A strange weather forecast had me initially thinking things could be good jus after dawn, but then the reality wasn't as expected. I arrived at Hill Head with the wind quite fresh but coming from the south west and there wasn't any rain. The tide was falling but the sea was quite rough and it was almost impossible to pick anything out sitting on the water.
The only movement through the air was a few Swallows coming in off the sea and several gulls off shore. We stuck with a sea watch for about half an hour, then decided to walk up to Brownwich Cliffs to be able to look down on the water.
This was the right move as it didn't take long to find the scoter that have been present for the last few days. I didn't see Common Scoter last year, but here was a nice male, although best viewed through the 'scope.
It wasn't alone and there was the bonus of a male Velvet Scoter as well, the head shape is slightly longer and of course there is the white flash in the wings.
We made our way back to the cars and moved them to Cliff Road. After checking in we walked around to the harbour, a Sandwich Tern flew over, while there were mostly Gadwall off the harbour bridge.
Rather than go onto the reserve we were going to walk the canal path. As we started at the bottom of the path there was a Whitethroat singing from the blackthorn. It took awhile to locate it as it hid amongst the branches and blossom.
But, it didn't stay hidden for long coming up the branches to sing in the open.
Newly arrived male Whitethroats are a smart bird.
Leaving the Whitethroat we headed up the path, where the path opens up there was a male Roe Deer in the field on the west side.
There was plenty of bird song along the Canal Path with plenty of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. A Greenfinch was singing from a hawthorn bush.
It took a while but we finally managed to get a Blackcap out in the open.
It is a lovely song at this time of year.
A male Marsh Harrier drifted over the meadow.
We were on a warbler hunt and next was to get one of the Chiffchaffs. There were plenty about but were singing high above us.
But then one dropped lower in a willow.
Another male Marsh Harrier appeared, this one a lot darker than the individual seen earlier.
We could hear Sedge Warbler singing in the reeds, but they never showed frustratingly. There were at least a dozen singing Blackcap, while the numbers of Whitethroat were just a little less. We came across another showy Whitethroat.
There were large numbers of hirundines above Posbrook Floods, mostly Sand Martin but there were also several Swallows and a few House Martins. A search of the water and flooded vegetation did not find the elusive Garganey this year.
A Nuthatch was searching on the ground in front of us.
On the other side of the path Ian found a Cetti's Warbler either feeding or looking for a drink by the edge of the water.
There was a strip of corrugated tin on the ground by the fence and at first we thought we would have to lift it to see if the re was anything under it, but on top and in the sunshine was this Common Lizard.
We walked up to the car park at Bridge Street and found a bench to have lunch. After hat we started the long walk back. Out of the breeze the sun was warm and this was enough to bring out a few butterflies. This a Green-veined White.
A little further along a singing Goldcrest.
The water levels in the canal were down, and this meant the water was quite still and clear producing some beautiful reflections.
The walk was then a little quiet and on reaching the bottom of the path we decided to try the Meon Shore hide, but there wasn't anything of the ordinary there, so we walked around to the east side and were treated to a lovely male Orange Tip off the boardwalk.
An open wing Orange Tip is always sought after, but here you get the best of both, the patterned green underwing and the orange tips.
With the recent sunshine there have been plenty of Comma butterflies about but I haven't been able to get a photograph of one. That was corrected today as this one settled on a post.
We walked to the Knight's Bank hide where the male Kestrel was on the meadow, it has been seen catching bugs here. As I raised the camera it decided to fly off, I caught it just as it took off.
The female Kestrel appeared but sat on a post out of view, behind the bramble. The male did not return. I waited but time was creeping up on me and I had to leave.
An interesting day with some common migrants along the canal path.
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