Plans changed for this weekend due to an unfavourable weather forecast, however once again the actual weather bore no resemblance whatsoever with that which was forecast. So it was the Lower Pennington Lane car park that I pulled into just before 6:30 to meet Ian. It had been a while since we had been here and this showed with the hedgerows along the lane. The campsite was also packed, I don't think I have seen so many tents in there before.
There was a cover of cloud, but also plenty of broken areas as we set off from the car park, for once taking the east path that heads towards the Jetty. A Wood Sandpiper had been reported the previous evening and its preference were the small pools known as the Shoveler Pools on Pennington Marsh. We scanned the pools but were not able to find it, there were though at least eight snipe at the back of the pool and a Lapwing.
Walking on a large white egret flew up from the back of the Jetty Lagoon, being chased by a Grey Heron. It settled back into the marsh and its large yellow bill became visible, a Great Egret.
It proceeded to stalk through the bullrushes.
But the Grey Heron was not too far away and flew at the egret again to move it on.
The Great Egret, or Great White Egret as it is still know appears more elegant than its smaller cousin the Little Egret as it stalks through the grass and bullrushes, its approach more like that of the Grey Heron, a wait and strike strategy as opposed to the energetic scampering about and striking at everything strategy of the Little Egret.
But the grey Heron was not going to let the Great Egret settle and it was after it again.
Finally it decided it just wasn't worth the bother and flew off across the marsh toward the back of Butts Lagoon.
With the great Egret disappearing behind the reeds away to the west we walked toward the sea wall. On walking to the top of the wall we disturbed an immature Wheatear on the beach.
This was quickly followed by another that was amongst the vegetation to the right of the jetty.
There were several Curlew on the rocks around the jetty and they were constantly calling as they pushed each other off the rocks, those disturbed flew low across the water.
The tide was out and there was plenty of mud exposed in Butts Bay, but only a handful of waders, this one of two Ringed Plover.
Dunlin moved around the mud, we counted three only. There were also two very smart looking Grey Plover distantly among the salt marsh, while 34 Eider in various state of plumage were spread out on the sea and the mud.
We walked around to Fishtail where there was very little going on at all, juvenile Pied Wagtails teased as small waders but that was about all. Another Curlew posed on the salt marsh on the other side of the sea wall at Keyhaven Lagoon.
Another swam / waded across the inlet.
As we walked around to Keyhaven harbour there were good numbers of Black-tailed Godwits on the mud along with several Redshank and Turnstone. I left Ian in the Observatory as I answered a call of nature, only to return to find he had seen Kingfisher in front of the hide and two Sparrowhawks. We stayed in hope the Kingfishers would return, but as expected, they didn't. All I was left with was this view from the hide across the Pans.
We returned to the car park along the Ancient Highway. We thought we had found a bit of a surprise about half way along when we heard a Turtle Dove "purring" but repeated attempts to find the bird returned nothing. We were convinced though it was a Turtle Dove. Later we met a group who informed us, when we told them about the dove, that they had been playing tape of a Sedge Warbler, which had a Turtle Dove singing in the background to attempt to lure birds to the mist nets at the back of Keyhaven Marsh. The record was hastily removed from Go Birding.
After a quick cup of tea we were back along the path to the Shoveler Pools, the sun was now quite warm, and we began to rue the change of plan, but convinced ourselves the weather would not be so good inland.
At the Shoveler Pools it did not take long to find the Wood Sandpiper and as was to be expected it was right at the back of the pool and in know way suitable for the best photography.
Ironically close to us as we watched from the bank was a lone immature Dunlin.
We waited as the Wood Sandpiper disappeared behind an island, the Snipe entertained as we waited.
Then the Wood Sandpiper went on a fly around, calling as it did so and showing off the white rump. It finally returned and thankfully a little closer, concerned about something as it searched the skies.
Probably the best views we will get of this bird.
Then it flew to the back of the pool again and eventually back behind the island where it stayed.
We headed back to the sea wall once again, the tide was much higher now and a Turnstone was sat on the old metal left behind from the jetty.
On the opposite side to the sea Whitethroats were busy in the gorse and bramble. Mostly juvenile birds they would disappear into the scrub and you could follow their progress, as they lived up to their country name of "nettle creeper" through the tangled branches.
We headed inland toward Moses Dock. On the Salterns Lagoon this Redshank was enjoying the sunshine.
Three Black-tailed Godwits were present, two appeared to be juvenile birds while the other was still showing significant amounts of its summer breeding plumage.
The brick red feathers contrasted nicely with the background of rushes, mud and the dark water as it fed around the small islands creating another of those photographs that look like a painting.
We made our way to Normandy Marsh where we expected some increased action, but apart fro Redshank there was very little. No sign of any major tern activity and only a pair of Common Terns flying around the marsh. No sign of any Avocet either.
Walking back we came across a Painted Lady Butterfly that settled in the bramble alongside Eight Acre Pond.
It then moved its position, the dark water providing the perfect background for this beautiful butterfly.
As we crossed Moses Dock there were at least four large Grey Mullet swimming on the surface, probably taking advantage of the increased flow of water through the sluice bring food opportunities.
There are three species of grey mullet in UK waters; golden
grey, thin lipped and thick lipped. It is the latter two most commonly seen in
our harbours and estuaries.
In terms of UK distribution mullet can be found throughout
most of the British Isles, but are definitely more common in the
south and west than in the north. However, there is evidence that the range of
mullet is spreading, and they are becoming increasingly common around the
northern parts of the British Isles.
Mullet are a fish which lives in calm, still water. They are
therefore often found in harbours, marinas, estuaries and sheltered natural
coves and bays. When the sea is still like it was here by the dock, they can be
seen slowly swimming just below the surface of the water in small groups.
Mullet are highly tolerant of brackish and stagnant water
and will swim along rivers until they are very far inland. Mullet inside
harbours and marinas will often be spotted swimming between moored boats or
other structures.
Leaving the Mullet we continued this time around the sea wall, once again there were young Whitethroat in the gorse and bramble.
A single Greenshank was enjoying the sun on Oxey Marsh in much the same way as the Redshank earlier on Salterns.
It was now a glorious day with lovely blue skies and a still calm sea.
And with the sunshine came more butterflies, a female Common Blue amongst the grasses on the sea wall.
A slightly worn Red Admiral on the Bramble.
Once again this made us wonder about the weather conditions inland, but there was nothing we could do about it now. A male Common Blue appeared in the grass at the eastern corner of Pennington Lagoon.
And as we tried to get the optimum views and shots of the Common Blue a Painted Lady flew past and settled on the ragwort on the bank of the lagoon.
As it turned it closed the wings and the underside contrasted with the inky darkness of the background.
An opportunity to appreciate the wonderful markings on the under wing
The Painted Lady then shifted position on the Ragwort.
And a close up appreciation of the butterfly and from different angles.
Walking past the metal workings at the Jetty there were now more Turnstones roosting.
We headed back to the car park, taking the time to check the Shoveler pools, a single Greenshank was feeding at the back of the furthest pool.
As I stood watching the Greenshank and Ian was off chasing more Painted Ladies across the old tip a Small Copper flew in and landed close to my feet.
A little further along, on the pool that had the Wood Sandpiper earlier, was another Greenshank, with no sign of the Wood Sandpiper.
The juvenile Pied Wagtails were also about, picking the insects dexterously off the surface of the water, using the small mud islands as launch pads.
Walking back to the car we passed so many people making their way to the sea, not sure what they were expecting but they were carrying buckets spades and wind breaks, some though had kayaks and paddle boards. This years staycations are having a huge impact on the wildlife around areas such as this.
Back at the car we witnessed many bikes and walkers pouring through the gates and cars turning up looking for parking spaces that just did not exist. A Painted Lady and Red Admiral whizzed around the bramble and bushes around the car park and a Whitethroat skulked at the bottom of one of the bushes.
We decided to walk the highway after lunch in search of butterflies. There were at least seven Painted Ladies that flew past us and the odd number of Gatekeeper, but overall we expected much more. What we did get though were hoards of bikes and people, at one stage the path was as packed as any central shopping centre. I know it is a cycle path but I have never seen numbers like this along there before.
We decided to call it a day and head back. As much as the numbers of people around the reserve was eye opening the drive home was frightening. More cyclists, pedestrians on busy roads on the wrong side. Drivers without any care towing huge caravans to places that they had no right to go. Queues for car parks that were full and what was probably the most concerning tents within the woods all the way between Brockenhurst and Lyndhurst, heavens knows what litter and rubbish will be left there.
Rant over....lets hope the weather plays ball next weekend and we can return to the plan we had for this weekend, knowing our luck it will forecast wall to wall sunshine and turn out to be cloudy and wet
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