27th March - Testwood Lakes and Fishlake Meadows, Hampshire

Was uncertain this morning as to where to go today and even as I drove down the M3 I hadn't made up my mind.  I did want to go to Testwood at some stage as there was a good chance of Little Ringed Plover.  The other choice was Fishlake, but in the end I carried on to the M27 and headed to Testwood.

Now Testwood Lakes is not one of my favourite places, so it was a case of needs must.  However as I got out of the car in the car park, I could hear a Willow Warbler singing at the back of the car park.  Once set up I walked over and found the warbler singing in a Hazel tree.

It proved quite difficult to pin down but I managed to get a shot at last.

As I set off towards the hides a couple of mini buses arrived with a lot of school children, I hastily made my way across the field to the path leading to the hides.  I was heading for the Sand Martin hide, it has a good view across the scrape the plovers like.

As I opened up the hide window a Great Egret was feeding on the scrape in front of me.

It walked around the scrape with that slow concentrated walk.

I came away from the egret and scanned around the scrape for any sign of the Little Ringed Plover.  Eventually I found one, they are quite difficult at distance as they blend in well with the gravel.  When I found one I didn't realise there was another behind it.

A little better image.

One of the pair flew across the scrape and on to the mud.

Then I lost the second plover and the one above moved further away to the back of the scrape.

The Great Egret had moved around the scrape, but came back to the main scrape and this upset the Lapwing and they proceeded to mob it.

I looked across to the lake in front of the Heron hide and there were two Egyptian Geese swimming across, they seem to be everywhere these days.

I could hear Willow Warbler singing from, I thought, the Heron hide.  I decided to walk around, but as I came out of the hide I heard the Willow Warbler close by.  It was singing in the trees alongside the path and showed a lot better this time.

Lighter legs than the Chiffchaff and the primaries are longer.

I went into the Heron hide and there were two Great Crested Grebes in the middle of the lake, but very little else.  Alongside the hide three Cormorants were drying out there wings on posts.  There were two immatures and this adult.

I decided to walk around the lakes, stopping at first at the screens where there were views of just Teal and Wigeon.  There were plenty of Chiffchaff singing, here, one of them.

There were several Pied Wagtail along the edge of the water and I decided to take this photograph as it helped to show the difference with the White Wagtail I saw at Hill Head on Monday.  This is the yarelli sub species, our Pied Wagtail.  It lacks the clean edges to the black and the underparts are a lot more sooty, the upperparts a definite black.

I walked back to the car park and could hear calls of Great Crested Grebes, but unfortunately they were obscured by the willow at the edge of the water.  On reaching an open place I could see a pair of Great Crested Grebes.

Another grebe appeared and it was clear this one had taken on the other two as it chased them out.  I can only assume, as no other grebe appeared that this single bird was defending a nest.

The pair swam off with one hanging back taking the time to preen and wing flap.

It then lay on the water as if trying to get its mate to display, but it ignored the offer and swam off.

The other grebe stayed close to the trees presumably on watch.

I left Testwood and made my way to Fishlake Meadows, arriving after being help up by more pointless roadworks.

I made my way around to the road side view points.  Once again very quiet, the only interest a Great Egret at the back of the lake.

I returned to walk along the canal path.  Chiffchaff and Wrens seemed to be singing everywhere.  I tried for Cetti's Warbler bu they were too elusive.  As I reached the cross path a Red Kite came over quite low.

Over the winter the path to the centre screens was flooded, On my last visit I noticed there wee still a few puddles, but felt I should be able to get past.  I was able to walk through the puddles without any difficulty and reached the screens convincing myself there would be something worthwhile close to them.

Well it turned out to be a pair of Pintail, not something I have seen here, but not the hoped for Garganey.

Three Great Egret flew over and as they disappeared from view there was splashing and a loud flapping of wings from the reeds and three Greylag Geese came out engaged in quite a rough fight.

There were more invisible Cetti's Warblers around the screens, as well as calling Warter Rails.  Walking back a pair of Raven flew over calling.

Walking back to the car I finally managed to get a Wren to sit still.  It looks as if it is wedged between the branches.  It has both legs spread out like a gymnast.

So the end of my day.  Two year ticks were welcome and nice to get the Little Ringed Plover out of the way, but it felt like one of those days when there isn't much about.  Willow Warblers arriving was a good sign and the hope is, with some rain tomorrow and south west winds and sunshine over the weeked, the gates might open up.