We were here last year, so it was good to be back in the car park on Lower Pennington Lane, the sun was just about to rise lighting up the water across the marsh.
A New Year, a new list had brought us back here, probably one of the prime winter locations in Hampshire. Ian and I set off across the Old Tip towards Fishtail. The heavy rains over the last few days, like everywhere, had filled the lagoon.
As we stood looking across the marsh a Roe Deer ran through the water, the deer behaving more like a Chinese Water Deer than Roe Deer. It then stopped to watch us.
We negotiated the flooded path and climbed up onto the sea wall to be greeted with some wonderful views.
The Needles
Keyhaven Marsh.
The sun breaking through across Keyhaven Marsh.
The view with Keyhaven Lagoon on the right.
Turning back to walk east, Reed Buntings were in the bushes and picking up grit on the path.
This male looking to take in the sunshine.
Walking around to Butts Bay there was a hole in the cloud that shone light onto the downs on the Isle of Wight.
The tide was dropping now and the waders were moving to the mud. Here Grey Plover, Dunlin and at least eight Bar-tailed Godwit.
The Greater Scaup was with the Tufted Duck on Butts Lagoon, while on Pennington Lagoon there was a single immature Spoonbill.
More waders were collecting on the shingle bar that was now exposed to the east of the jetty. Dunlin in the foreground while at the back Knot and a few Grey Plover.
Approaching Oxey Marsh, Ian found a single Slavonian Grebe on the sea.
More dramatic scenes as the cloud broke once again to light up the isle of Wight ferry leaving the island for Lymington.
On one of the lagoons on Oxey Marsh there was another Spoonbill, this time an adult bird.
An interesting reflection.
No feeding, but plenty of preening.
On the same lagoon the red head Goosander that has been present in the area for some time now, previously seen on Normandy Marsh it seems now to like Oxey.
It was quiet until we reached the Eight Acre Pond where there were several Tufted Duck in the dark water.
And as usual plenty of Little Grebes.
The low tide had exposed the bladder wrack and there were several Turnstone and this Dunlin feeding amongst it.
On Normandy Marsh there was a group of Avocet.
While I managed to catch this Ringed Plover as it flew over.
We walked around to the south east corner of the marsh and looking across the marsh you can see how high the water levels were. The area in the foreground is usually dry land that attracts Linnets and Goldfinches, today just water.
A report of a Spotted Redshank sent us further around the marsh, where we found it in the north east corner.
Some different views of this elegant wader in the glorious sunshine.
Feeding amongst the vegetation.
Walking back around the marsh, the Wigeon were on the only available mud again in the sunshine.
A quick preen.
A pair of Egyptian Geese on one of the small islands.
And the opportunity to photograph a Meadow Pipit close settled on a post.
Walking back we came across this Greenshank close to the sea wall in dark water. It was feeding around the water outflow.
Very rarely do I get the chance to get so close to a Greenshank.
A report of a Red-necked Grebe had us rushing to Oxey Marsh, apparently amongst the Slavonian Grebes. We found the Slavonian Grebes.
But the reported Red-necked was a Slavonian Grebe that had quite a dark neck.
One of the best Slavonian Grebe photographs I have taken.
Back at Butts Lagoon the Scaup was again with the Tufted Ducks.
Here in the the sunshine you can see the green sheen on the head.
Back in the car park we were entertained by a Raven flying around above us as we had lunch.
After lunch we walked to the bend in the lane to view the geese. The Bar-headed Goose in amongst a group of Canada Geese.
A dog Fox taking in the sun on the bank.
A Peregrine flew across the marsh scattering the Golden Plover, Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwits.
We wondered if the fox was looking to hunt the wildfowl on the marsh, but it didn't seem that interested as it walked away.
The Brent though, were agitated frequently moving around the marsh.
As usual the Golden Plover were frequently flying high, these four of about four hundred!
We walked the Ancient Highway with little to distract us, bu on reaching Keyhaven Harbour we found this female Kingfisher using the ropes around the harbour wall as a perch.
While she would fly off she would return almost immediately.
I had to lean over the wall to get a view and this risked flushing her.
Beautiful light once again to highlight the colours.
Also in the harbour was this Little Egret, fishing in the sun reflected water.
Offshore at Keyhaven Marsh we found this Spotted Redshank feeding in one of the channels.
I don't recall having ever seen one here before.
As we walked back towards Fishtail and the Old Tip Pintail were flying between the lagoon and the marsh.
Back at the car park, the same view seen when we arrived but in completely different light.
Another year, another list and this placed delivered once again, I am now on 99 for the year, I wonder what the 100th bird will be.
No comments:
Post a Comment