A grand day out (19/9/11, Sturt Pond & Pennington - Normandy Marshes)

As there were good birds to be found in the area I made another visit today.

I first went to Sturt Pond and walked up the side of the pond where I found the juvenile Sabine's Gull showing very well.  The bird was initially swimming up and down amongst the other gulls, then it started preening and finally rested up on the bank.  In amongst the gulls were at least 30+ Mediterranean Gulls of all ages.

Next onto Pennington marshes where one of the first waders I clapped my eyes on was a Little Stint feeding on the mud.   I then walked around to Normandy Marsh which was quite a stretch and saw the 1w Grey Phalarope along with another Little Stint.  I couldn't, however, find any Curlew Sandpipers.

Other good birds in the area included:

15 Eider
4 Greenshank
4 Mediterranean Gulls
Buzzard

Pennington/Keyhaven Marshes

As there was some good birds to be had here I made the effort to see them.

First off was the Baird's Sandpiper which was feeding with Dunlin on the Shoveler Pool.  I distinctly paler, smaller and more stint like wader than the accompanying Dunlin.

I then proceeded to search for the reported Grey Phalarope but there was no sign of it.  A bonus arrived in another Wryneck which showed in the scrubby area behind the pools and this time the bird actually sat pretty much in the open.

Other good birds around included at least 3 Mediterranean Gulls, Spotted Redshank, quite a few Ruff and lots of hirundines.  I missed the Honey Buzzard that flew over with a flock of about 20 Common Buzzards.

When I got home I found out that the Phalarope had moved to Normandy Marshes and there was also a Spoonbill there - damn!

Elusive Wryneck

Today spent the afternoon looking for the Wryneck at Old Basing.  It was extremely elusive in the strong wind and just as I was going to give up a bird popped into a bush next to me and I managed to pick out it was the Wryneck - all I could see was its back!  It then moved right into another bush giving me a chance to see its head.  I tried to get the other birders present onto it but it had obviously shot out the back of the bush which I couldn't see!

Farlington Marshes (25/08/11)

A walk around the reserve revealed some migrants around including 7 Whinchats, 3 Wheatears and a few Whitethroats.  In Langstone Harbour an Osprey was sitting on a post until it flew off towards Hayling Bridge and eventually caught a large fish.

I heard a few Yellow Wagtails calling but couldn't find one.

In the bushes a sheltered spot held 2-3 Spotted Flycatchers and a Lesser Whitethroat.

Finally had a look at the lake (where the water level is very high) and found 2 Wigeon.

Thursley Common (22/08/11)

Hearing that up to 5 Common Hawkers had been seen here, I went to have a look and was successful in seeing at least 3 males and one female ovipositing.  Trying to photograph them was another matter.

Can you spot the ovipositing female?

Other species included: Black Darter, Small Red Damselfly, Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Keeled Skimmer, Black-tailed Skimmer, Emerald Damselfly, Common Darter, Common Blue Damselfly

Tundry Pond (21/08/11)

The usual stuff except disturbed a Grass Snake which swam into the reeds by the main pond and a couple of Migrant Hawker's flying up and down.

My first Ruddy Darter of the year decided to identify itself in my book which I had put down, but it got the identification wrong!

Thursley Common (19/08/11)

Some warm sunny weather saw me at the premier Odonata site close to home.  Species seen were:

Emerald Damselfly
Large Red Damselfly
Small Red Damselfly
Common Blue Damselfly
female Emperor Dragonfly
Keeled Skimmer
Common Darter
Black Darter

Birds were thin on the ground but did see a few Stonechats, a couple of Wheatears and a fly over male Crossbill.