Today, we made the long journey to Normandy Marshes for what was to be Andy Fisher's 200th bird species for Hampshire this year (call it an early Xmas present!) and to top it off, the weather was simply superb. After two wet Saturdays in a row, today really made up for it with bright sunshine, a clear blue sky and virtually no wind at all; which was simply perfection for those taking photos today. To finish the day off nicely, we took the drive afterwards to Blashford Lakes to hopefully see the White-tailed Eagle that has been seen here recently.
Cowplain Marsh (Andy’s back garden):
Geoff had his MV Moth Box running last night and around this time of year, it really is ‘hit or miss’ regarding getting any moth to turn up and we were to be disappointed this morning with absolutely nothing in the egg trays. Not to be too disheartened, a flock of 5 Long-tailed Tits came into his garden briefly, but showed very well for us, even without binoculars too. A small flock of Goldfinches flew over and landed in the neighbouring garden.
Normandy Marshes, nr Lymington:
As we parked up by the footpath leading to Normandy Marshes, this Robin came down to greet us!
Parking up near the main footpath around 9.30am, we made our way through the Pony Field to the seawall where several Meadow Pipits were feeding. Some flew up and landed in nearby Brambles and in this light, it was always worth getting a good photo. On reaching the seawall, we noticed a thin layer of mist of the Reserve, but this soon disappeared after 30 minutes or so, but the Reserve itself was crammed with birds.
Above, one many Little Egrets fishing off the seawall as the tide receded. Below, one of several Meadow Pipits near the entrance to the Reserve.
Above, a feeding Redshank by the seawall.
Below the seawall, on an ebbing tide, Redshank, Curlew and Turnstonewere feeding at very close quarters and provided me with an excellent opportunity for photos. Over on the Reserve side, it didn’t take long to find the Spotted Redshank; or so I thought! In my defence, it was distant as Andy claimed his 200th Hampshire bird species and duly celebrated in style. However, later this evening when I checked the photos on my laptop, it was actually a Greenshank! Doh! However, we got much better views of the Spotted Redshank later that morning. Phew!
Above, a misty start to our birding at Normandy Marshes and below, this ringed Redshank was below the seawall. Hopefully, I shall get the origin of this bird via its ring details.
Above, the Kingfisher was very busy this morning in search of prey.
I knew the Spoonbills were still here on Normandy Marshes and a lovely flock of at least 13 birds were counted, with most in one tight group roosting or preening on the Reserve plus a few on a nearby island. We watched one bird fly off, a juvenile, heading high west as we slowly made our way anticlockwise around the seawall. While checking out what we thought was the Spotshank, a Kingfisher flew over the still water and landed on a pontoon. We were to see this bird virtually all morning using the reserve including watching it hover over the water and dive in. The whole area was a wader paradise with not only the birds on the Reserve, but also out on the receding tide with large flocks of Dunlin, Turnstone, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, Black-tailed Godwit and even good numbers of Bar-tailed Godwit among them.
Above, one of the Greenshanks among a pair of Pintail and a Shelduck and below, Geoff overlooking the Reserve.
Above, the cluster of Spoonbills on the Reserve and below, a mixed flock of both Bar-tailed Godwits and Dunlin off the seawall.
On the Reserve, at least 10 Avocets were present and at least three, possibly four Greenshank were seen (it has been a long time that I have seen all three 'Shanks' in one day!) as well as a couple of Common Snipe. Wildfowl were also in excellent numbers with a large number of Brent Geese feeding on the mudflats among the waders (Dunlin and a few Ringed Plover) and on the Reserve, Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Wigeon, Shelduck and even a female Red-breasted Merganser was present and another couple of female birds out in the channel between the seawall and the islands. A small flock of 7 Little Grebes were seen quietly resting on the water.
Above, a flock of Black-tailed Godwits flying over and below, another Little Egret flying low over the water.
Above, it was amazing to find how confiding the Curlews were here by the seawall and below, this Avocet showed nicely from the seawall. I remember earlier this year these birds fighting off the Gulls here from stealing their chicks.
Amazingly, on such a bright still morning, we didn't see one raptor here, but there were a few interesting passerines of note. A pair of Dartford Warblers showed very well, flying below us by the seawall and making use of the Gorse Bushes for cover. The female bird was particularly showy and I managed to film the bird some 20 feet away preening herself in the sunshine. Overhead, we had a large flock of Skylarks going over and landing on the Saltmarsh below and both Rock Pipit and Linnet went over. Nearing the northern end of the Reserve, Geoff and Andy picked up a distant pair of Stonechats on some Brambles to add to an impressive list of birds seen here today. I did check the ‘mill-pond’ calm sea out in the harbour for anything of note and found a pair of Great Crested Grebes swimming on the water with the Isle of Wight Car Ferry passing by! A Water Rail was heard 'squealing' from the vegetation below us, but no sighting unfortunately.
Above, the showy female Dartford Warbler and below, the male bird was not as easy to photograph and would not keep still long enough for a decent photo.
Above, several Linnets were seen here today.
Blashford Lakes and lunch was on my mind and so we turned back and made our way back to the car. Before leaving the Reserve, both Geoff and I heard the Spotted Redshank again and sure enough, it was out in the small harbour along with other waders as we watched it then fly off calling and headed back onto the Reserve. Apparently, later in the afternoon at nearby Pennington Marshes, one lucky birder saw and photographed a female Surf Scoter pass by heading west over the Solent! Incredible!
Above, a Curlew swimming off the seawall and below, this snoozing Common Snipe blending in with its surroundings.
Above, our last notable sighting here at Normandy Marshes was the Spotted Redshank before it then flew back onto the Reserve. Below, the female Dartford Warbler preening in a bush by the seawall.
Ibsley Water, Blashford Lakes, nr Fordingbridge:
This female Marsh Harrier was hunting over Ibsley Water this afternoon.
On the way to Blashford, we had sightings of at least two Common Buzzards and I was lucky enough to see a female Sparrowhawk being harassed by a Crow over a hedgerow. When we arrived, instead of going into a packed Tern Hide for lunch, we headed up to the Viewing Platform seeing it was still warm with the sun on our backs and also watching the birds on Ibsley Water. Sadly, there was no sign of the White-tailed Eagle during our couple of hours stay here, but other raptors seen here this afternoon included a superb female Marsh Harrier hunting over the area, a Red Kite drifting over and a brief sighting of a male Sparrowhawk scaring the ducks and Lapwing over on the west side of the Reserve. A Common Buzzard was seen on the Osprey post and subsequently seen flying into nearby trees of which I quickly got Andy onto the bird for his fourth raptor of the day.
Above, more flight photos of the female Marsh Harrier over Ibsley Water.
I had my scope with me and managed to pick out a Green Sandpiper feeding on the edge of one of the spits to the left of the Tern Hide and quickly got the guys onto the bird. Among the many wildfowl present (Teal, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Mallard, Wigeon, Gadwall, Pintail and Shoveler), we found up to 6 Goosanders present that included 3 females (one was seen flying off) and three drakes, but, unusual for this place, four Red-breasted Mergansers (two females and two drakes) that were somewhat restless and seen several times flying over, but never seen actually swimming on the water! I also counted at least three Goldeneye on the water that included two drakes and a female bird while scanning the water through my scope. I couldn't find any Black-necked Grebes on the water, but good numbers of Great Crested Grebes were among the wildfowl.
This drake Goldeneye was one of three on Ibsley Water and below, Andy saw this Great White Egret flying over the Reserve, which eventually landed at the back of Ibsley Water.
As the afternoon progressed, more and more Gulls were arriving and by the time we left, there was an impressive number of birds on resting and preening on both the islands and the water that included Black-headed, Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Whether there was something rarer among them was always a possibility, but we shall leave that to the Gull enthusiasts! Anyway, most were quite distant anyway.
Five of the Goosanders present this afternoon in front of one of the islands over on the west side of Ibsley Water.
Notable passerines seen included a flyover Grey Wagtail and a Chiffchaff was seen close to where we stood by the Viewing Platform, until flying off. Behind us within the trees by the main road, a pair of Stock Doves were seen and a Redwing was calling deep within the trees. A Nuthatch must have thought it was Spring as it was actually singing within the same stretch of woodland as was a Song Thrush! A Great Spotted Woodpecker decided to ‘pipe up’ too to round off a lovely afternoon. The Starlings here are starting to do their ‘murmuration’ as per a video put on Facebook earlier this week from this site, which is always spectacular, though we left around 3pm and so left that for another day.
Many thanks to James Cutting for checking out the ring on this Spoonbill at Normandy Marshes yesterday. This bird was originally ringed in the Netherlands.
No comments:
Post a Comment