It was a brighter morning, with sunshine and a light breeze. Arriving at Farlington there were Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Robins were singing in the bushes. Ian arrived and we set off across a very wet grass area around the bushes. As we approached the Stream there were two cock Pheasants that were unsure if they wanted to fight or not.
Everywhere was flooded and there was only a small area that was walkable. This Grey Heron was hunting in an area that would normally be dry land.
We walked around to the information Hut where a showy Cetti's Warbler was singing in a bush in the middle of the reeds.
In the reeds alongside the stream and footpath there were the pings of Bearded Tits and a male was showing very well.
Whilst the water level is still high at this spot, it was not as bad as on the Lake, so this was probably why the Beardies were here. In the winter they feed on the seeds on the floor or on the reeds.
They look very good from behind too.
Out on the marsh, the Barnacle Goose and its mate the white farmyard duck were showing well.
This looks a bit more like a wild Barnacle Goose.
At the Deeps there were very good numbers of adult Mediterranean Gulls, looking very smart at this time of year.
There were gulls on the marsh and many more flying around and calling.
At this time of year Mediterranean Gulls build up in pre-breeding colonies, in Hampshire Hayling Island Oyster Beds is well known for this. It would seem that the number of Mediterranean Gulls is increasing every year and they are spilling out to close by locations.#
I love the all white wings that stand out against any background.
Over the winter new gravel islands have been built around the deeps, they were quite popular with the gulls. Pairs displaying to each other.
We searched Point Field with the thermal, but without any luck. Passing Point Field a pair of Ravens were on the sea wall.
The familiar "gronk" call.
As we tried to get a bit closer they would fly off, but settle not too far away. This one had a bath and was preening and shaking out the feathers.
The tide was very low and high tide away off. The Lake was full with no numbers of duck or wader, so we decided to try somewhere else and decided on Bedhampton. We parked at the bottom of the lane and almost as soon as he was out of the car Ian found a Guillemot on the sea, the first of the year and not always a guaranteed tick in Hampshire
We scanned the rest of the water and found a nice, but distant male Goldeneye. At the mouth of the stream there were Wigeon and a build up of all five regular gulls.
The Guillemot by now had drifted closer to the shore and had attracted the attention of a Great Black-backed Gull.
The Guillemot made no attempt to file off or dive. The water was shallow here, but it remained, despite the attention of the gull. If the gull came close it would use its bill to ward the gull off. Then a second Great Black-backed Gull turned up and things did not look good.
We watched on and one of the gulls attempted a stab, missing and getting a response from the Guillemot.
The gulls would try to get behind the auk, but the Guillemot would turn quickly and the gulls were very wary of the auk's bill. Eventually the gulls gave up and flew away, leaving the Guillemot close to the shore still but very much OK, and it even stood up and wing flapped.
We walked along the sea wall to the breach. On the lagoons were two Greenshank and two Avocet. Off shore on the sea was another Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Great crested Grebe and a summer plumaged Black-necked Grebe.
Walking back to the car it was good to see the Guillemot further out in the water, away from the shore.
We decided then to finish the day at Posbrook Floods. The Glossy Ibis seem to have left once again, but there were reports of a Cattle Egret and some Sand Martin. While eating in the car park, the first Red Admiral of the year.
As we set off several Brimstones passed us, at this time of year they very rarely stop.
Walking down the footpath we stopped to look at the Barn Owl in the usual tree.
At Posbrook the water was high, there were Tufted Duck and Pochard, but no sign of the recent Ferruginous Duck. You could hear the calls of Black-tailed Godwits and some of these were in summer plumage feeding on the shore.
Around the bridge a Chiffchaff was singing in the oak tree.
Walking back the Cattle Egret was hiding, sitting in a small bush by the side of Bridge Street Floods.
A Marsh Harrier and Buzzard showed over the back of the trees and these were joined by a Red Kite that came across the floods and over my head.
Quite distinctive with the missing primary and secondary.
We had been scanning the skies and there had been a few showers that we hoped would push some hirundines through and finally this paid off when we picked up two Sand Martin above the floods, another sign that spring is on the way?
Back in the car park a Chiffchaff was singing and was later joined by an elusive Blackcap.
Great to see Sand Martins finally, hopefully a sign of more to come.
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