there.

The Clouded Yellow is one of the truly migratory butterflies, and is seen regularly in the UK during movements in spring and autumn.  In some years their numbers can be huge, but mostly you are lucky if you can catch up with one or two.  Today it was warm and with a south westerly which is always helpful at this time of year

It moved on, but settled once again.

We are due some warm weather over the coming days, a  legacy of hurricane Helene that will drag warm southerly winds over the United Kingdom.  I would anticipate this will swell the number of Clouded Yellow sightings and maybe also the other migratory species to reach these shore, the Painted Lady.

The tide was now coming in, and the birds were moving, but it did not seem as high as two weeks ago.  The lake did not have as many birds as then, and by the time I left the tide was probably as high as it would go.  There had been a Little Stint reported but all that was present were Dunlin, along with the numbers of Redshank and Black-tailed Godwits, and a few Grey Plover that were now looking very spotty as they lose their spectacular summer plumage.

Time was now against me so it was time to go home.  All in all a successful day despite the rather quiet afternoon.