A lot of build up for the weather this weekend with a named storm, Amy and yellow wind warnings for the area. Friday was a complete wash out, this morning it was clear and sunny with a very strong south westerly wind that was set to get stronger through the morning.
Ian and I decided to meet at Hill Head, and the hope was that the Haven reserve stayed open so that we didn't have to battle with the wind all day. I arrived first and the tide was rising. Out on the Rainbow Bar there were five Brent Geese, one of which was a juvenile.
There was a very confiding male Pied Wagtail on the grass around the car.
Wagtails are not always the easiest birds to photograph, for some reason there is always a blur, probably due to their constant movement. These though came out very well for once.
I decided to walk around to the harbour bridge, looking back a squally shower out over Lepe in the west was producing a rainbow.
There were three Pintail on the river, all birds still in eclipse, they were late in the afternoon seen on the north scrape.
Walking back to the sea wall the Brent had decided to move on as the tide covered up the Rainbow Bar.
The reserve was open and we went into the Meon Shore Hide. To the left of the hide on the Snipe Island were of course the Snipe, melting into the vegetation.
A first winter Grey Wagtail flew to the "Kangaroo Island" in front of the hide. As with the Pied there were a few that were not sharp but these were acceptable with some nice shadows from the morning sunshine.
With the strong wind coming from the south west the hide and the reeds around it provided some shelter and there were quite a few birds looking for shelter around the islands. With the tide high there was the usual roost of Oystercatcher, and good numbers of Teal all over the scrape. Lapwings too, were in good numbers.
And as always were seen flying around the south scrape, with their aerobatic displays.
Many of the duck were beginning to come out of their eclipse plumage. Here Gadwall flying in.
While this drake Shoveler is almost their with its plumage.
The Starlings and Lapwings would go up at the slightest noise or perceived threat, and sometimes this would also spook the waders. Usually the snipe sit tight but every so often a few go up. This one was isolated and flew back to the island but dropped into the water close by before walking to the island.
One of the immature Marsh Harriers could be seen at the back of the north scrape, but never came close. With the sun moving around we decided to walk to the Spurgin hide. We had been told that there was Willow Emerald Damselfly roosting in an Alder tree at Darter's Dip.
Amazingly Ian managed to fid the damselfly hanging from one of the Alder seed cases.
We never expected to see one of these dainty dragonflies at this time of year, but clearly they are quite happy here and show some amazing resilience to hang on in the very strong wind.
There was a few Speckled Wood butterflies and one Red Admiral as we approached the Spurgin Hide. It was very quiet from the hide, early on the only bird of interest was a Great Spotted Woodpecker that flew across to the east side of the reserve.
A rain shower passed through with some heavy rain, after which one of the immature Marsh Harriers appeared. There are three immature birds present, a product of two successful nests this year.
As they flew around the area in front of the rains tarted again.
They dropped into the reeds and then another would appear from a different location, battling into the strong wind.
A Little Grebe was on the pond and swam close to the hide.
Its amazing how the feathers appear to stay dry despite diving.
With the rain having moved through we decided to battle the wind and walk back to the Meon Shore Hide. On the way we stopped off in the Pumfrett Hide. Almost immediately an adult male Marsh Harrier scattered all on the south scrape and came over the cause way.
This meant that there were four Marsh Harriers in the area, which will be interesting to watch as the adults look to impose their own territory once again.
The Pintail seen earlier were on the north scrape and feeding on the causeway were three of the four Wigeon present, plus the starlings that were all over the scrape overhead.
We headed to the Meon Shore Hide with the light now much better and taking on a wintery feel. There were showers around us which gave the sky in the distance a steely grey look.
Snipe appeared on the Island "A" and we watched as they were a little unsettled and it felt like they would soon fly to the Safety of the Snipe Island. And one did.
As it pulled up to land on the island it allowed the chance to photograph.
The majority of Teal are still in eclipse, one or two are showing some signs of full breeding plumage, but this male was complete, looking splendid.
It was unusual to see this Little Egret standing on the mud, probably sheltering from the wind. Every so often it would walk out to the water's edge, but would then walk back. Almost as if the water was too cold for a dip.
We then had a display from all four Marsh Harriers and they put up all the birds on the Frying Pan including four Glossy Ibis. This immature bird came close to the hide, hovering in the strong wind over the reeds.
It then came across the south scrape in front of the hide.
S despite the wind it wasn't a bad day, hopefully the adverse weather may re position some unusual stuff in the coming week.
