Over the last two years there have been, four to start with, but now three, Glossy Ibis calling the area along the Meon as home throughout the winter. It has been a while since I have seen them, so today I started at Bridge Street, walking across the road and then down the footpath past the stables and immediately I could see the Ibis feeding in the thick vegetation.
I edged closer and then settled in to watch them and of course photograph them.
They seemed to be feeding on earthworms, pushing their curved bills into the soft earth to pull them out.
Unfortunately I didn't have the sunshine to emphasise the colour in the plumage, but there was enough to showcase it.
One was feeding well away from the other two who would happily feed together.
Despite the number of dogs passing by not on leads the Ibis were quite comfortable.
I left the Ibis and headed down the canal path towards Hill Head. There was a good amount of duck on Posbrook Floods including at least four Pintail.
The tide was high at Hill Head, these Gadwall at the base of reeds, seen from the bridge.
After checking in, I walked around onto the spit to check the high tide roost. First though a very confiding Pied Wagtail on the groyne.
The roost was present with good numbers of Ringed Plover, I counted 98 in total. In amongst them were a couple of Dunlin and there was of course the Sanderling, today I counted 63.
A paddle boarder came close and the whole roost was spooked and flew out over the water, but gradually returned. A Ringed Plover.
Sanderling.
A Ringed Plover on the beach.
Ringed Plover coming back to the beach.
Immature Ringed Plover on the beach.
The colour of the wood on the groyne providing a nice background to the silver grey of the Sanderling.
I left the spit and headed into the reserve. Looking out of the Meon Shore Hide the water on the scrape was very still.
On the right hand side Lapwing standing in the dark water.
I settled in to wait, watch and eat my lunch. The female Marsh Harrier coming in low over the reeds.
It kept on coming and then turned out over the scrape.
Lovely reflection on this Teal feeding in the shallow water in front of the hide.
Then a familiar whistle and a Kingfisher arrived. There are plenty of perches in front of the hide, but some are now over mud and the goal posts were occupied by Black-headed Gulls. After one or two fly arounds it settled on a post in front of the hide.
A female bird,she took some time to look around.
Then off, she flew around again but realised that the available posts were over mud and eventually flew off and out over the reeds.
There had been a Pied Wagtail around and then it was joined by a Grey Wagtail. From the plumage it was the same bird present a couple of weeks ago and was feeding on the island before being chased off by the Pied Wagtail.
A fox appeared in the north east corner of the scrape, probably the same fox I had seen a few weeks ago.
Shelduck a little wary of the fox behind the reeds.
There are always plenty of Lapwing on the scrape. They are constantly calling and will also fly around the scrape, either chasing each other or sometimes, for some reason, being chased by Black-headed Gulls. They are a challenge to photograph, showing off the big broad wings.
Sometimes they chase each other as well.
Everything went up on the scrape and again coming over the reeds was the female Marsh Harrier once more.
The sun was finally out and I decided to walk back up the Canal Path, to hopefully find the Ibis in the afternoon sunshine. However I picked up three birds over the river heading south and when they turned the curved bills were visible, I wasn't going to get the chance as they dropped down on to the Frying Pan.
A Marsh Harrier was also hunting over the reed bed.
In the open grassland about a halfway along there was a Stonechat on a perch.
Very little else was about, but in the afternoon sunshine there were some nice views around Posbrook.
The footpath past he Floods.
Some nice photography opportunities today despite the overcast conditions. Interestingly the forecast ids for some wilder and colder weather over the next week, hopefully this will stir things up a bit.
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