27th April - Stokes Bay, Botley Wood, Acres Down NF, and Fishlake Meadows, Hampshire

After some good sea watching reports through the week it was more with hope I set off to meet Ian at Stokes Bay.  The winds were strong, but the direction had changed from the preferential south-easterly that were blowing in the week.

Pulling into the car park at Stokes Bay the the waves were whipping onto the sea wall, and out on the water the sea was very rough.

And so it proved that westerly winds are not the best.  Birds that went east went past so fast, and those going west could be seen well.  Unfortunately those going west were mainly gulls, a few Mediterranean amongst them, and groups of Common and Sandwich Terns.

Ian picked up a couple of Gannet that could be seen to the far west, they attempted to fly into the Solent but did not get far.  At least another was seen later trying much the same.

We stuck at it for two and a half hours which was probably two and a half hours too long.  We did manage a couple of year ticks but not what we had hoped for.

So from Stokes Bay to Botley Wood just outside Whiteley.  Here we were looking for Nightingale.  As we walked the path into the wood Blackcap sang from the scrub.  On getting to the location we could hear Nightingale singing, possibly two birds.  They were deep in the scrub, and we tried to see if we could get in amongst them.  They continued singing, I managed one brief view but hat was it.

We stood on the main ride waiting, listening and looking with out any further luck.  The wind was very strong, at times flattening the trees almost horizontal, our assumption was the birds were going to stay tucked well away, the wind also restricting the benefit of the song.

So we decided to move on.  Walking back we found a singing invisible Whitethroat, and a Garden Warbler, at first I thought it was a Blackcap, the song not so scratchy as normal, but when it showed it clearly was a Garden Warbler.

Another year tick but not what we were hoping for again.

Next stop was Acres Down, the car park was empty when we arrived, and it seemed like much the same as we walked the path down to Highland Water.  There was little bird song, and all we could hear was the wind howling through the trees, it was not a day for birding, or listening out for bird song.

We did hear one song that of the Firecrest, and we were able to watch one, but it was so mobile there were no acceptable opportunities for a photograph.  But there was no sign of any Redstart.

We were here for Wood Warbler, but again there was no song, or any sign.  We tried several sites where we had seen them before but every time drew a blank.  Maybe it was too early, we checked when we had seen them last year, and it was mid May, so maybe they haven't set up territory yet.

Where next?  We decided on Fishlake Meadows.  Walking the canal path there were Blackcap and Chiffchaff singing.  A drake Mallard was resting on the water, the sunlight catching the bottle green head.

Scanning out over the lakes we could see plenty of hirundine, and amongst them House Martin, yet another first for the year.

On reaching the horse paddocks we scanned the field and pond for the ever present Glossy Ibis, no luck at all.  We turned into the reserve and headed for the screens, passing through the gate a male Reed Bunting sang from an old tree.

At the screens there were all three hirundines flying around, Greylag Geese on the water and a few Gadwall, but no sign of the hoped for Glossy Ibis.  I think we both would have been surprised if it had of been there, the day was writing its own script!

Walking back we scanned the skies more in hope, but other than passing corvids nothing.  Reaching the canal path a Grey Wagtail called but we couldn't see it.  Then it flew out from beneath our feet and settled on a small piece of wood in the water.

At the next viewing platform, again scanning across the lakes there were lots of hirundines, and in amongst them were at least half a dozen Swift, another first for the year.  We watched in the ope of a Hobby, or a Cuckoo fly past but it wasn't to be.  Finally we called it a day.

I do not recall a day like this, on the positive side I managed eight year ticks, while on the negative there was no opportunity for any photography of any note.  The wind really ruined the day, everything kept low, and the noise of the wind did not encourage hardly any song at all.  Still you have to take the bad with the good, there will always be next time!