Family commitments kept me away over the weekend, but I was able to get out today and the weather seemed like it was going to be have after some dull conditions on Sunday. I met Ian at the Sea Wall car park at the end of Lower Pennington Lane. As I arrived a Raven flew over calling. Once Ian arrived we headed off across the Old Tip towards Fishtail Lagoon. The water level was a little better and there was good numbers of duck and geese across the water.
We were looking for a recently reported Long-tailed Duck. This lagoon is unusual for this species and it was preening very close to the path.
Whenever a Long-tailed Duck turns up you always hope for an adult male, this though is a darker form of female, the females lack the pink tip seen on the bill of the male.
This duck was quite unconcerned as we dropped down the path to watch and photograph at a low level.
It was preening vigourously, using the bill to oil the feathers essential for a diving duck.
Then some wing flapping in the water which had us waiting for a comprehensive wing flap.
However it continued to flap the wings in the water.
Then after missing one wing flap I finally captured the wing flap.
We then moved on and after checking Keyhaven Lagoon we turned back and made our way east towards Butts and Jetty. A lovely drake Pintail on Fishtail. It was with others close in up ending.
Walking past the Jetty offshore there were five Red-breasted Merganser and a little further along a lone female.
In the gorse at the east end of the Pennington Lagoon a male Stonechat was showing very well.
A drake Wigeon on Oxey Marsh.
As we walked up to Normandy Marsh we could see a good number of Spoonbill, but before we could investigate them, there was a Spotted Redshank in the ditch on the west side of the marsh.
the deeper water meant it had to swim.
Then it was spooked and flew across the water then settling in the first pool.
So time to reflect on the Spoonbill. All stood together we count 34 birds which is the highest count for anywhere in the county beating the last high count of 23.
I was then distracted from the Spoonbill when all the small waders on the islands went up. We couldn't find the reason why Dunlin and Ringed Plover felt the need to take to the sky.
Walking around the marsh it was a better view of the Spoonbill from the south side.
And then in the sunshine.
A better view of the Avocet, there were 24 together.
Standing on the sea wall there was a Spotted Redshank on the edge of the lagoon below us. At this time of year they are greyish brown but still have the light fringes on the feathers that give a spotted appearance. However it is the bright red at the base of the lower mandible and the supercillium that stands them out from the Common Redshank.
Avocet, Greenshank and Spotted Redshank are very elegant waders, I suppose you can include Marsh Sandpiper this year in the group. Here a very elegant stance.
A drake Goldeneye was diving in the middle of the lagoon, but had now come a little closer to the sea wall.
Walking around to the west side the Goldeneye was closer.
The west side was also a good place to watch the waders as they took to the air once more.
One Spoonbill had broken ranks from the 34 and flown to the pool in the north west corner. As we walked towards it a Greenshank was feeding on the edge of the water.
A Pintail was upending. Their long necks allow them to feed in deeper water than say the Mallard, or Shoveler, but here the Pintail was frantically paddling to keep it under.
Coming up you can see the mud on the bill and drake as it dug around on the floor of the lagoon.
We stayed in place waiting for the Spoonbill to break away and three did so and were then joined by another, an immature bird, showing the black tips to the wing feathers.
Dropping down elegantly on to the pool.
Another came in a little later.
This one decided to leave us and fly around the lagoon before settling in the north east corner.
As we left Normandy a kingfisher flew past us and it gave us the run around hiding in the branches of the trees alongside the ditch.
Walking around to Pennington we came across the Roe Deer.
Back at the car park, it was a pause for lunch, then back to Fishtail as seven Spoonbill flew in. The Long-tailed Duck was still diving on the lagoon.
I wanted to catch the duck as it dived, but kept missing it. Here it was about to dive lifting the head. Interestingly it did not behave like the Hayling bird earlier in the year. That bird would snorkel before diving.
Then I managed to get the duck head on.
I finally managed to get the duck as it went through the complete dive sequence and I have capture this in one image.
The Spoonbill were actively feeding on the lagoon.
Walking back the tide was dropping and once again the sluice was blocked. As we talked to a ranger the Greenshank flew across Butts Bay.
It was good to be out again and with my mate. Some good birds and better light than for awhile. Quality birds as well.
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