On arriving in the car park I was greeted by a cacophony of bird song, it was as if three Wrens were trying to out sing each other, and these tiny birds were then joined by the "tweedley dee" song of two Goldcrests as well, in the background to this main event there were Blackbirds, a Song Thrush and several Robins singing, and trying to edge its way in a single Chiffchaff that decided also to sit in the branches above Ian's van.
As we set off down the path there was a slight mist hanging over the open water and reeds, but it wasn't obstructive enough to prevent us scanning for the duck we had come to find. There were several other birders present, and they reported a Willow Warbler singing just out of the car park, unfortunately we hadn't seen or heard anything.
We checked for the Barn Owl in the tree, but it wasn't showing so we walked on to Posbrook Floods. The water level was quite high with a good selection of different wildfowl, Wigeon, Teal, Pintail and Gadwall, but not in the numbers present through the winter. We had passed a field to the west of the path covered in gulls, mostly Black-headed Gulls, and these were disturbed and flew into the safety of the water. As they circled above the water we could hear the calls of Mediterranean Gulls, and were able to pick out at least six on the water.
A we scanned the water looking for the Garganey Sand Martin appeared hawking above the reeds and water. As we watched them it became clear that there was a good sized flock of at least 50 birds.
Finally the Garganey was found, and not as every one expected tucked away in the vegetation at the back of the flood, but out in the open, and on the water closest to us. A superb drake, always a special find at this time of the year.
You can see from the grainy nature of the photograph there was still a bit of mist about. They are not tthe best, but provide the record of the duck
The Garganey is strictly migratory, and large flocks spend the winter in southern African and India. It is a very secretive breeder in the UK, preferring shallow wetlands, not unlike the conditions we were watching it here in. It is estimated that about 100 pairs nest in the UK, mostly confined to central and southern England.
The male is unmistakable with a brown head and breast, and a broad white crescent above the eye, the rest of the plumage is grey with loose grey scapular feathers just visible here. Unlike some of the other duck around it, it fed by skimming the water rather than up ending.
We watched as the duck swam up and down, the first part of our day's quest safely in the bag. We decided then to walk the canal path, heading for the fields where the Water Pipits have been regular. A Cetti's Warbler announced it's presence in a bush, the song just as loud as that of the Wren's I had heard earlier. We stopped and managed to get a glimpse of a secretive bird.
As we waited to see if the Cetti's would show any better a ripple in the canal caught the eye and we were able to watch a Water Vole disappear into the reeds.
We reached the field where the Water Pipits have been seen, and I picked up one on the fence that then flew off in the direction we had come from. The next field up had ruts and spots of flooded water so we decided to move back and search there. Scanning the field I found a single male Wheatear in amongst the ruts and a couple of Lapwing. Again only a record shot unfortunately.
We found the Water Pipits in amongst the flooded area, but they were very flighty, flying up and circling around the area and perching in trees. We watched a pair return to the original field, so set off once again for it, and we were able to this time get yet another record shot as one sat on a post.
You can just see the pink flush of the breeding plumage appearing on the breast and the more defined supercillium, leading behind the eye. The Rock Pipit just has the white in front of and just above the eye.
They didn't stay long, and were off again heading back to the next field. We decided to follow, and came across a group of six Roe Deer. The buck being spooked by a dog that was walking along the path.
The antlers are still covered in the velvet sheath.
We found the Water Pipits but again they were mobile, but with patience they finally settled and we were able to watch them feeding on the edge of the muddy patches in the field.
We moved on, heading back along the canal path towards the car park. At this time of year picking singing Chiffchaffs out is easy, no leaves means they can't hide, the only challenge that remains is pinning them down as they move through the branches.
The song while being monotonous is delivered with vigour.
Mimicking the call also attracts attention.
Another feature observed was the way it flattens the body and then opens the bill in mock aggression, it wasn't singing here but just staying stock still. This view also shows that this individual was ringed, however the only information I can get is an "M" and "17"
We stopped at the floods once again and scanned for the Garganey, but there was no sign. The Sand Martin were still about, and the joy of attempting to photograph hirundines and Swifts in flight returns for another year.
The Barn Owl was still not showing in its usual split tree as we walked to the cars. Next stop was to be Fort Cumberland in Eastney, Little Owl and Black Redstart the targets for me, but for Ian just the Black Redstart.
Walking along the beach the sea was flat calm, and as was to be expected completely empty. The Little Owls have been showing well for sometime now in one of the gun holes in the fort, their size perfect for the owls. However only one was on show.
Little Owl secured our attention turned to the Black Redstart. Every time we have been here it has eluded us, and as we looked across the empty waste ground it seemed today would be no different.
As we stood scanning the mixture of brick and grass I heard a distant call, the scratchy whistle coming from our left as we looked at the Little Owl, I headed across to the old building in search, but it was Ian that picked it up on top of one of the old pallets, at last a Black Redstart, yet another poor record
It dropped to the ground and returned, then a Stonechat appeared and it flew at it in an attempt to chase it off. In doing so it came closer to the fence, but as we made our way over it flew off again, this time to a metal post, and a slightly better shot.
Meanwhile the Stonechat was perching on a block of concrete close to the fence, it was a shame the Stonechat wasn't chasing the Redstart!
The Redstart then flew from the post to a wall, but as I lifted the camera it flew along a small track and out of sight. Another bird then flew from the grass to the wall, a male Wheatear, birds just seemed to be appearing!
We waited but the Redstart did not re-appear, but as a bonus the second Little Owl was now showing in the other hole.
We decided to walk back. The sea was still very calm, and there were a pair of Mediterranean Gulls on the water. They didn't stay too long flying past us calling and heading into Langstone Harbour.
So from Fort Cumberland we drove the short distance to Southsea Castle, we had contemplated the walk but quickly decided against it. At the base of the sea wall around the castle in winter there is a flock of on average 12 Purple Sandpipers present feeding amongst the sea weed and algae exposed at low tide. High tide was about three hours off, but it was to be a high one today so as we approached the right area and the water was high we were concerned that maybe they had gone off to roost.
There was movement amongst the blocks of the wall but these turned out to be Starlings, but Ian then picked up a lone sandpiper right down by the edge of the water.
The concrete wall is covered in green algae, this you can see and avoid as it is slippery, but where the concrete is also wet it can be dangerous too as I found out as my feet slipped as I tried to edge closer. I opted for caution and settled down to photograph the sandpiper as it made its way through the bladder wrack on the edge of the wall.
Constantly probing the weed it would also stop still and look.
Every so often the waves would break over the wall and it would either jump out of the way or just let the wave break under it.
Exposure was a challenge, the sea a dull grey behind the bird
We moved on to try and find some more on the other side of the castle, a call from the fence of the castle alerted me to a Rock Pipit, and a good opportunity to compare with the Water Pipits we had seen earlier
Rock Pipit usually has an overall tone of olive-brown to its
plumage, with a poorly marked supercilium, in the Water Pipit this is more defined and longer, grey-brown rump and grey tail sides.
The legs, bill and lores are dark like Water Pipit.
We did find more Purple Sandpipers, with another five present on the other side of the castle. As they busied themselves feeding along the edge of the wall and in amongst the weed and algae we were able to get down close and they edged closer to us
The Purple Sandpiper is a medium-sized wading bird, slightly
larger, stockier and darker than a Dunlin to which it is closely related. The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris,
a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The
specific maritima is from Latin and means "of the
sea", from mare, "sea".
It is mainly dark grey above and whitish below. It has a
slight down-curved beak and distinctive short bright orange legs. In flight it
shows a thin white wing-stripe on otherwise dark wings.
Three separate populations of Purple Sandpiper winter in
Britain and Ireland, those in the north and west originate from those breeding
on northern tundra on Arctic islands
in Canada and from coastal areas in Greenland, and those
wintering in eastern England and any southern locations from northeast Europe in Scandinavia and Svalbard.
Like the Dunlin and Sanderling they are very busy birds, constantly moving searching for any food amongst the weed, and instinctively jumping out of the crashing waves as they break on the wall
This one was very adventurous as it worked its way through the weed and across the algae towards me.
Remnants of algae left on the bill after foraging
They are also for ever on the alert for any danger. We think this one was concerned about a Herring Gull high above us
What I was hoping for was a shot of the wader as the surf broke over it. This individual seemed to have settled close to the edge of the sea wall
And I finally got my photograph.
Time to move, there are only so many photographs of Purple Sandpiper you can take. As we left there was a distinct passage of Meadow Pipits coming in off the sea and heading across the Common, and as we walked back to the car park Ian found another male Wheatear sat on the top of the castle.
Next was to be the Oyster Beds at Hayling Island. It was a drag getting out of Portsmouth, but as we pulled into the car park we were surprised by a Peacock butterfly heading south along the shore line, something I don't think either of us expected.
After some lunch we walked out to the Oyster Beds, the sound and calls of the gulls increasing as we approached. Ian made the comment that we had not seen any Mediterranean Gulls, and almost immediately one called from above.
These now defunct Oyster Beds have become a pre-breeding gathering spot for Mediterranean Gulls on the south coast, and every March it is the best place to see these handsome gulls as they go through their courtship rituals.
The calls of the Black-headed Gulls were constant, and as a result seemed to indicate that there were far more Black-headed than Mediterranean Gulls, but this wasn't the case. I counted well over a 100 on one island, and I would estimate that there were probably as many as over 300 present. The "yeeoow" calls of the Mediterranean Gulls are also distinctive as they flew over. They would settle on the islands, and posture up to each other pushing their breast towards each other and almost touching bills. They would also fly around the islands, heading out to sea and doubling back to their place on the sandy ridge.
I spent most of the time photographing them in flight
As well as the gulls we were here to try and find some summer plumaged Black-necked Grebes. We did, at lease twelve of them along with Great Crested Grebes, but were only really able to enjoy them through the telescope. One though, did venture a little close for another bad record shot.
With the tide high there were also a small wader roost, here, Oystercatcher, Dunlin and Ringed Plover.
We walked the circuit to the Hayling Billy path. The tide was very high and there were very little birds about mainly because there was so little exposed land to roost on. Out on the water there were Red-breasted Mergansers and a large raft of Wigeon, along with several Great Crested Grebes. The walk back to the cars saw a couple of singing Chiffchaffs.
We left for Sinah Warren, and a short walk here did not produce anything of interest. The sea was very calm still, and empty probably as a result of the jet-skis off shore. As a result we decided to call time. All in all it had been a successful day, early summer migrants, the Garganey which is never guaranteed, and some great shots of the Purple Sandpipers.
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