17th October - Farlington Marshes, Hampshire

I had arranged to meet Ian at Farlington to go and look fro Short-eared Owls that had been reported, however while it was a nice sunny day there was a very brisk easterly wind blowing and this was not going to be helpful.

From the car park we walked the sea wall to the Lake, where the reeds were being blown almost sideways, this meant there was also no chance of seeing any Bearded Tits.  With the wind coming from the east all the wildfowl were at the far side of the Lake sheltering by the reeds from the east wind.  All the Godwits went up but most of the duck stayed put.

There were though some duck down below us and they were the beautiful Pintail.

There were several drakes by the reeds and for once these were in breeding plumage.

Alongside the Pintail were a few Teal, this drake, while out of the wind enjoying the early afternoon sunshine.

I dropped down to the fence where I could get close to a female Pintail preening.

Showing off the orange speculum.

We moved on heading into the wind, the tide too was very high and in places with the wind the water was splashing over the sea wall, throwing sea weed onto the path.

Out in the harbour the waders were struggling to find a dry spot to roost and large flocks could be seen wheeling around, these being Knot, Grey Plover and Dunlin.  At Point field there was a small amount of beach and this was covered with Grey Plover, Dunlin and Ringed Plover.

A thermal search of Point field and surrounding area produced no Short-eared Owl.

There was nothing to further report on the walk around the east side, but heading back towards the information hut there were two Cattle Egret in with the cattle in the Hay Field.

For a change some images of the Cattle Egret on their own and not with the cows.

The view looking west, it was still bright and sunny, but the wind was still very strong and we were under no illusion about finding owls.

We walked across the field past the stream, on the bushes at the back of the Lake there were a pair of Stonechat.

We walked back to Point Field and searched the field itself, walking through and then walking around it.  In the end we admitted defeat, but to be fair we new it was hopeless when we arrived.  

On the way back the tide was falling and the waders were now moving to find feeding areas, here an adult Oystercatcher with the red eye and no collar with a n immature, probably part of a family, no red eye a dark tip to the bill and a white collar .

There will be other opportunities I am sure, but today was not to be the day.