The forecast for today was for heavy showers from late morning onwards, so Ian and I had decided to make the most of the early sunrise to maximise some dry weather before the showers arrived. However as I headed south through the New Forest it was raining and I was worried I would have another day like last Tuesday at Oxey Marsh.
Fortunately the rain stopped and the skies were clear as I pulled into the sea wall car park, Ian arrived shortly afterwards and we set off across the Old Tip towards the sea wall at Butts Bay. We decided to walk around the sea wall first thing while the wind was not to strong, however despite the calm wind the sea was a little choppy. We wanted to get to Oxey and look for the Slavonian Grebes, our hope was that they may be showing some summer plumage.
The long staying male Scaup was on Butts Lagoon along with a few Tufted Duck. However we walked past that and found male Pochard on the Jetty Lagoon, I don't recall ever seeing Pochard here, they have become less common over the years, so finding this one was a bonus.
We walked past the Jetty, scanning the sea but with nothing showing. With the water still high on Fishtail and little areas that would make suitable nesting areas, the Avocet were on the Pennington Lagoon.
We reached Oxey Marsh and there was still no sign of any Slavonian Grebes, there were two Great Crested Grebes and they teased with a little head shaking display. On the pool on the marsh was a Greenshank.
Then a little further along a lovely drake Wigeon in the morning sunshine
On Salterns, a pair of Avocet were in the midst of mating. The jump on.
Then the dismount and side by side dash together.
On the Teal Pool a Snipe trying to avoid eye contact.
The morning light picking out the red legs of this Redshank.
The pair of Avocet on Salterns were taking a rest after their exertions earlier.
Walking around to Normandy, the view across Oxey Lake.
Even more Pochard on Normandy, counted eleven amongst the Tufted Duck.
A Snipe feeding in the gullies at the south west end of the lagoon.
We walked all the way around to the west side of the lagoon, but couldn't find the hoped for Spotted Redshank. Walking back this Lapwing looked like it was sitting on the nest, what I presume to be the mate was close by and chasing any crow or gull that came too close.
There was one Spoonbill on the lagoon. It was the ringed immature bird that has been present for sometime. This bird was ringed in the Netherlands, but seems to like it here in Hampshire.
The Pochard were now closer in the south east corner.
On Pennington, a sleeping Gadwall.
Clouds were building in the west and the radar did not look too promising. WE decided to head back to the car and sit out what ever came our way
As we walked towards the car park, these three Egyptian Geese flew over.
We had rain and atone point quite heavy rain, but it didn't last too long. Once cleared we walked back to Fishtail with scopes this time to look for Garganey. This gull was of interest having a clean white rounded head and lacking the aggressive look of an adult Herring Gull. At one point the legs looked yellow, but they turned out to be pink. The eye was black too, so could this be the black eyed gull that had been at Hill Head for sometime?
Interestingly in front of the gull are a male and female Ruff.
Not big numbers but one or two Mediterranean Gulls were around the lagoon.
There was also a single Bar-tailed Godwit around one of the islands.
More rain and this looks nasty, is on the way, so we started to head back along the sea wall.
The mixture of dark skies and some sunshine turned the water on the lagoon a deep grey and the strong wind that was now blowing had whipped up some waves. and this contrasted well with this drake Tufted Duck.
I had been counting the Avocet as we walked back from Normandy and these eight made it 73 in total.
The male Scaup was now on the Fishtail Lagoon and like the Tufted Duck, looked good in the dark waters.
We didn't make it back to the car before the rains hit this time and the walk across the Old Tip was not very pleasant, the second time in less than a week I have been soaked here! With the forecast not looking good and the radar even worse we decided to call it a day and head home
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