The forecast had been bad for Saturday and on Friday evening I had written it off, however this morning the forecast looked better and the radar app was showing rain clearing quickly. Ian and I decided to meet at Hill Head around mid morning. However despite all this optimism the journey from home was wet and windy and when I arrived it was very gloomy and drizzling and this remained for much of the morning. Off shore Turnstone, Dunlin, Ringed Plover and of course Sanderling flew past looking for some clear areas on the beach.
We checked in, then headed for the Meon Shore Hide. The water levels were high but not as high as last week and there were birds in front of the hide. The dominant duck were Shoveler and just after I opened the window this drake flew straight at the hide.
Then for some reason a large flock of about 50 plus Snipe then took off and circled around the scrape, finally settling in the water logged vegetation on the left hand side of the scrape.
The Shoveler then put on a show in front of the hide.
Plenty of preening and wing flapping.
The high tide pushed the Oystercatcher on to the scrape. The usual roost on one of the islands on the scrape was just impossible so they took to the bank on the left hand side of the scrape. There were also several Snipe at the edge of the water.
Duck were displaying, Teal were engaged in their head bobbing and whistles, while the Gadwall were a little more aggressive, gangs of males were looking to take females away rom their partners which resulted in fights with ducks being pushed under water and the male flying at speed to attack the duck on the water.
The female on the left.
There was a fair bit of activity in the reeds by the hide, but for once they were not the regular Bearded Tits but Reed Bunting who were feeding on the seeds at the head of the reeds.
Their weight pushing the reeds down to the water.
We decided to make our way around the west side to the Spurgin Hide. It was very bleak as we arrived and there was not much in front of the hide to hold our attention, in fact the only bird this Grey Heron.
We stuck it out and were rewarded when a female Marsh Harrier came from the left and circled around the reeds to the right of the hide.
Last week somebody asked me what the orange coloured bird was. I guessed they meant the Marsh Harrier and in this shot you can see why it was thought to be orange.
We toyed with a visit to the West Hide where a Marsh Harrier appeared and the Snipe were seen flying around the scrape so we walked back to the Meon Shore Hide, just in time to see the Snipe deciding to come back to land.
The Reed Bunting were still in the reeds feeding on the seeds, but a familiar pinging call alerted us to a Bearded Tit. With the wind throwing the reeds about it was no surprise the Bearded Tit stayed low at the base of the reeds.
A female bird, there was no sign of any other Bearded Tit.
Showing the agility the species is famous for.
Then it was gone flying across in front of the hide and then away and out of sight. It was now so gloomy the ISO was recording 4000, even when point at the sky! Time to go home, one or two things of interest and the opportunity for a catch up, good chat and some laughs!
No comments:
Post a Comment