3rd October - Farlington Marshes, Hampshire

The weather over the last few days has been nothing short of horrendous, heavy continuous rain and wind.  Saturday morning was more of the same, but by late morning there were signs it was beginning to ease.  The forecast was good so I decided to set off south.  There was some drizzle along the A3 but as I turned into the car park at Farlington Marshes it was dry and there were signs of a significant improvement.

From the car park I set off along the cycle track and headed for the sea wall on the east side.  I stopped at the visitor hut where there was a good number of Black-tailed Godwits roosting along side the stream.

The tide was high and on reaching the sea wall I was greeted with as many as twenty Little Egrets hunting on the flooded salt marsh.

The high tide was now supported by sunshine with wonderful clouds.

In the bushes along side the sea wall there were plenty of Linnet and Stonechat.  At a flooded part of the field Linnets were taking the opportunity to bathe.

Meadow Pipit were also present feeding along side the edge of the flooded pools.

A Stonechat appeared on the bramble in the ditch.

A little further along there was a Wheatear around one of the ditches.

It was as if everything was pleased the rain had eased and were taking the chance to do some sun bathing,  Rabbits were everywhere, unfortunately some showing signs of myxomatosis.  This rabbit using one of the many ant hills to sun bathe on.

 Another Wheatear then appeared on another ant hill before dropping from sight.

Then appeared with the other Wheatear.

Moving on there was more activity in the reeds, Chiffchaffs and one or two Reed Warblers, again probably pleased to see the sunshine and the insects the sun had brought out.

Last time I was here I was taken by the number of Robins, today there were still good numbers about but I was taken by the amount of Stonechats, they too were busy in the reeds and along the ditch taking up those positions where they can watch for something moving.

Then it dropped into the reeds to get a closer look.

Accommodating the wind by moving the body but keeping the head fixed on the ground below.

The tide was starting to fall, but it had been a very high tide and there was little land exposed.  The waders though were becoming restless and a large group of Oystercatchers took to the air before settling back down  On the water around the island there were also  a good number of Brent Geese my first of the autumn.

I walked on down to the Point where the shingle island just off shore was exposed and Dunlin and Ringed Plover had flown in to roost.

I joined a group of birders and one was able to point out a Little Stint in amongst the Plover and Dunlin.  It was time for the 'scope to pick it out and follow it as it weaved amongst the other waders.  By the time I finally reached for the camera it had decided to settle down and tuck its head under its wing.  The photo provides a record.

Waders continued to fly in across the harbour, mostly Ringed Plover, but with the odd Dunlin too.

A couple of Sandwich Terns called and flew past heading out into the harbour.

A smaller island just beyond the Point with wooden posts was a  roost for Grey Plover mostly, but there were also a few Dunlin and Ringed Plover with them.  My attention was taken by a smaller wader, with very clean white underparts.  Again it was distant and I had the benefit of the 'scope but here is a record.

It was then disturbed and flew a short distance to the left hand end of the island.  Here it was a little easier to see and the consensus of opinion was that it was another Little Stint.  I did consider Semipalmated, why not it does happen.  But looking closely I was happy it was a Little Stint.

I had to check that the first stint was still there, and it was still with the head tucked under the wing.

My hope had been that the reported Grey Phalarope would be about but there was no sign of it.  I decided to leave the waders and walk around to the Lake.  Along the way there were more Linnet enjoying the afternoon sunshine.

|Looking across the harbour to the south it was hard to believe we had had the horrendous weather over the last few days.

At the Lake the waders were all at the north side of the water.  Mostly Redshank, there were also some Black-tailed Godwits and thirteen Greenshank.  The water level was high and this seemed to have pushed the Snipe out on to cut reeds.

Of the duck, Gadwall were the most numerous but there were also quite a few Wigeon, early autumn arrivals.  A single Pintail came off the shore and swam out into the middle of the lake to join six others, more autumn arrivals.

A single Mute Swan then decided to leave the lak and fly out into the harbour.

A Kingfisher flew into the area by the sluice but managed to evade my camera, likewise I watched a distant Peregrine annoying the gulls and Starlings on the marsh but never coming close.  The one bird you always expect to see at Farlington is the Kestrel, but up to now there had not been any sign, then one flew across me and started to hover to the right of me.  I moved around the path to be able to get into a good position to catch the bird as it concentrated on the ground below.

The light was now lovely, that autumnal sunshine turning the reeds golden in colour and the surrounding clouds a deep grey.

It was great to get out after the rain of the week, it would have been nice to have seen the Grey Phalarope but you can't dismiss two Little Stint.