I haven't been for sometime and there were times when maybe I should have for the sea watches, but chose to go elsewhere. This morning the conditions looked good, a misty start and an easterly wind. So I was up early for once and pulled up at the sea wall just after seven. There was a report of two Arctic Skuas going into the Solent at Cut bridge just before seven, so I was hopeful. It didn't take long before a dark phase Arctic Skua was picked up heading east with purpose. It was a case of watching through the scope as it was too distant for a photo opportunity. My first Arctic Skua for some time and nice to see.
Shortly after a Buzzard was seen coming across sea and accompanied by at least eight Kittiwake, which was a bit bizarre. The down side to this was in watching the Buzzard two more Arctic Skua were missed.
That was really the end of the sea watch. Several Swallows came in off the sea and there were Great Crested Grebes on the water while a Grey Seal attracted the attention of a few Black-headed Gulls. There was a moment of panic for the gulls and terns as a Peregrine came over the sea wall and out across the water.
After nearly two hours I decided to go onto the reserve and in to the Meon Shore Hide. As is the way at this time of year the scrape was dominated by Black-headed Gulls. Water levels were still not where you would expect them to be, but almost every available piece of dry land was occupied by Black-headed Gulls. There were also a few Common Terns and Avocet. One Avocet was feeding below the hide.
It was a case of feed and rest.
Two Common Sandpiper were picked up at the back of the scrape, but as I watched the Avocet they appeared on the island in front of the hide.
Another first for the year they fed around the small island showing really well.
Always checking the sky above.
No doubt th efirst of many for this little wader.
A Reed Warbler was singing in the reeds on the right hand side of the hide. I haven't had much luck with Reed Warblers so far this year, they seem to hide from me, staying low in the reeds. This one was showing a little better and I was able to at least get a view of the eye and head.
I had to go out to the car to sort the parking out, as I came back this Fox, a vixen as you can see the teats, stood on the path in front of me.
She turned away from me and walked along the path, eventually stopping and looking back at me. I found out later that there were cubs, probably under the hide or the boardwalk. Something to look out for in the future.
Back in the hide, Common Terns were moving from the islands out to the sea and back, passing the hide.
The Reed Warbler was still singing in the reeds, but now it was showing a lot better, singing from a position where the reeds were not in the way.
Classic Reed Warbler images.
THere were several Avocet around the scope and this meant that there were a few quarrels breaking out. This would involve fights on the water and sometimes this would extend to battles in the air.
One or two Common Terns were carrying fish, bringing them in to try and impress a possible mate.
Two terns calling and displaying above the scrape.
An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was hanging around the scrape and every so often would fly around to get the attention of the gulls and avocet. They would chase it off but it would return, and from almost nowhere it dropped onto one of the islands and took what is probably one of the first Black-headed Gull chicks to hatch. The carnage has begun.
The Avocet looking on as the gull is chased away.
I decided to walk up to the Spurgin Hide in the hope of catching up with the Hobby that have been on show. At Darter's Dip there was an Emperor Dragonfly and a couple of Hairy Hawker. Smaller but easier to photograph were the Damselflies that settled on the leaves.
A Large Red Damselfly.
And a Common Blue Damselfly.
A white butterfly with a very fluttery flight caught my attention and when it settled on a reed stem I could see the patterned underwing of a female Orange Tip.
It was the usual bleak outlook from the Spurgin Hide, a lone Gadwall bleating away as if it has lost something and a family group of Mute Swans with five cygnets.
A Jay flew across the reeds which was unusual, they are more likely seen in the autumn when they are caching acorns.
While a Reed Bunting sang from the reeds.
A Buzzard and an immature Marsh Harrier tangled around the bushes, the Marsh Harrier heading away while the Buzzard circled back and behind the hide.
Then one of the male Marsh Harriers drifted past the hide, the light wasn't good but it came quite close to the hide which helped.
Marsh Harrier activity is quiet right now as there are two possible nests and female brooding. That leaves just the males to find food for their mates. Things will potentially increase once any young hatch and need to be fed.
An immature Marsh Harrier flew to the scrapes causing some panic and flushing a flock of Balck-tailed Godwits that were hiding on the north scrape.
Black-headed Gulls were fly catching over the reeds and I had a very brief glimpse of a Hobby, but that was it. I thought that with the gulls catching insects the Hobby would appear, but it wasn't to be.
Through out my time the drake Gadwall swam up and down calling, why wasn't clear, at one point it flew off but came back and still continued to call.
The reserve had a feel of summer about it, but then last year the "Hudwit" turned up on the 16th May so you never know.
