27th March - Titchfield Haven Canal Path and Warsash, Hampshire

The last Saturday of Greenwich Mean Time, the sun was due to rise at around ten minutes before six, but the cloud put paid to that.  I arrived at the sea wall with the tide out and a wind blowing from the west.  Away across the Solent a rainbow over the Fawley refinery gave away some squally showers that I hoped were heading north, they didn't and I had to shelter back in the car as the shower slipped past.  When I finally got out of the car and walked to the beach I was greeted by a small flock of Sanderling flying on to the beach, I resisted.

When the sun finally did break the clouds I was amazed to see how much the sun had moved since the sun rises I had witnessed in the winter.  Then it was rising over Portsmouth, today the sun was coming up from behind the reserve visitor centre.

I watched the Brent Geese fly past into the harbour bay and Sanderling were flying back and forth out over the Rainbow Bar and across the beach.  One surprise was an Egyptian Goose that flew onto the reserve from off the sea.  It was now too clear and I doubted if there would be much moving on the sea, i couldn't even find a Great Crested Grebe.

Over on the scrape the Black-headed Gulls were in full voice and every so often I could hear the bleating calls of Mediterranean Gulls.  When Ian arrived we spent some time scanning the sea, but only managed a very distant group of Eider.  Finally we walked to the harbour bridge.  Here a pair of Great Crested Grebes were displaying but quickly stopped and decided to preen instead.  We watched a male Marsh Harrier carrying sticks to a spot in the reed bed, there was not any sign of the female.  Mediterranean Gulls could be seen above calling and moving between the sea and the scrape.

We decided to walk the Canal Path.  The willow was in bloom and this Greenfinch was singing from the top of one.

As we turned onto the canal path we came across a singing Chiffchaff.  This was to be the first of up to eight singing birds along the path.

It is that time of year when the Chiffchaffs are singing and there are no leaves which make it easy to see them and to photograph them as well.

A little further along a male Goldcrest put on a very good show.

A pair of Long-tailed Tits were close by and were probably nest building as they were not in any hurry to move away.

At Hammond's Bridge we had a singing Blackcap, my first for the year, singing that is.  But as we searched for them it became clear that there were two males present, keeping quite close to each other.  They never showed in the open for a photograph.

There is a light bridge across the canal that leads to farm buildings.  There is also a sign that makes it quite clear that this is private property.  However it is possible to scan the track leading to the buildings and in the middle of the track was a Water Pipit.  Once again a very poor record shot.

On the other side of the buildings were a couple of Roe Deer, this buck looking very relaxed.

Cetti's Warblers are very vocal at this time of year, declaring their territories.  This need to be vocal also seem to allow them to let down their natural shyness, and with patience you can get some good views.

The bird is named after the Italian zoologist Francesco Cetti, but he did not discover it, it was described by Temminck from specimens collected in Sardinia in 1820

Here delivering that powerful song.  During the summer the males spend most of their time establishing and protecting their territories.  While doing this they spend very little time caring for the eggs and young.  The males usually attract more than one female to their territories.  The song is so essential to the success.

As the Cetti's warbler slipped away into the cover a Stock Dove flew to one of the branches of a dead tree above us.  It has been a really good year so far for seeing this delightful dove

Approaching Posbrook Floods the trees were looking special in the sunshine.

The floods were busy with Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls while on the edges was a large flock of Black-tailed Godwits and amongst the rushes there were Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Wigeon and Pintail.  However there was no sign of the hoped for Sand Martin.

We walked on and climbed the gate to check the horse field after the bridge.  Here we hoped for maybe a Wheatear, which wasn't to be, but we did find up to six Sand Martin.  The split tree was empty with a pair of Stock Dove daring to check out the residence.  A Peregrine put all the birds on the river floods up but didn't seem interested and continued up the valley

Walking back we decided to walk around the floods.  The path here is still flooded but passable in our wellies.  In doing so we disturbed the Black-tailed Godwits, that took off, split up and some headed south across the reeds.

We returned to the Canal Path and came across a couple who were watching a very confiding Treecreeper.

The walk back contained pretty more of the same as the walk up, singing Chiffchaff and Cetti's Warblers, Great and Blue Tits and a couple of Wrens.  We also had a very interesting chat with a guy responsible for monitoring the Water Voles and other animals, including Otters along the canal.  

A report of a Wheatear in the large field close to the thatched house proved to be a fruitless search, it probably hiding in the tractor ruts.  Back at the cars, as we ate our lunch a Peregrine was seen to send everything up on the scrape and flew off with what looked like a Lapwing.

After lunch we decided to drive around to Warsash, parking at the sub station.  We walked to the TLC horse field where both Wheatear and Little Ringed Plover had been reported.  Walking along the path and looking over the fields there were areas that were partially flooded, Pied Wagtail and Meadow Pipits could be heard.  Scanning the pools I found the Little Ringed Plover, there were two, but very distant once again.

We left the plovers and walked to the area to the north of the fields, there were a couple of birders present so we were confident the Wheatear were there.  As we got closer we could pick out all three, still distant though.  This was the closest.

We settled in to watch the Wheatear.  One bird was showing a lot of orange on the breast and stood out in the grass.  As I watched it took flight and headed towards us, it just kept coming and finally settled on some old posts about ten feet in front of us.  I couldn't believe it some great views.

Whilst it stayed in the same place it did change positions, slightly

Then it flew, but fortunately to the post on the fence with a slightly better background.

Then it was off, flying across the main path and in to a distant field.

Across the field a Peregrine was heard calling and could be seen perched on the pylon where we were informed a pair appear to have taken over an old Raven nest.  The Peregrine then flew off still calling and headed away over the trees.

We were told that you could get a better view of the Little Ringed Plover from a bank close to Workman's Lane.  When we got there we didn't feel it was any closer, the plover still appeared distant.  The Little Ringed Plover then flew off together and dropped into another pool and out of view.  We walked around the housing estate with nothing of interest.  We did though come across a Blackbird that was calling in alarm, the reason, a Magpie with a very young fledgling, no doubt the nest will soon be cleared out now they know it is there.

Back at the bank the Little Ringed Plover were back on the pool, maybe a little closer.

That was the end of the day, but on the way home I decided to follow up on a report of Little Owl at Cheriton Mill, just to the south of Tichbourne.  The tree was very obvious, but there was no sign of the Little Owl, then I heard one calling from within some scrub close by.  I saw some movement but nothing acceptable.  I will have to come back I am sure they will show.

A completely different day to last week, but some great views of Cetti's Warbler and Wheatear and three more year ticks.

20th March - Keyhaven - Lymington Reserve, Hampshire (Part Two - The Garganey)

We had just enjoyed an experience with the Spoonbills on Saltern's Marsh and we were not expecting to better the morning so far.  As we walked past Eight Acre Pond it was surprising to see very low water levels, almost as if someone had accidentally pulled the plug out.  We were heading for Normandy Marsh and as we turned the corner we were greeted with a pair of Spoonbill, doing what we expected to see Spoonbill doing, sleeping.

 The small pools were dominated by Wigeon, Teal and Pintail with a few Avocet feeding too.  On the larger pool close in a pair of Black-headed Gulls were reflected in the still water.

On the sea side of the wall there was still a considerable amount of mud, and close in were about twenty plus Knot.

On south side of Normandy Marsh close to the sluice there were several waders close in to the sea wall.  A single Bar-tailed Godwit.

But a Black-tailed Godwit was not happy the Bar-tailed Godwit was there and started to move it away.  Here yo get an appreciation of the difference between the two godwit species.  The Bar-tailed on the left looking dumpier and smaller with shorter legs and bill.  This is not always obvious without the side by side comparison.

The slow chase ended with the Black-tailed launching at the other and the Bar-tailed flying off showing clearly the barred tail and the lack of wing bars seen in the Black-tailed Godwit.  We have also understood that Black-tailed Godwits do not like the Bar-tailed!

Avocet have been seen across all of the pools of the reserve from Keyhaven and here on Normandy Marsh was no different.  Sat quietly as the godwits scrapped it out, the Avocets reflected nicely in the still water.

But here is a question.  Do they look better as black and white images?

Both together

Then they woke up and started to feed, almost synchronised as they did so.

It reminds me of the scene from Despicable Me Three when the Minions perform a similar dance while in prison (I suppose the only reason being they were dressed in black and white).

On the other side of the sea wall there were plenty of waders, but close in was this superb Curlew.

A great opportunity to get close to this rather shy wader that normally just moves away.

We reached the south eastern corner of the marsh, pausing to scan the mud and salt marsh.  A very distant Spoonbill could be seen feeding on the far side of the river estuary, unmistakable in the way it moved and fed.  

There had been several noisy Redshank on the marsh itself and one individual went into full display flight above our heads culminating in this glide back down on to the marsh while calling constantly.

A small pipit flew up from below us as we watched the marsh as it settled back onto the marsh it called and we could see the clear white throat patch and under belly.  A Water Pipit, unfortunately yet to show the pink flush of its breeding plumage.

A Snipe was found feeding just under the bank of one of the pools.

Ian then found another bird we had been hoping to find today, a single Spotted Redshank feeding on one of the small pools a little further along the sea wall.  We were able to slip down the bank to allow a good view at more like eye level.

Once again the still water throwing some lovely reflections.

As I sat watching the Spotted Redshank I heard a call.  Scanning the pools I could see a few Dunlin on the edge of a large puddle, but these were not the owners of the call.  I was looking for a Little Ringed Plover and found it a little further back.

Little-ringed Plover was a hope for today, but never guaranteed, so we were made up to find this one, albeit a little too distant for some good photographs.

We decided to turn back, pleased with the fact that we had ventured a lot further than we would normally do, the first corner is about the limit usually.

Heading back there were lots of Dunlin feeding on the mud that was now slowly being covered by the incoming tide.

This next shot was pure luck, as the Dunlin flew by I just took pot luck and fired away, the reflection almost as perfect as the bird itself.

Here a mixture of actual birds and their reflections as they all took off from the mud with the rising tide.

Back at the sluice, the Black-tailed Godwit seemed much relaxed with the Bar-tailed Godwit gone.

It was joined in the area by a feeding Greenshank.

The Spoonbill had woken up, briefly, but long enough for us to see that they were both adults and not the two that had identified us earlier in the day.  As we left the marsh I noticed that there was a partial summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwit asleep in front of the bulrushes and reflecting in the water.

On eight acre pond the geese were paired up and getting quite aggressive.  This pair swam together across the pond to confront another pair.  The other pair had not made any attempt to come close or enter their territory so the act of aggression appear to be started by the aggressors.  They would both lay flat on the water as they swam to pond calling all the time.

As we reached Saltern's Marsh a pair of Teal caught my eye at sleep on the bank of the small pool by the side of the path.  They were obscured by grass in front of them and I doubled back to get a clear view and with the dark water as a background.  I was very pleased with the outcome.

The Spoonbill gone both the Avocet were still present.

But they had been joined by a brick red Black-tailed Godwit feeding at the back of the pool close to the reeds.

Walking back to Moses Dock Ian was taken by a Grey Heron that was hunting on the edge of the pool, dead still and head on concentrating in the water.

A passing walker stopped to talk with us and as Ian told him about what was about I dropped down the side of the pool on the path from the dock.  I wondered if I could get a clearer view of the heron, but all I could see was the head above the bank.

Ian was still talking and I moved to go through the gate, but stopped to let others come through first.  Ian finished and I walked back towards him when I saw a duck swim out of the rushes on the pond.  Ian saw it too and quickly identified it, a drake Garganey.  It swam from the rushes across the pool towards us.

I said at the end of the first part of this blog that there were some species I was wanting to find but doubted we would.  Well here it is.  Earlier in the day while scanning the Teal on Fishtail I was excited when I thought I had found one only to realise it was a preening drake Pintail.  We were both really excited by this find and couldn't believe the way the day was playing out.  We watched as it came closer.

Garganey are always a summer migrant that you long to see, they are sometimes secretive, tucked away asleep under a clump of grass or bulrushes, to get one in the open showing well like this was special.

Garganey are always thought of as similar in size to the Teal, but while it is smaller than a Mallard it is slightly larger than a Teal, more like a comparison in size with a Shoveler.

It breeds in much of Europe and across the palearctic, but is highly migratory with the entire population migrating to southern Africa, the sub continent and Australasia in winter.

Te adult male is unmistakable with its brown head and breast and a broad white crescent over the eye.  The rest of the plumage is grey, with loose grey scapular feathers.  Both the bill and legs are grey.

The Garganey feeds mostly by skimming the water, similar to the Shoveler, rather than upending.

Garganey are rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom with most breeding taking place on the marshes of Suffolk and Norfolk.

We thought at first there might be a pair, but then realised that it was just chasing female Teal about.  We watched as it swam back across the pool.

 A couple of Spotted Redshank had flown in to join it on the pool.

We watched as the Garganey swam around the rushes until suddenly, it and a Spotted Redshank flew off.  We watched as it headed back towards Saltern's Marsh.  We checked and there it was at the back of the pool against the reeds.

It didn't look comfortable though, the pools being a lot more open and not affording any real cover.  It sat with its head up indicating it was probably going to fly.

Which it then did.  In flight it shows the pale blue speculum with white fringes.

It dropped back down into the pool where we found it, but out of sight almost immediately.  Completely elated we wondered what we were next going to find on what was turning out to be a special day.  Before we moved on we had the chance to get close to Spotted Redshank that had flown off with the Garganey earlier.

We kept to the sea wall and as we approached Oxey Marsh we could see two Spoonbill feeding.  These turned out to be two adult birds, both with the yellow tips to the bills and with crests, one of which was longer than the other and clearly the male.

These too flew off but we located them and the adult and immature bird on Pennington Lagoon.  Here what could probably be a family of male and female and immature, the other adult was off to the right.

We walked around to Butts Bay in the hope that the divers maybe had come in close, they hadn't.  Walking back to the car park a Lapwing was feeding on bank, showing really well.

We had been walking for just over six hours and it was time for a rest and some lunch.  After we took the Ancient Highway to wards Keyhaven.  Ian pointed out that on days like these we never actually get everything we would want and as we walked around the path and then along the sea wall from Keyhaven, that rang true.

On Keyhaven marsh there were for the first time i can recall birds, a Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit and several Snipe showing very well.

The Peregrine were out on the marsh, one sat on the usual post, the other on the shingle bank.  A record shot of course, is the one on the beach a female with a nest nearby?

Back on Fishtail there was one more opportunity for an Avocet picture, this time synchronised standing.

Then finally to complete a wonderful day of both sightings and photographic opportunities a drake Wigeon close in on the channel close to the steps on Fishtail.

And so a great day came to an end, shame there wasn't the sand Martin and Wheatear to complete it but that is the way it goes.