28th April - Testwood Lakes and Fishlake Meadows, Hampshire

I had an early visit to Testwood Lakes in the hope of catching up with the Wood Sandpiper seen over the weekend.  The previous evening had been clear so there was a risk it had departed.  I walked around to the hides to view the scrapes where the Sandpiper had been.  On the way I passed singing Blackcap and Whitethroat and as I approached the hides there were Sand Martin over the scrapes .

The aspect of the hide was not good early morning, the sun shining directly into an easterly direction and this had the affect of totally wiping out any detail.  Fortunately I was able to find the Wood Sandpiper at the far side of the scrape, too far unfortunately for any discernible photograph, but with the telescope feature on the camera I could make out the spots on the upper side.  Also present on the scrape were two Little Ringed Plover, a Common Sandpiper, several Redshank, and Lapwing with at least two chicks seen feeding on the islands.

The Common Sandpiper showing how bad the light was.

And the Little Ringed Plover:

As I walked back to the visitor centre two Ring-necked Parakeets flew across the trees in front of me.  I understand that they breed close by here.

From Testwood I drove the short distance to Fishlake Meadows.  Again, over the weekend there were five Hobbies over the reed bed and it was these I hoped to catch up with them.  But as I waited for the temperature to rise and the insects to take to the air I settled in to watch the Grasshopper Warbler I had seen last week.

First up though was a female Marsh Harrier quartering the reeds.

The Grasshopper Warbler showed and reeled on and off, but the views were not that good the little bird settling in the middle of the bushes.  Finally it showed on the left hand side of the the three bushes it likes to use, and probably gave its best views yet.

This shows the longish tail and the curved tip and the streaks on the underneath of the tail feathers.

Other warblers were the regular Cetti's hollering out its song behind us and the Chiffchaffs high in the willows.  Below the canal path there were Whitethroats in the bramble and bushes.

 While Garden Warblers could be heard and seen in the bushes on either side of the open area.

Alarm calls alerted s to the presence of a Sparrowhawk above me.  To start with it drifted close to the vapour trail of a jet overhead.

It didn't look like either an adult male or female Sparrowhawk, so it was considered an immature.

This was the last acceptable image I took of the Grasshopper Warbler, although it has its back to me it does show the streaking that characterises the bird.

After some lunch I decided to walk to the screens in the hope of finding the Hobby.  But only managed some distant views.  There was little of interest at the screens and my time was running out so I made my way back.  As I reached the canal path once more I picked out a Hobby high over the reed bed.

Unfortunately the Hobby stayed high, but came overhead and showed well.

It was catching insects, although I couldn't determine what they were, probably still small insects, there didn't appear to be any dragonflies about.

Hanging the legs down after disposing of the remains of an insect.

Another very warm day which delivered on the birds I was after and one more.  The Hobby sightings though were rather disappointing, but I didn't have the time to secure better views.  I will have to come back tomorrow.