After a week of heavy rain followed by heavy showers it was encouraging to have a forecast of sunshine and calm condition this Saturday. This though came with its own little sting. Leaving home I had to scrape ice off the windscreen before I left and as I headed past Alresford the temperature dropped to just one degree centigrade.
With the weather forecast looking so good it was the perfect time to visit the Keyhaven- Lymington Reserve. Pulling into the car park the sun was just rising and it was cold, enough to have to don a hat and gloves. We set off across the Old Tip in the direction of Fishtail Lagoon. The autumn shine was lovely, sending a golden glow across the marsh at the back of the lagoon, highlighting beautifully this Roe Deer.
The bushes were busy with warblers, mostly Chiffchaffs, this one appearing at the top of a bush.
Up on to the sea wall the tide was rising in Butts Bay. This Grey Heron was sat on the exposed mud again lit by the early morning sunshine.
The waters were calm and a beautiful blue in Butts Bay.
Unfortunately there was little to see on Fishtail, Teal and a few Wigeon were feeding at the back, but the only waders were Oystercatcher, a couple of Dunlin and a few Black-tailed Godwits.
We walked around to Butts Lagoon, where another Grey Heron was sitting in the morning sunshine, this time amongst the reeds.
As I watched the Heron, Ian called a Spoonbill dropping into the lagoon. It stayed at the back of the lagoon before flying off towards Pennington. It was an immature bird.
A Great Crested Grebe was close in, fishing in the calm blue water.
A little further out were four Eider, presumably all females.
From when we arrived there was a significant movement of Meadow Pipits, with them being seen overhead and all along the sea wall.
On Pennington Marsh a Greenshank was in the small pool, the dark water contrasting the silver grey plumage of the Greenshank.
Moving into the blue water.
Then back into the dark water.
A Little Egret in a similar position in the dark water and a nice shadow on the bank.
The Spoonbill we had seen on Butts lagoon was now in the bay here on Pennington Marsh.
The bill lacks the pinkish markings seen on the adult, when seen in flight there were black tips to the primaries which indicate that this is an immature bird.
More Meadow Pipits were along the sea wall and this Wheatear sat in one of the bushes along the path.
It allowed us to creep forward and get closer, at first it was obscured by some of the branches, but by slowly approaching we were able to get a view where the branches were not in the way.
A Curlew on the bank by the lagoon.
And with the Curlew on the bank were at least five Wheatear.
The Wheatear joined by several Stonechats, here a female.
On Salterns a Redshank was sat amongst the sage green vegetation.
We walked around to the eight acre pond where there were at least five Little Grebes on the water.
High water levels again on Normandy Lagoon, so wader numbers are low. There were some Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Dunlin, Redshank and these eleven Greenshank.
The water levels on Normandy Marsh.
Walking back around the sea wall there was a patch of Michaelmas Daisies or Sea Asters and these were a magnet for butterflies with a Painted Lady at the back of the patch.
And then a smart Small Copper on the asters.
There was a Small White present as well and this female Common Blue.
The Painted Lady a little clearer.
We headed back around the wall once again, the tide high and the Turnstone, although, you can't see them, on the metal work.
After the rain of the week the conditions were crystal clear and it was possible to see Portsdown Hill away to the east.
The water in the Shoveler Pools was also higher which was a good thing and at the back of the largest pool was a Spotted Redshank.
Then there were two birds, initially I thought two Spotted Redshank, but looking now it is a Common Redshank.
We walked around to Keyhaven after lunch. The tide was falling and the clouds were high over the harbour, ideal conditions for some more black and white photography.
On the pools on Keyhaven marsh an interesting pose, any ideas?
And in the pool nearby a Redshank showing off why a juvenile Redshank can sometimes be confused with a Wood Sandpiper.
On the side of the sea wall a Small Copper performed some pole dancing moves.
In the flooded area of Keyhaven Marsh there were several Wigeon, returned from their breeding rounds and still in partial eclipse.
Something spooked the duck on the shore and they all took off. Here all Wigeon except for one. A Pintail has sneaked in.
The creek on the sea side of the wall had a single Greenshank.
These two Herring Gulls were calling at each other, it wasn't clear why, but just before this shot they were fighting and really going for it, here they were still calling. It looks like a second year bird and a third year, but why we will never know.
We hoped the Spotted Redshank was showing closer on the Shoveler Pools. It wasn't but had been joined by a Greenshank, so we now had a Greenshank, Spotted Redshank and a Redshank all in the same view.
And to finish things off a Green Sandpiper was at the back of the pool.
The weather was perfect for this reserve, clear skies, plenty of autumnal sunshine and calm conditions. The light produced some great shots with atmosphere and there were some quality birds along with some great late butterflies.
