Yet another glorious autumn day with clear blue skies and a few wispy clouds. I took Helen down to Normandy Marsh to walk around the sea wall and into Lymington. We had prepared for a chill off sea breeze, but there was no wind at all and the sun was very pleasantly warm.
We parked along Oxey Creek and then followed the creek out on to the marsh. Several Swallows were passing through, the big number movements beginning to dry up now. The tide was at its lowest and there were few birds on the Salterns Pond. This Redshank showing well in the still water and sunshine.
As we turned the corner onto Normandy Lagoon a Chiffchaff showed well in the bramble and wild rose. There had been several along the footpath amongst the bramble and gorse, but this one behaved well for the camera.
Also in good numbers along the path were Stonechat with several family groups amongst the gose and bramble. This male showed well close to the Chiffchaff.
With it being low tide there were very few waders on the lagoon. Out on Oxey Lake there was a group of Black-tailed Godwits and a flock of twenty plus Turnstone flew to the exposed sea weel. Around the edge of the lagoon was a single immature Ringed Plover and this Dunlin.
In the south east corner were a small flock of Pintail, all still in eclipse plumage, This is a male I think.
A Kingfisher flew past us along the ditch and another was seen in Lymington marina. We walked up to the town centre where we had lunch, then walked back through the town to meet up with Normandy Lane which took us down through fields. Speckled Wood and Red Admirals were on the Ivy flowers, while Small Whites flew past us. In a garden on th elawn were these Shaggy Inkcap Fungi.
Helen remarked that this was where on a previous visit we had seen Roe Deer and I scanned the field and found them once again, lying down in the grass in the shade of the oak trees, the sun being quite warm in the light winds.
The grass was not that tall, about eight inches so these two bucks must be laying on their sides. They also have been clever in finding the shadow of the trees to keep out of the sun.
Walking back around Oxey Lake a Little Egret was fishing in one of the pools created by the rising tide.
They are extremely successful in catching food, with every stab they always seem to come up with something however big or small.
There was also a few waders, Black-tailed Godwits in the deeper water and these Dunlin around the shallow water and sea weed. Looking at this long billed individual it is clear how sometimes they can be misidentified as Curlew Sandpiper, but the darker body and remnants of dark feathers on the bell show this to be a Dunlin.
We followed the creek back to where we had parked the car. Alongside the path were plenty of Blackthorn bushes covered with Sloe berries. This year has been a bumper year for the berries with such good weather in the flowering season of the Blackthorn encouraging good pollination from insects. The black-blue berries looking lovely against the lichen that covers the branches of the bush.
A stunning day and lovely walk to end the month of September. What will October bring?
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