Saturday 21 September 2013

Any PORT (wine sauce) in a Storm

Overcast and warm conditions overnight didn't have the desired effect that might have been expected with the Moths, a dull haul of about 40 Insects to the tune of just 6 species. The weather remained much the same all day and despite a Brown Shrike just 25 miles away it was felt the predicted mass meleĆ© of an army of 'twitchers' was to be avoided. Much more pleasing was a quiet 15 miles to 
which includes Pennington Marsh where in recent days
both Pectoral Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitcher
(American vagrants) have been on offer.
Approaching HURST CASTLE, more or less at the western end
of the Solent, the stretch of water that separates the
Isle of Wight from the mainland of England there were expectations
but it can be reported immediately that neither Wader was seen.
The NEEDLES ROCKS and LIGHTHOUSE
which jut out from the north west corner of the 
Isle of Wight can easily be seen from here as can the
LYMINGTON (mainland) to YARMOUTH (island side) FERRY.
This is extensive Marshland but first there was the small matter
of the COWS (that's also on the I of W isn't it?).
However, on closer inspection all were not as they seemed
and it was with trepidation I gingerly passed this
BULL, complete with nose ring.
The rest of the herd appeared friendly enough and your
correspondent got through without a scratch.
First up were a couple of
WHEATEAR
along with the same count of
PIED WAGTAIL
while the first Wader of the day was a lone
REDSHANK.
While observing this juvenile
SHELDUCK
I met a very young, male birder who pointed a Black Tern* out
to me (* 'Year Tick') and allowed me a look through his telescope.
RINGED PLOVER
and LITTLE EGRET were both seen distantly
until both move obligingly just a little nearer.
Almost at the top of the Spring Tide, the 'full moon' having
been just a couple of days ago and more Waders started moving
in from the seaward side of the wall.
DUNLIN were first and on closer inspection a KNOT
was seen at the right hand edge of this small flock.
With that c3 more appeared and just by 'good luck'
these 3 flight shots were obtained.
REDSHANK
numbers increased to c7 (only 6 here) followed by 
great delight as
c3 GREY PLOVER
arrived in varying stages of plumage change.
This may only be of interest to me, but as I progressed a little further
this 'pink plant' covered much of the marsh.
A juvenile GOLDFINCH on TEASEL
followed by a close encounter with a
MIGRANT HAWKER DRAGONFLY.
All else seen or heard, but not photographed, were Oystercatcher, many hundreds of Swallow, House and Sand Martin being predated by a Peregrine, CURLEW SANDPIPER*, Dartford Warbler, Meadow Pipit, Skylark and Water Rail. A very pleasant and not too strenuous stroll then home to make the Wood Pigeon casserole in Port Wine sauce - yum, yum!
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