I was meeting Ian at Hill Head, there had been quite a bit there this week, and Ian was lucky to be able to get there to see Snow Bunting and Long-tailed Duck. I was hoping that they would still be there, but t he rain was not going to help.
I arrived earlier than we had planned to meet, and pulled up by the chalets where the Snow Bunting had been seen. As I got out of the car it was raining, and I pulled on my coat and took just my binoculars and then walked along the beach in the gloom. I walked to the sea wall, and then came back. As I reached the car I saw the Snow Bunting fly up, and then settle on the beach. I went back to the car and got the camera, it was going to be a challenge but I wanted one record shot just in case the weather made the conditions totally useless for photography. Here you can see just how gloomy it was.
But with a little enhancement it gets better.
As seems to be the case with Snow Bunting, it was fearless of me and allowed close approach
It always amazes me what they find to eat amongst the pebbles and the dead weed on the tide line.
You take so many pictures because it is so close, but this time the bird decided enough was enough and flew off towards the exposed spit. It was time to meet Ian, so I left the area after I took one picture of a Brent on the sea. You can see the rain ripples on the water
The rain became much harder, and we spent the time using the shelter of Ian's van from the north easterly wind, and watched the sea. It was quite calm out on the water, making it quite easy to see any bird present. Scanning around we found six Great Crested Grebes off the sailing club but very little else. Gradually the rain eased and we decided to walk along the beach to view the sea from the cliff.
We decided not to take the cameras, the rain threat being too strong, as we passed the toilet block there was no sign of the Snow Bunting, but on the sea I could see a distant shape that did not look like a grebe. Looking through the scope it was the male Long-tailed Duck. We walked a little further to get closer and it showed really well. We both now wished we had the camera.
We continued to scan the water, and I picked up a diver, which immediately disappeared , again we moved along the beach to get a better view. The diver returned and we could see it was a Red-throated Diver, and surfaced almost alongside the Long-tailed Duck. The views were brief before it dived again and then promptly vanished. We were not able to relocate it, it just disappeared.
There were good numbers of Great-crested Grebes on the water towards Brownwich, and we also picked up what looked like two Common Scoter. A pair of smaller Grebes came drifting past from the east. These were Slavonian Grebes and showed well as they moved in the direction of Brownwich. We then watched as they flew up the Solent and out of sight. It was quite a little purple patch.
The Long-tailed Duck was now coming closer into shore, and we decided we had to now go back and get the cameras. The rain was light and we had enough protective equipment to keep them dry. As we walked back to the car it was clear that the Snow Bunting had returned as there was a small group peering closely down to the beach, the Snow Bunting just going about its business of finding invisible seeds amongst the pebbles.
After getting the camera we headed back and the Snow Bunting was still there. The light now was slightly better so I stopped to take some more pictures, the Snow Bunting just has that affect on you.
This is a male bird, and the winter plumage provides excellent camouflage as it moved across the beach pebbles. The summer plumage would be a complete contrast.
Head down it would search amongst the pebbles and old twigs and sea weed, then pop the head up and with slow movements of the bill move the seeds around to strip the case.
You just can't stop taking photographs, I had to admire Ian, he had seen the bird a couple of days ago, and he kept back, and didn't take any.
My argument was that the light wasn't so harsh today!
Tactfully Ian mentioned that he could see the Long-tailed Duck close in, so we walked back along the beach leaving the Snow Bunting to more birders that had turned up. This time we climbed the cliff a short distance to get an elevated view. The Long-tailed Duck though was a fair way out, not the time for photographs yet.
Five Red-breasted Mergansers flew past.
Three males and two females, heading east.
The Long-tailed Duck was getting closer and we took some pictures but it was still distant. We continued to scan the water in search of the Red-throated Diver. During this search I found six Eider, and also located the Scoter once again. As I watched them drift slowly on the water one lifted off the water and wing flapped to reveal a white wing bar. There had been a report of a Velvet Scoter with a Common Scoter off Brownwich, and it would seem we had found the two.
Whilst it was still raining it was only light drizzle, and while annoyingly you had to keep wiping the optics and glasses it wasn't too bad. Finally the Long-tailed Duck came closer and we decided to walk down to the beach to get a little closer. The water was still calm, and the light a little better, and we were able to get some lovely views of a very smart looking male duck.
It would dive quite frequently and at one point came up with a small crab. As it dived the "long tail" was very evident.
It was lovely to be able to get some superb views of an adult male, the plumage looking absolutely immaculate.
Here a good view of the tail
Preening the tail
It was time to move on, and we left the duck to more admirers and made our way along the beach where a group of about twenty Sanderling were feeding on the tide line. Always photogenic these silvery grey waders ran about like clockwork toys along the beach, stopping the probe the sand and weed for any food opportunity.
It was difficult to get the right view as they did not stop very often.
Always looking for every opportunity.
Every so often they would be disturbed by a dog, the owners showing no concern for the birds or those trying to photograph them. The Sanderling would fly out over the water, and then return to the beach either behind of in front of the walkers.
We walked past the Snow Bunting once again, this time I resisted the temptation to photograph. After a cup of tea we headed to the visitor centre, but stopped off to photograph the high tide roost on the beach by the sailing boats. The Sanderlings had found there way here and were sitting on the beach amongst the Turnstone and Ringed Plover.
From the visitor centre we walked along the path on the east side, and for the first time for a long time, visited the Suffern Hide. The hide was empty, as was the view in front of the hide all bar seven Black-headed Gulls, two Common Gulls, a pair of Mallard, a Little Grebe, and this Grey Heron sitting on one of the dead branches put there for that very reason.
It was quiet, and we sat patiently willing something to happen, and after awhile it did. All the duck and waders went up on the south scrape, and I an picked up female Marsh Harrier coming low over the reeds towards us.
As quickly as it appeared it dropped down into the reeds on the far side of the water in front of the hide. It was back to sitting and waiting, the reeds in front of the hide proving as compelling to Ian as the Snow Bunting was to me earlier, but in the end I had to some shots, and then converted it to black and white for effect.
The Mallard had moved on, but a pair of Gadwall flew down river, and made their way to a post where they stood and preened.
The Marsh Harrier refused to appear, looking out across the reeds I noticed that despite the fact that it was nearly the end of November there was still a sufficient number of leaves on the trees along the canal path to show some autumnal colour.
The Marsh Harrier then appeared flying again low over the top of the reeds, and with that stop start and hover hunting flight that characterises the Harriers
It then settle in one of the bushes, but was clearly having difficult balancing on the branches
Lots of wing flapping as it tried to settle
Eventually settling down
Then it took off again, heading away from us and towards the north scrape and hides. It was back to watching the gulls and Heron in front of the hide, here one of the Black-headed Gulls
Then the Marsh Harrier was back, again coming over the reeds and actively hunting.
Coming out over the river, and flying close to the reeds in search of anything that might be at the edge of the river.
Then back out over the reeds again, hovering every so often with vigorous wing beats and feet down, then back up and gliding with head always looking down
This was probably some of the best views of Marsh Harrier I have had here at Titchfield, it was some great views despite the rain and gloomy conditions
We decided against walking on to the Meadow Hide, and headed back to the visitor centre with a view to going over to the west side. The tide was really high and the waders were roosting on the beach. The Sanderling were now all together. Despite the fact that they look as if they are resting, there is always one on guard, and as we crept slowly towards them one head poked up, and then they all looked up.
We stood still and they settled down once more, bills tucked under the wing
We stopped at the cars to have something to eat. The rain had stopped and there were breaks in the cloud that was giving a strange light across the Solent. A yacht sailed west with a dark battleship grey sky behind it.
The sun did come out for a short and unexpected time casting a lovely light across the calm sea
The Sanderling flew past, having been flushed by people on the beach, they flew around, and then again past us back to the beach. We missed the chance for flight shots, so we decided to walk back to the beach to see if they were now closer, or they might be flushed again. They were closer and we were able to get in amongst the flock with this shot
The flock were then disturbed by an uncontrolled dog once again, the owner oblivious to what we were doing, and showed no remorse. We did though manage to get the flight shots over the water.
Rain was threatening once again so we made our way to the Meon Shore Hide. Looking out across the scrape it was a very monochromatic view. There was a large number of Lapwing and Teal, and in amongst the Lapwing were Golden Plover but they were distant. On one of the islands were Snipe, ten in total tucked down amongst the grass.
Calls from behind the hide signaled the arrival of a large group of Canada Geese, coming in low and heading toward the north scrape
A lone Black-tailed Godwit was feeding in front of the hide, another chance for black and white photography
The rain eased and we walked around to the Pumfrett Hide in order to get a better view of the Golden Plover
More Snipe close to the bank of the scrape
And the Teal hiding on the bank close to the water, given away by their teal green speculums.
The rain came back again and we sat and watched. The Marsh Harrier appeared, flying the same route we watched her take when we were on the other side of the river, then she looked close to the hide, but in reality was probably further away from us than when we watched her earlier.
Snipe were all along the bank but hidden well, this one though ventured out into the open water.
It was getting murky and wet again and we decide to call it a day, although on the way home I decided to stop off at Alresford Pond. There was just under an hour of daylight left as I arrived at the viewpoint. There were already good numbers of gulls out on the water, and they were joined by Lapwing. I was here in the hope I might be able to catch the Hen Harrier coming into roost. It has been reported this autumn, but not recently.
Looking out across the water it was getting duller and murky. The gulls came and went, while in front of me there were seven Tufted Ducks and a single Pochard. Teal though were the most numerous duck. As I stood watching the trees on the other side of the lake I noticed small groups of Starlings flying around and gradually the flock increased in size
The flock appeared to be at its largest around 16.00 as different flocks came together.
Finally combining, only a small flock but entertaining none the less
I continued to peer into the gloom in the hope the Hen Harrier would appear, but in the end had to give up as it became too dark. As I turned to leave all the gulls, Lapwings and Teal went up. I stopped and scanned once again but could not see anything that would have caused this let alone a Harrier.
A day that had started with concerns f seeing anything ended up delivering. I had a full day despite the rain, and managed to get two year ticks too in the shape of the ever so confiding Snow Bunting, and the the superb male Long-tailed Duck, plus some great views of Sanderling and Marsh Harriers
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