It's Saturday again, not every one is spent out walking in nature although it might seem this to those who take the time to read this but this one was and we were so lucky that the weather was kind to us once again.
I met Chris at the small car park in Pennington on the South coast of the New Forest in Hampshire.
It's always best to turn up here early, not just for the wildlife but also to be able to obtain a parking space.
This time there was no one there, apart from Chris who had arrived just before me, but it was 7am.
There are several routes to be taken. We chose the inland path that passes the lake by the old refuse tip. It provides good views of scrub, lake and scrapes.
A passing Little Egret deflected my attention from the birds flitting around the grassland beneath.
Apart from Stonechat we could make out a distant Whinchat which was our first sighting of the year.
This is a Summer migrant that breeds on uplands in the North and West of the UK. It was feeding up ready for its long journey across the Channel and towards Africa for our Winter.
Wheatears were doing the same.
Their name derives from the term 'White ass' due to the white rump it shows in flight.
They were formerly known to be members of the Thrush family but are now considered to be from the Flycatcher family instead.
Looking South across into the scrape known as Fishtail Lagoon, I spied the unmistakable sight of Spoonbill feeding. We decided to head back and onto the coastal path to gain closer views...
The familiar sight of Black Tailed Godwit greeted us first at the cusp of the lagoon.
The Spoonbill were up next....
A gloriously exotic bird to lays eyes upon in this country, it now breeds in small numbers locally and are best seen in Autumn and Winter along the South Coast.
Clearly it's unfeasibly extraodinary long bill makes this bird almost unique and virtually impossible to stop photographing, especially this close...
The light was good if not a little too bright but then I'm rarely satisfied.
There were other creatures on the lake. Many waders, Ducks and Geese.
I caught a Godwit mid flight as it passed by us.
and then back on the Spoonies....!
They have a swift sideways feeding motion and when a morsel is detected it flips up it's bill and consumes it's prey.
There were two and quite often worked in tandom...
More waders zipped past us. These small Dunlin have arrived from breeding grounds to the North, either in Scotland or the continent and will most likely stay here for the Winter.
It really is a good mixture at this time. Some birds gathering to leave, others coming to stay. We are so lucky living here, there is always something interesting to see in all seasons.
These two Spoonbill are juveniles. The main giveaway are the black tips to the wings.
And as with my last blog, I had good timing in catching a bird having a poo mid flight!
Another favourite of mine is the Spotted Redshank. Less ubiquitous than the common Redshank and more delicate.
Their feeding technique is totally different too. Normally found waist deep constantly delving in deep water.
There were three here, the one on the left is the more intensely spotted juvenile.
And from the bottom the juvenile has more spots too!
By now the Spoonbill had finished feeding and were putting their bills to good use for preening. Always good to reach those hard to get places...
We reluctantly left them to relax, there are only so many pictures one can take of them!
Common Redshank this time. These have shorter legs and bill and are shallow water feeders.
and reducing further, the smallest wader here, the Dunlin. At the moment just about in double figures. In a few weeks they can number in hundreds and even thousands. The clockwork toy of the wader world. It never seems to stop...
The coastal path borders the Solent to one side and the scrapes to the other. Even on the path there are sights to behold. Wheatears fed along the edge of the path...
Having filled their stomachs, the Spotted Redshank preened with satisfaction.
As we headed West, the path takes you to Keyhaven Lagoon. The majority of the birds always congregate at the back. I zoomed in and captured roosting Grey Plover, some still in summer plumage with black breasts sat alongside Godwit and probably Redshank.
There were also Avocet in the middle of the water.
This is a natural turning point in our walks and today was no different. No sooner had we turned heel both our eyes pinpointed a bird of prey accelerate from the scrub ahead of us. By it's manner we knew almost instantly what it was. Gliding low, below avian radar was a female sparrowhawk. We had great views from the raised path as we looked down. As luck would have it, she settled right in front of us. Our hearts were in our mouths. My brain trying to focus with the hope my camera would follow suit with finger feathering the shutter.
I don't know what it is that elicits such emotion from close contact of a bird of prey. Something inate, indefinable. My heart was racing, in awe at the altar of her beauty.
Within seconds, she was gone across the lagoon, sprinkling worried waders in all directions. Chris and I were left speechless in her wake. A knowing smile to one another was all the vocabulary needed to convey our feelings.
As we stood for a while longer,Canada Geese could be heard babbling their intent to depart and duly they obliged...
Blessed as we were with the weather, I took the opportunity to draw in the views across to the Isle of Wight via Hurst Castle. This promontory juts out from the mainland into the Solent and is the closest point to the Island. This narrow gap has the propensity to throw up a rage of tidal waters. I have sailed through this in a force 5 and I don't recommend it.
Thankfully today was calm and our attention was drawn to the migrating Yellow Wagtails that were feeding beneath our feet along the sea wall.
Out in the scrub below us, warblers were building their fat reserves, ready for the long and arduous journey South to Africa.This Whitethroat being one such bird. I can't believe I was welcoming this tiny creature to our shores not so long ago.
As we trudged further East we reached Butts Lagoon. Greenshank can be seen in single numbers occasionally. One such individual fed at the back of the lake.
Looking into the Solent, the Turnstones roosted on whatever place took their fancy.
Sandwich Terns followed suit...
Then a perculiar sight opened up before us. Not normally associated with coastal waters, Goosanders were seen feeding close to shore. In the breeding season they can be seen on inland rivers. In winter, on inland lakes. They used teamwork and stealth to harry their victims close to shore.
They are female or juveniles. When Goosander are young, they look like the female redheads.
They have a habit to peer underwater to locate their prey before charging..
A member of the Sawbill family and ultimately very similar to the Goosander we spied a Red Breasted Merganser at roost. Now this species is normally seen on the sea so the two species were playing role reversal to throw us off the scent!
Back on the scrub and with a little time, we observed Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff, Wheatear and Dartford Warblers feeding.
The Little Egrets gave up some great contrasts in the scrapes below us.
The Small Heath Butterfly could be seen around us and showed occasionally in the grasses.
Whereas up above the familiar cronking of a couple of Ravens were a welcome distraction.
Rounding the peninsular looking out into the bay by Oxey Marsh, Chris observed a female Eider duck just offshore.
The Goosander weren't too far behind and seemed to shadow us on our walk along the coast path.
Many Hirundines floated around us. Always difficult to capture on camera, we gave it a bloody good go as ever !
The most distinctive and prevalent Dragonfly at this time of the year is the Common Darter. A couple were intent on continuing the blood line.
Our direction had taken us full circle by this stage. We were now heading back West.
Chris and I scoured the path in search of Butterflies. Notably a rare migrant called a Clouded Yellow.
The tide was still out and along the sea wall the flowers that touched the tide line and had survived the salinity were giving sustenance to a Small Copper.
Then we came across our quarry. A Clouded Yellow sped past us with seemingly no intention of stopping for a drink.
It is a very fast flyer and we spent quite a while pounding up and down the path, cameras and binoculars flailing as we desperately hoped it would cease it's flight for a photo. Chris likened our pathetic efforts to a Benny Hill sketch which was quite apt. Either that or the Keystone Cops.
In the end it seemed to have eluded us. I did catch up with a Painted Lady however. The one Butterfly I had seen on Old Winchester Hill fleetingly, but now it posed acceptably before me.
I climbed back onto the path, the field next to us with a border fence contained many flowers from the dandelion family. This was clearly a draw to the Clouded Yellow, but of course it was!
Chris and I had to accept the fact we couldn't gain entry to said field and took long shots at the little beauty just tantalisingly out of reach.
Or so we thought... I spotted one zip over the sea wall so I set off in hot pursuit. Luckily some yellow flowers tempted it to pause a while for nectar, just enough to focus on for a couple of seconds...gotcha!
More observations from distance threw up some sightings of juvenile Dartford and Willow Warblers...
We were reaching the end of our walk by this stage. The Godwits continued to pose for us and tucked away on Fishtail Lagoon were a couple of Ruff.
Another occasional Wader normally seen on it's own. The male in Summer plumage has the most amazing colouful ruff, hence it's name.
We had descended to the lower path by this stage and took up the Dragonfly challenge. Mid flight photography was a success this time or at least on one occasion. I wasn't sure of the exact species at first but once I had checked my reference books this turned out to be a Migrant Hawker.
The flocks of Canada Geese continued to provide great photographic opportunities.
As we raised ourselves from the lower path the view before us was one of a low tide with feeding waders in the shallows.
Instantly one caught my eye as something a little different. It was much smaller than the surrounding Redshank and my initial thought was Wood Sandpiper, the same as last week at Titchfield.
Chris surmised the same and it was confirmed as we borrowed a birders telescope.
Before retreating to the car park and other ports of call, Little Egret and Wheatears showed one last time.
Our next destination was a place not too far away that Chris had recommended.
A very indistinct place called Crockford Clump in the New Forest. It has a slow meandering brook inhabited by all sorts of Dragonflies.
Most have finished for the season but Golden Ringed can be seen here at this time of year. This individual we stumbled across is a male with a club base to it's abdomen.
As we ventured further round past the brook there were a number of dead burnt trees that were being used by a family of Spotted Flycatchers. The contrast against the branches I thought very distinctive.
Another excellent day. Pennington always seems to deliver. It has a rich biodiversity virtually second to none in Hampshire.
As it was still a little early and Romsey was on the way home I decided another mad jaunt to Fishlake Meadows was in order to view the invisible Ospreys. They duly delivered in their cloaking devices but I was given a brief show of Hobbies as can be seen perching distantly here and a marsh Harrier being mobbed by anything that wanted to join in.
No doubt I will try again in my vain attempt at sightings this year, or then again, maybe not?
The title of this post is a line taken from the poem Africa Africa Ooh Africa by Sally Traore and is dedicated to our Mum who passed away suddenly the other day. Always in our hearts xx
