Normandy again..

A return to the best birding site in Hampshire.

The stretch of coastline (and lagoons) between Lymington and Hurst Castle. I left at silly o'clock, got there at 8.00 am and wondered around until 3.00 pm on what was a very warm day.. There was always a breeze off the sea - and it was quite chilly at 8.00 am, but once it warmed up, it really warmed up. Hoping to add a few to the Yearlist - the first stop was Normandy Lagoon.. Little Tern and Greenshank were among the crowd. A good start.

A wonder further along and some Whimbrel were present and so was my friend Joe. He'd been on an early morning Sea Watch at Hurst Castle.. and was having a look around Pennington.

We strolled together and picked up a Ruff, Reed Warbler and a Terrapin!! Free range on one of the lakes!

I walked with Joe, back to his car in Keyhaven and I ducked into the pub, It was midday and I had finished my drinks ages ago.. just OJ and Lemonade, but tasted as good as any beer..

From there I made my way back to the car.. this took 3 hours! Its a long walk, and there was a fair bit of stopping to snap Whitethroat, Plovers and a very obliging Dartford Warbler that was consuming a caterpillar.. so pleased with that shot. Sandwich Tern were also perched out to sea. What started as a quiet day got a fair bit noisier when they decided to test a Hovercraft in the Channel, this went on for half an hour or more. As I got back to the car, a quick look in the field and I saw 2 Deer, a further look revealed 2 foxes at the back. 1 sunbathing, 1 looking around.

On the way home, via a Garage for much liquid... I called in at Lower Test Marshes and picked up a Sedge Warbler. So 7 new ticks today and the Yearlist is now on 153.. Happy days, with a hint of sunburn.

Sandwich Tern

A Whitethroat on Blackthorn

The hungry caterpillar meets its match.

Redshank

White Wagtail

Common Tern

Little Tern

Shhhh!

Spring Mandarin..

A trip to Mapledurham Lock this afternoon.

It was too nice to stay inside and I went hoping to see a Mandarin Duck for the yearlist.

Last year there was a female bird there, this year there were 2 males and a female..

I kinda felt sorry for the other guy.

One of the males was very kind to pose in front of a bunch of daffodils, worthy of a pic.

Mr and Mrs Mandarin.

2 Geese, one only speaks Canadian, one only speaks Egyptian.

On the way back from Mapledurham I picked up a Whitethroat and a White Wagtail for the yearlist. Now on 143 for the year... 2010 total was 146.. its going well :o)

A local twitch.

For most people a Ferruginous Duck is nothing exciting, but this cute visitor turned up in Lydiard Park in Swindon. I've never seen one before - so it was a short drive of around 30 mins to try and pick up a local 'Year and Life Tick.

Thankfully it was showing well in the sunshine and I picked up Yeartick no. 139 :o)

The Leach's Petrol hadnt been seen at Theale that day, so didnt need to walk cluelessly around a Gravel Pit... and the Red Flanked Blue Tail in Swanage will have to come a lot closer if it wants to meet me... decided that I'm not gonna chase all over the Country for one bird... Shoot me if I do!!!

Portland Bill and the Long Billed Dowitcher.

A ridiculously early start to the day.. 5 am!! Destination Portland.. and a day of seeing what was incoming on migration. We set off early, because my friend Joe doesnt like sleep.. that has to be the reason?

Picking him up in Andover at 6am, we made our way to our first port of call - Lodmoor in Weymouth where a Long Billed Dowitcher had set up camp.

A noisy Cetti's was an alarm call for anything that might still be sleeping.. Still havent caught a glimpse of 1 yet this year - so it stays off the list for now. The Dowitcher took some finding. But I guess (considering the size of the reserve) we were lucky to find it, sitting at the side of one of the pools. (I had nothing to do with finding it, all Joe's work).

With the Dowitcher in the bag, not literally, we had a quick look out over the Sea there and also in Portland Harbour.. Very quiet!

Onto Portland, on what was a wet day :o( Hiding between the Beach Huts we kept an eye out on what was out to Sea. A few Gannets passing through, all good.

A Hot Chocolate and a bowl of chips in the cafe (my first chips of the year!) and we set off down the Point. On the way we picked up a Purple Sandpiper. Nice.

Seawatching on the point found us more Gannet, Common Scoter, Fulmar, Red Throated Diver, Manx Shearwater, Great Skua, Razorbill, Guillemot and a solitary Puffin flying across. Happy days!

A little search around the point and a lovely female Black Redstart plus an increasing number of Wheatear were now dropping in.

A few pics.. including a cute Sparrow..

Purple Sandpiper.

Gannets passing by.

A Wheatear that had just flown the Channel.

And this sweetheart had just been ringed at tPortland Obs..

Not in my hand, but lovely to see her so closely.