After the gloom of the weekend it was nice to see the sun this morning. We are now in December, how quickly this year has gone by. I was off to Titchfield, but changed my mind as I approached and stopped at Bridge Street. From there I set off along the canal path, hoping to get some views of the Ibis in the sunshine.
As I approached the Posbrook Floods bridge along the path the autumn colours were still in place.
Looking across the Floods, I found the three Glossy Ibis feeding amongst the Canada Geese and vegetation at the back of the flood, not the views I was hoping for, but there would be later when I walked back
Walking on, a Kestrel flew across the marsh after attempting to hunt, and settled in a tree by the path.
There has been a lot of work on the Canal Path to shore up the banks to prevent the flooding of last winter. Here though there was water from the fields flowing into the canal and the water level is once again nearly over the bank. This was just after Hammonds Bridge.
I walked down to the sea wall and headed for the visitor centre. The water level in Duck Bay was high, a combination of rain and the high tide. There were ten Common Gulls on the island and perches.
Plus a third winter Herring Gull.
After checking in I walked back, but stopped at the spit to check the high tide roost. I estimated well over one hundred Ringed Plover and the usual numbers of Sanderling with them. They were flying around just off shore.
Settling down on the spit.
Sanderling amongst the Ringed Plover.
I like the reduced depth of field here, with the focus on the front Ringed Plover.
I headed to the Meon Shore Hide where it was good to see the water levels had gone down slightly and there was a bit more of the islands showing.
There were groups of Teal, mainly male displaying to single females. They lift themselves out of the water and throw their head back while showing off all the colours.
A surprise was the appearance of a Curlew, coming towards the scrape from the direction of the meadows.
Curlew have become quite scarce here, at one time there would be good numbers on the meadow around the Frying Pan, but they disappeared, so it is good to see some back, there were three present on the islands.
Two female type Marsh Harriers appeared over the reeds beyond the north scrape. One female had a broken primary feather, the second primary.
Shoveler looking splendid in the sunshine.
Everything went up over the Frying Pan with the appearance of the Marsh Harriers and in amongst them were three distinctive shapes, the Glossy Ibis.
They circled around the reeds and over the north scrape, their shape looking very prehistoric in flight.
They then continued to circle the scrapes, looking to drop in but pulling out at the last moment.
I then lost them as they came across the reeds to the right of the hide. Then they appeared close to the hide from the right and slowly glided down right in front of me, the sunshine catching the "glossy" plumage and showing off the colours.
To the delight of those in the hide they settled on the Snipe Island just in front of the hide.
The other residents of the island Snipe, Teal, Shoveler, Redshank and Lapwing were not concerned.
Close views and sunshine to highlight the beauty of the Ibis, just what I hoped for today, but never expected it like this.
And a chance to show off the feathers.
Probably will not get a chance to be so close again so I made the most of it.
Two of the three together in symmetry.
Then the whole scrape went up including the Ibis and in amongst the chaos I found the reason, a Peregrine Falcon.
And as if the Ibis were not enough we were treated to a fly past by the Peregrine and it flew around ensuring the chaos continued.
I thought the Ibis had gone for the day, but they returned, two back to Snipe Island and the other into the water close by.
A view of the two scrapes in the sunshine.
The Ibis were now a little more animated, searching the island and pulling up sticks and reeds.
The other bird stayed in the water off the island.
Time for a bit more preening.
The nervous Lapwing spooked them once again, but this time they headed to the reeds on the left hand side where they fed for a while.
Two Water Rail had flown across from right to left earlier and I had missed them, one then decided to return and I managed to catch it as it flew into the reeds.
The Marsh Harrier were back, flushing everything once again. The female with the damaged primary had now lost it and there was a gap.
Once again the Glossy Ibis returned to the island.
A Rainbow appeared away to the north.
The Teal were still displaying and chasing the female.
At last all three Glossy Ibis together.
Then the whole scrape was flushed once again, this time a Sparrowhawk was the concern for all.
This time the Glossy Ibis appeared not to be concerned and stayed together on the island while the Lapwing wheeled around above them.
The changing light over the scrape.
And some wing stretching to show off the colours.
Along with a shake to sort things out.
I was about to leave to start the walk back up the canal path when the female marsh Harrier returned.
Walking back up the canal path the sun was dropping behind me and was sending some more golden light across the meadows and reed beds.
As I approached Posbrook Floods I picked up two Red Kite over the trees, they were then joined by a buzzard making it six raptors in the day, which is good for here.
My final act was to check the split tree, but once again no sign of the Barn Owl. I had not expected the day to play out as it did and the disappointment of the distant views of the Glossy Ibis in the morning were wiped out when they arrived in front of the hide. The birds of prey too were a bonus.
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