Saturday was a wash out, there would have been an opportunity early in the morning but with such an horrific forecast I decided it wasn't worth the diesel. Instead I was able to get out on the Sunday when the sun finally came out, with white fluffy clouds. As I headed towards the Haven around midday I didn't hold much hope for anything spectacular, it was just nice to be able to get some fresh air. Pulling up at the sea wall the tide was still high with quite a fresh southerly wind, fortunately though the tide was falling and no longer splashing over on to the road.
As I got out of the car I noticed a Cormorant struggling with a large eel in Duck Lake, it is always amusing to watch them grapple with the twisting body, but for once this one was dispatched quite quickly.
After checking in I walked back to the west side of the reserve and for the first time for a while avoided the Meon Shore Hide and walked around to the Pumfrett Hide. A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper had been reported, but by all accounts was only showing at the back of the north scrape. As I entered the hide I was taken by the amount of water, my last visit there had been a lot of mud, now the islands were just that, mounds of grass amongst a lake of water. There were plenty of Teal, but very few waders. The Curlew Sandpiper was at the back of the scrape as advised. Completely hopeless for photographs, but nice to see it. This is the best I could do.
With little else about I left for the Spurgin Hide. There I was greeted with the same sight, plenty of water and few birds. Out on the water were Gadwall and Teal but little else. I was here though for reported Water Rails so I settled in to watch and wait.
Surprisingly a Roe Deer buck appeared out of the reeds and started to walk across the pond.
What this immediately pointed out was that while there appeared a lot of water, it was not very deep, the buck walked across with very little difficulty.
Headed for one of the islands where it settled down behind the vegetation, out of the wind and in the sunshine.
The Gadwall settled on one of the small rafts were showing almost complete breeding plumage.
Dark clouds loomed out across the Solent and it wasn't long before the rain rolled in, I was going nowhere for a while.
And as I waited I spent the time photographing the Little Egrets that appeared in front of the hide.
More black and white images
Actively hunting when the sun finally reappeared.
Then finally my patience was rewarded as a Water Rail (or waded?) swam across the water and headed for the patch of reeds.
It made its way into the reeds and I waited for it to appear on the other side, which it duly did, the sun catching it nicely as it walked amongst the stubble of the cut reeds.
It then headed away and was eventually chased by another Water Rail that came out of the reeds with a squeal.
I did see another Water Rail dart across the open water below the hide which made at least three individuals, but with all the squeals that were going on I suspect there were more.
With success with the Water Rails and a current break in the weather I decided to walk back, dropping into the Pumfrett Hide once again. As I settled in I noticed a pair of Redshank squabbling.
It then became a full on fight with one bird forcing the other under water.
The bird originally being attacked managed to struggle free.
And clearly wasn't going to accept the attack, so turned and had a go back.
Pushing his aggressor under water by landing on its back and keeping it there despite the struggles.
Its almost like it was stamping on the other to keep it under water.
It tried to struggle free.
But couldn't get away, the first Redshank had clearly picked on the wrong bird.
Coming up for air and to call
Then finally the aggressor decided the lesson had been taught and flew away.
Leaving the bird that started all the aggression to collect its thoughts amongst the shore and vegetation.
With the north scrape all calm now and very little else about I decided to head for the Meon Shore Hide where I intended to see out the rest of the afternoon.
All was quite calm on the south scrape with very few waders, this Redshank the only wader close to the hide.
A drake Shoveler was snoozing just off the island, it almost out of eclipse plumage, only a few feathers to go on the white breast.
A gull caught my attention as it looked different, still not sure what exactly is, thought Lesser Black-backed, but the eye is wrong, the bill is too big for a Common Gull and the streaking doesn't seem to fit.
Below the hide the Rock Pipit that has been present for a good number of weeks was showing very well on the cut grass and vegetation.
On the same island close to the hide was a Snipe, head and bill tucked under the wing and using the camouflage of the amazing plumage to almost become invisible amongst the vegetation.
We still had sunshine, but all around there were dark clouds and it was no surprise when a rainbow appeared above the trees behind the Pumfrett Hide and the an opportune moment as a Black-headed Gull flew across the colours.
With a very brisk southerly wind blowing, the birds were using the shelter of the reeds at the south end of the scrape. Teal and Redshank were to the left of the hide in the shallow water and with them was a Little Egret and I liked the composition of the dark background cast by the reeds and the brilliant white of the Little Egret.
I like the one reed picked out by the sunshine in this shot.
On the other side of the hide a Redshank fed, showing off in the sunshine some lovely orange red legs against the dark water.
The rainbows persisted behind the reserve and here you get an idea of how much water there was on the scrape.
As the sun started to fade the Snipe finally started to become a little more animated.
Again showing the beautiful camouflaged plumage.
Then it went for a little walk, pausing every so often to probe the mud around the plants.
Then came the rain, some very heavy rain fall ensued. At first the Snipe seemed top use this to help preen the feathers.
Then as the rain fall became heavier the water drops settled on its back and it had to shake itself to remove them.
This gave the impression of the Snipe being "fluffed up".
It then would settle back down after some more probing.
But would need a shake again once the rain collected.
Then more shaking and as the rain got heavier a lot more water was coming off.
Finally it looked a lot more alert.
Then a bow before it flew off.
While the attention was on the Snipe, the Redshank was still present, like the Snipe sitting out the rain.
As the rain eased the sky started to clear and this threw a blue hue across the water. Here a group of Redshanks that seemed to get on well.
The Shoveler too was still present but a little more awake now.
A short preen.
Then it decided to move off to the back of the scrape.
Two Ringed plover flew in over the top of the hide in the company of two more Redshank
As the sun came out once again the light was a lot different and the Redshank was showing off its lovely orange red legs once again, contrasting with the darkness of the water.
I considered that I had exhausted the birding possibilities and with the time running out on the parking ticket I decided to leave. As I walked to the car this Grey Heron flew across Duck Lake.
As I said in the introduction I didn't know what to expect today and the Curlew Sandpiper aside it was very much standard stuff, but as ever there has been some real quality. From the spectacle of the fighting Redshanks to getting some decent shots of water Rail, and from the colour of the Redshanks to the sublime beauty of the Snipe's camouflage it has been a very decent day.
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