We travelled back from Kent in the morning and with reports of the Wryneck once again at Titchfield, I arranged to meet Ian as soon I could get there as possible. It was a sunny day but very unseasonably cold due to a very fresh north easterly wind. Overnight the skies had been clear and I wasn't hopeful.
I met Ian in the Meon Shore Hide, the Wryneck had not been seen through the morning. Settling in there was a Dunlin in front of the hide on the small island.
A one leg pose.
There were of course three Common Sandpipers, this one showing well just beneath the hide.
All three are very vocal and spend a lot of time chasing each other around the scrape. Here one on the goal posts calling voraciously.
A small group of Starlings bathing in the shallow water just off one of the islands.
An immature or female Marsh Harrier coming over the scrape.
Putting up all the birds including these Black-tailed Godwits.
Once everything settled back on the scrape these Lapwing came together. I like the decline of the crests from left to right!
A Black-tailed Godwit with a nice water drop from the beak.
We decided to go back along the footpath to see if there might be a show from the Wryneck. We spent sometime waiting and looking at a view I have now become so familiar with. After about thirty minutes we decided the cold conditions and the very strong wind were not conducive and maybe it had left overnight.
After stopping for an ice cream we walked to the east side. I wanted to see if we could find the Willow Emerald dragonflies at the Walkway Pond. As we arrived this male Common Darted settled above our heads.
The place to check for the emeralds is around the sedge and it did not take long to find one.
Not the best specimen, missing one wing and damage to another, but it was good to catch up with one. It was first seen last year in this location, but clearly have done well as they have been reported this year on both sides of the reserve.
This was interesting seen on one of the sedge leaves. It is an Orange-legged Sedgesitter, which is a type of hoverfly.
And this, its Latin name, Donacia marginata a species of Leaf Beetle found in Europe.
Walking back along the board walk the sun was shining through the reeds.
A brief visit and once again a failure to see the Wryneck, however I am now accepting that it has gone and will move on.
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