Another fine sunny morning, but cold, the early morning frost giving way to a brisk cold east south east wind. I started at Bridge Street once again and walked down the almost completely dry canal path once again. The sky was a deep azure blue and the white blossom of the blackthorn and the pussy willow stood out.
Just before Posbrook I could hear a Nuth hatch calling and it showed very well amongst the empty branches and lichen. Not an overly common bird here.
A classic Nuthatch pose.
Last time the fields were full of Carrion Crows, this morning the corvid that stood out were the Rooks, these two taking in the sunshine by the thatched cottage.
There was a bit of activity in the bushes alongside the canal and while there wasn't that much song it was nice to watch these two Long-tailed Tits, it looked as if they were starting to build a nest amongst the bramble.
Always a joy to watch as they perform their acrobatics amongst the branches.
On reaching the end of the canal path there was a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling from the top of a dead tree.
I walked around to the visitor centre and paused at the bridge, the tide was rising and a pair of Gadwall beat a hasty retreat as I peered over the side of the bridge.
A little Grebe in full breeding plumage was a little more confiding as it dived amongst the colour reflected water.
For once I decided to walk around to the east side, stopping to see if there was a chance of seeing any of the two Tawny Owls. I was in luck and had my best view yet, a bit of breast.
I flushed a Peacock butterfly from the boardwalk leading up to the Meadow Hide, but unfortunately it didn't stop. Looking out across the meadow there was the male Goosander on the Frying Pan with its female Shelduck companion, while a little closer to the hide was a single Curlew.
Once a regular sighting here on the meadow over the last few years they have been absent, so it is nice to see them coming back.
Walking back along the boardwalk there was a nice clump of Marsh Marigolds in the marshy water.
I made my way to the west side but stopped off to check the high tide roost. The Sanderling were flying around, but there was nothing to have disturbed them, so I can only assume they were just arriving.
A couple in the sunshine.
They soon settled on the beach.
All were still in their silvery grey winter plumage, but soon they will be showing some of the browns and reds of the summer breeding plumage.
Avocet were the star turn from the Meon Shore hide, I counted thirty five, my highest number yet of the year. You have to blot out the gulls, Black-headed, that were calling constantly as they sort real estate to mate and nest. Every so often you would hear the calls of Avocet and this would then lead to their breeding display. The female lays low on the water while the male goes either side preening and splashing water.
Here, some video that proves conclusively that Avocets haven't heard the KC and the Sunshine Band's song "Get down tonight" I will leave it to be worked out*
Another feature of the Avocet behaviour is when pairs get too close or just don't like each other, they turn to violence.
But then one has a go, I assume the male there is scuffle then all settles down and the pairs go there own way.
But also some making lurve...
A Snipe flew from beneath the hide and made its way to the island on the left of the hide.
Some more benign Avocet behaviour.
The scrape then went up and the reason was a male Marsh Harrier on the right hand side of the hide.
It came across in front of the hide and headed towards the West Hide.
It would have been wrong not to taken a photograph of the Black-headed Gulls, they are looking quite smart now.
I headed back up the Canal Path, it was quiet now, only a few Mediterranean Gulls calling as they flew overhead. Just after Hammond's Bridge I came across a female Kestrel perched at the top of a hedge.
Just before Posbrook and very vocal Wren.
On the floods there were three pairs of Pintail still, not sure how long they will still be around.
After the rush of the first Wheatear at the weekend it was back to normal today. The winds are due to go around to the south east and that might be the trigger for the floodgate to open.
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