After two and a half years both my wife and I succumbed to the dreaded Covid, we tested positive last Sunday, goodness knows where it came from. My symptoms were very mild and I was showing a negative Test Friday evening so I was out Saturday morning. The weather had turned cold with overnight frosts and some fog. As a result I left it a little later this weekend and set off from home just after sun rise. This turned out to be the right choice as the drive in the early morning sunshine was magical. All the trees along the Meon valley were coated with a thick hoar frost and the surrounding fields were all white from frost, this mixed with the greys and pinks of the sunrise made for a wonderful drive.
I arrived at the sea wall at Hill Head just before 9:00. The sun was still slowly making its way above the horizon. The skies were clear and the the tide was rising, but the water was as still as a mill pond, consequentially the sea was reflecting the azure blue sky and where the sea water was warmer than the air pockets of mist floated above the water giving the impression of steam rising.
Looking across Duck Bay the area of water close to the road was frozen, the temperature showing -4 degrees. There was an area of open water around the bridge. The seed heads of the reeds were tinged white with frost and ice could be seen at the base of the reeds by the edge of the water.
A closer view of the pockets of mist on the sea.
The wider view with the clouds over the Isle of Wight and the rich azure blue sky.
Looking across Duck Bay with the frost on the bramble and reeds.
We were intending to walk the cliffs to Chilling, earlier in the week a Tree Sparrow had been reported in amongst the House Sparrow flocks in the bushes around Solent Breezes, seen on Friday we were hoping to catch up with it today.
As we set off a flock of Sanderling flew in from the west and they were passing through the mist on the water.
In addition to the Tree Sparrow there had been an unexpected find late on Friday afternoon. Mark had found a Lesser Whitethroat that was exhibiting signs of the Siberian race. It was though quite dark when he found it and wasn't really sure. The hope was that it was still around. We caught up with looking at the bushes by the entrance to chalets. There was little about in the area he had last seen it and we stood and waited. A Song Thrush sat quietly in the early morning sunshine.
A Lesser Whitethroat in December, usually means a rarer sub-species, identification though is a challenge without inspection in the hand or very good photographs. We stood with Mark for a while before our patience began to wain. In the end with nothing showing we decided to walk on to Chilling. Passing through the chalets there was a very confiding Robin, it seemed wrong just to ignore it, specially at Christmas.
Just before walking on to the cliff path we stopped to view the beach and sea, Canada Geese were now moving past, some coming high over our heads while others skimmed the water.
From the cliffs there was a wonderful view of the Solent and Southampton Water, the still waters reflecting the deep blue sky. Brent Geese were gathered on the water below us, while Canada Geese continued their movements from west to east.
Skimming low over the water their shapes reflecting in the still water.
The bushes along the cliff path were covered in hoar frost where the sun had yet to reach
Scanning across the fields there were lots of small birds, mostly Skylarks flitting about across the stubble, further at the back were groups of Canada Geese that would take off and head out into the water.
The path drops down to the pool and stream and you cross the bridge and walk across the beach. A Black-headed Gull caught my attention close to sure, the small ripples creating horizontal lines in the still water.
The clear blue sky and wispy clouds meant that the view looking towards Southampton Water and Chilling was a cry out for a black and white image.
Climbing the cliffs once again another view out across the Solent towards the Isle of Water. The scene reminds me of the the views we had across the
Gulfo Dulce in Costa Rica on our last trip there, however the temperatures were probably close to 25 degrees warmer!
Away from the sea, a group of Golden Plover took off at the back of the field.
And as Golden Plover do they circled around above the field.
Eventually coming quite close overhead.
There were large flocks of Linnet that were moving from the field to the bushes. There was a strip of brassicas that were covered in frost and in places where the sun reached this was melting and pooling on the leaves, the Linnet were using this to drink from. This individual was really fluffed up in protection from the cold.
And was one of many hundreds that were collecting in the field and the bushes. In this shot there are 105 birds and there were many more along the way.
The combination of the colours on the bark of the bushes, the frost and the blue of the sky and water made for some interesting compositions along the footpath.
Kestrels, at this time of year and in very cold periods, avoid hovering to hunt to conserve energy and can be seen perched on poles, wires or trees to scan the ground below. This was the case as we approached Chilling. A male bird, that interestingly was ringed, sat in one of the bushes and allowed us to get very close, its concentration on the grass and field. In fact it was not bothered as runners and dog walkers passed by.
While it was happy with person passing by, if you got to close and stopped to point a camera it spooked and flew off, but only a short distance and returned to the bushes a little further away.
The Tree Sparrow had been reported from the bushes that ran around the perimeter of the Solent Breezes holiday park. There was already a few birders present, but the sparrow had not been seen. The House Sparrows could be seen in the hedge and bramble, moving about to get in the sun to warm up. Birds would come and go from the field, the House Sparrows joined by quite a few Reed Buntings.
The field close to the bushes had a strip of brassicas and beyond that stubble.
I don't think I have spent so much time looking at House Sparrows, everyone that emerged was checked, but they all had grey heads and lacked the distinctive brow spot around the ear. We persevered, walking up and down and checking all the bushes and watching new birds arrive, but without any luck. The bird seen was ringed and it is thought that this was one of a secretive Wiltshire breeding programme, but today it had moved on. Tree Sparrows are extremely rare in Hampshire these days, that last being at Titchfield Haven in 2012, once upon a time they were an uncommon breeding bird, but nowadays like all the counties in the south they are very rare.
We gave the Tree Sparrow more time than we gave the Lesser Whitethroat, but eventually decided to move on. We wanted to see if the Little Owl was showing on Workman's Lane, the conditions were ideal. Walking off the Kestrel could be seen once again in the trees and as we watched it was disturbed from its branch and flew straight at us.
We have only managed to see the Little Owl in this location once before despite many attempts, the description always being in the same tree by Beam Cottage. For those that don't know the area there are many trees and we have checked them all. This morning was no different, we scanned the line of trees and those in the garden of Beam Cottage but with no sign of the owls. I then had a thought was it "in or by" Beam Cottage or was it "behind"? I walked to the end of the footpath where there is a bungalow that could be described as "behind" Beam Cottage. There is a line of Oak trees and up in the top on one of the branches in the sunshine was a Little Owl, albeit with its back to me.
I called Ian, who didn't seem to believe me at first and managed to get him on it, eventually it responded to our squeaking sounds and looked at us.
The spots and grey plumage make it blend in to its surroundings amongst the branches of the tree.
We didn't see it fly off, but as it did we could hear the alarm calls of the small birds plus the clacking calls of Blackbirds as they realised what was in their midst. We managed to locate the owl once again at the back of the trees, visible through the branches.
But then it flew off and despite the fact we could still here the birds calling in response to the owl being present we could not relocate it.
We made our way back to the hedge alongside Solent Breezes, but there had not been any sign of the Tree Sparrow, we stayed for a while, again checking every House Sparrow, but without any luck. Our stomachs were telling us we needed food so we started the walk back to Hill Head.
Along the way we came across the Kestrel once again, this time with the light all wrong.
Once again it allowed a close approach but once you became too close it was off.
It moved to a bush a little further along and this time we decided to walk past it which it didn't seem to worry about and then turn to get the better light. This we did, it watched as we walked past, but as we turned we only managed a few shots before it flew off.
We decided to check Brownwich Pond, passing a good number of Pied Wagtail in the stubble field.
As we approached the pond a huge flock of what we thought were Woodpigeon took off from the adjacent field, but as we got closer it became clear they were smaller and were in fact Stock Doves, one of the biggest flocks I have seen before.
The pond was frozen with only a few parts of open water, the only duck we could see were Mallard. We followed the path around and came back to the cliff path and made our way back. As we reached the chalets we received a message that the Lesser Whitethroat had been see and was showing well. As we reached the spot it didn't take long to locate the bird in the bushes.
Rather than write up what is a complicated description of the pros and cons for this bird here and take up to much space, I will devote this to a separate blog. But here is one of the better shots.
We spent quite a bit of time with the Lesser Whitethroat, completely forgetting the hunger that drove us back. However as the images were racked up my stomach started once again to tell me I was hungry. However as we walked to the cars we passed a group that were watching and photographing Bearded Tits, we could see the Beardies, but they appeared elusive so we continued on. I managed to eat one roll before Ian pointed out they were now showing well and he was off. I followed with cup in hand and roll in mouth and sure enough they were showing well.
There were at least eight individuals, possibly more showing very well feeding on the seed heads of the reeds, conditions were ideal, beautiful light with no wind whatsoever.
These are either immature males or female birds.
But it is the male birds that every one wants to see and photograph and there were at least two splendid males that started to show very well.
Some classic Bearded Tit poses
It has been a very good year for me with Bearded Tits, since September I have had some great encounters which has provided some wonderful images. These though with the wonderful winter sunlight were probably the best.
Eventually the flock started to move away, their calls though still being heard all around us. Completely satisfied we returned to the cars to finish another cup of tea and finish the lunch. Out on Duck Bay five Redshank were standing on the ice.
As always at this time of year we were joined by the Black-headed Gulls looking for any hand outs from lunch.
After lunch we walked around to the harbour. The tide was still high and the water still, which at high tide is unusual and goes some way to showing how still the day was. This view looking towards Lee-On-The Solent
With it so calm it was easy to pick out anything on the water, although there was not a lot, this female Eider of interest though.
At the Harbour the Turnstone were lining the breakwaters, the light was such that it produced a glow around the birds as they roosted producing a different take on a bird that might otherwise be overlooked.
Walking back the Sanderling were on the beach and we just could not resist them.
With the light becoming more golden and the sun moving in and out of the clouds the colours would change, the water though remained blue.
Several feeding on the breakwater.
One or two were more than happy to wade into the deeper water.
Looking behind me a Black-headed Gull was silhouetted against the water which was a mixture of gold and blue.
And the clouds over the Isle of Wight were gathering and absorbing the setting sun.
I turned back to the Sanderling and tried to get closer as they fed on the concrete wall covered in sea weed.
The breakwater making a nice dark background the frame the Sanderling.
My favourite shot of the Sanderling today.
The clouds had eased away across the island, sending the golden light across the water.
We finally managed to drag ourselves away from the Sanderling and walked back to the cars, just before we left there was time for one more view of Duck Bay.
A day when initially I expected not too much but in the end delivered some wonderful pictures. It was a shame to miss out on the Tree Sparrow, but the Little Owl, Lesser Whitethroat, Beardies and Sanderling made up for it along with the beautiful light and weather.
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