It was dull and overcast leaving home, but as I came down the A3 towards Farlington there were signs of breaks in the cloud, who knows there might be some golden light to highlight those piercing yellow eyes.
The car park was relatively empty and I set off around the sea wall towards the Lake. As I approached I could see some photographers down the bank close to the reeds, this could only mean one thing, the Bearded Tits were showing well.
About a month ago we had some wonderful views of these reed bed specialities, and the conditions were very similar today. I slipped down the bank to get close with the others. You could hear the pings as the birds burst from the reeds and flew over. They were ripping apart the seed heads of the phragmites, and were more than happy for us to get close. This was necessary as getting clear views through the reeds was difficult. You had to fire away and hope one or two were clear and in focus. There is not much to say about these charming little birds as I wrote about them last time so for today it is a case of just enjoying the photographs.
The poor females are almost always overlooked for the dashing, mustachioed males so I thought I would start with one.
Named for a beard that is actually a moustache, they looked very dashing.
Having realised that I had taken a lot of images in a short amount of time I returned to the sea wall. I had taken a lot last time and in amongst the reeds they do become a little samey. I had to remember I was here to find an owl.
The tide was rising and the duck and waders were on the move. My favourite duck, the Pintail was close to the sea wall.
One of the main ways of photographing the birds at Farlington is to take then as they fly across the sea wall.
Here Mute Swans.
And Oystercatchers
I had hoped the Avocet would be out on the mud, and that they would fly in as the tide rose to provide some great photographs, but unfortunately the majority of 39 I counted on the day were already feeding on the Lake. I did manage this one as it came in overhead.
Back to the duck, a Wigeon.
More Wigeon.
Pintail
Brent Geese of course absolutely everywhere.
There are always good numbers of Shelduck out in the fields, these joining them.
A Curlew headed out towards the fields.
As well as the Avocet on the Lake there were good numbers of Redshank that were joined by Dunlin. Four Greenshank were roosting at the back of the Lake and a search for Snipe amongst the edge of the reeds produced a count of eight visible individuals. One surprise, no Black-tailed Godwits.
There was then some drama. Two policeman walked along the sea wall, and it became clear that a metal detectorist had found an unexploded bomb, and were stopping persons walking around Point Field. As a result I decided to stay put and keep scanning the marshes where a female Marsh Harrier was seen over the reeds and a single Buzzard.
On the bomb, apparently it was world war one ordnance, and the Bomb disposal team eventually turned up at around 15:30, they could get in because of the height barrier at the entrance to the car park.
Back to the birds, I had managed to resist the Bearded Tits that continued to perform for the visitors and photographers alike, but in the end my resistance was futile and I walked back down to the edge of the reeds again. They were still in amongst the reeds and still difficult to focus on. A Reed Bunting became an attraction to the passing dog walkers, being misidentified for the Bearded Tits!
Then they flew to the right, and the reeds near the sluice. With two others we climbed down the bank and slipped through the fence (I know we shouldn't but we did manage to get great views and did no damage or take any risks!).
The birds started to appear on the edge of the reeds giving a little distant but good views.
Then they came closer and it was suddenly a great opportunity for some amazing shots, starting with a female again.
But quickly followed by the males
A Teal came close, and I couldn't resist it.
And a Little Grebe.
But it was then full steam ahead with the Bearded Tits.
Coming up to the top of the reeds the light was getting better.
It was amusing watching them as certain reeds could not hold their weight and they would drop like on a wire towards the water, they never seemed concerned though and like accomplished acrobats continued with the task in hand, to eat.
The bending reeds would take them down to the darker areas of the water and reed providing a wonderful back drop.
The males moustache looking superb, Jimmy Edwards would have been so proud.
They were difficult to count but there must have been at least twenty if not many more.
Then the sun came out, and while the golden light was not highlighting owl eyes I couldn't complain as the Bearded Tits looked wonderful against the dark backdrop.
The light also highlighted to water and Mallard dabbling.
Picking out the bottle green head of the drake.
The Bearded Tits were now moving off, there calls leading them away but there was time for one more shot of two males together before they joined the others.
Returning to the sea wall there was still no sign of the hoped for Short-eared Owl, the light across the lake was stunning, picking out this pair of Pintail sleeping on the edge.
Well it looks like the Short-eared Owl will elude us once again this year, but I had a wonderful day with some incredible shots.
2019 has been special, Lets hope the start of a new decade will deliver too.
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