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25.04.2026 - mr angry eyebrows is after a drink

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Cetti’s Warbler

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17th April 2021-Part 2 of 2: Glossy Ibis and more at Stanpit Marsh: The 10 pictures I took in this photoset are different to those I tweeted tonight

As we have seemed to do often on my Mum’s birthday over the years today we delved into Dorset going slightly into it at the brilliant Stanpit Marsh in Christchurch. What had drawn us here was the long staying Glossy Ibis which we caught sight of here in November after a couple of times of trying. We looked over the marsh looking into the harbour towards Hengistbury Head and Mudeford past the car park and scout hut and my Mum thought she saw it flying. The area I mean shown in the first two pictures in this photoset. We then walked around on the path and to our delight we did see the Glossy Ibis stood there. This was a brilliant moment to see this exotic jet black curved beak beauty. It was very mobile and no sooner had we fixed binoculars on it and limbered for a picture - at this distance a bridge camera zoom in - had it gone behind a tuft of grass but we still managed a decent handful of sightings of it at the start of the walk. One of my best birds this year, a rarity we saw our first of these in Dorset at RSPB Radipole Lake in Weymouth in 2012, we have now seen it three years running both of the sightings here of it and one at Fishlake Meadows near Romsey back in Hampshire in 2019 a good little indicator that this is a bird becoming more common to see right now.

As we walked on we loved taking in ideal conditions of bright sunshine flowing through and sky and sea a divine shade of blue. I took the fourth-eighth pictures in this photoset of views here today. There was also a photo I took I tweeted tonight on Dans_Pictures looking down a channel in a reedbed towards the prominent church in Christchurch which featured in a lot of my landscapes like Hengistbury Head in the distance did as they so often do here today. I had wanted to take that picture and it be one of my proudest sort of in November and I think I did take a version in the end but the angle wasn’t there or the light wasn’t good or something if I remember rightly. So it was great being able to take this shot in gorgeous sunshine today. We had a great walk for seeing birds such as Little Egret, Shelduck and Curlew quite a few times, with many Mute Swans about in the harbour too as can be seen in the sixth picture. It was nice to see ponies with a foal too which I tweeted a picture showing. We got close and special views of a nice bronzed Black-tailed Godwit up close and saw lots in a group in the sea of the harbour too which was so lovely to see again.

Also in this area we loved seeing a few Sandwich Terns, two of them with one flying then they settled for ages on the shallow water with a godwit I took the third picture in this photoset showing this. It was lovely to make our their neat plumage. We saw a couple or maybe it was the same one fishing over the harbour later on in the walk and at one point it had a battle with a gull which was spectacular to watch, we saw a good range of gulls today too. Sandwich Terns are very much the bird of weeks off work for me these days it seems with one seen at Farlington Marshes to start the similar to this one June week off last year and we saw our first of the year during my week off in January during the bird year list foundation building an overwinterting one in Hampshire which was a key moment of that week and my yea so far. We saw one well at Pennington on Easter Sunday too as I said.

We did also see two great different flowers at Stanpit today, some bright white scurvygrass adorning the marsh floor and some bright yellow marsh marigold emanating also from the grassy areas which looked stunning I had seen neither before. Daffodil and bluebell were around here too like Winchester this morning.

We doubled back along the tree line, where we got a brilliant view of a Great Spotted Woodpecker flying across and into a tree and came to the area where the Glossy Ibis had been. With no clear decent photo taken of the bird at that point I put my big lens on my DSLR as I was covering the same area I had already taken landscapes with my normal lens in so I knew I might not do so much again. We were then so happy to see the Glossy Ibis again in the air and as I snapped away with the appropriate tool my big lens on my DSLR camera it looked as though like last November my chance for a photo to remember the ibis by would be in the air. We just wondered where it would settle and as we watched it get lower after a great flying session where Lapwing and other birds were also in the air I anticipated something extraordinary. I thought it may well fly right over our heads, and that it did! It was an amazing few moments to both of our delight as I seemed to get the balance right between binocular views, trying for photos and simply watching it in aw of how close this quite rare bird truly was to us. Spectacular. I managed the ninth picture in this photoset of it flying among others.

It flew on over towards another marshy area by a boat sculpture where it had been reported a lot last year. We wandered back through the wooded area to there in case we could see it again. On the way through we got a quick view of my first Redstart of the year a female, always a crucial bird to see every spring especially in or close to the New Forest a huge part of the year seeing this bird on my B list of favourites for another year. My year list reached 133, the joint sixth highest amount of birds I had ever seen on a year on this date alongside my 2014. Redstart and Glossy Ibis were year ticks in the same weekend for me in 2019 Redstart came first the day before the Fishlake Meadows Glossy Ibis sighting the Redstart at a strong area for them Pig Bush in the New Forest.

We reached a little pool where we thought it might have gone and I was so happy to see the Glossy Ibis was there. We then spent a divine few minutes getting the honour to watch this bird move side to side across the pool mostly with its beak down hunting but it gave us flashes of brilliance as it looked up now and again. The soft early evening sunlight caressed the feathers of its back and head. It was one of the most beautiful and captivating natural moments I’d had this year, perhaps the greatest moment of wildlife for me since seeing the Tawny Owl and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the woods on one walk and so much more four weeks ago today. Such is this bird’s exotic nature that for a minute I could have been in an African swamp rather than a Dorset marsh. The greatest respect to the fantastic Dorset obviously I have always loved this county. What a way to celebrate that British wildlife is phenomenal and it’s been lovely day all round for discussing wildlife with lots of people at both Winchester and Stanpit Marsh. Everything was happening at once as when we arrived at this bit to look over the pool the ibis was on a Kestrel flew right in front of us a stunning view of a special bird.

On the way in and out we took in some beautiful New Forest vistas as you can do on journeys to Dorset and this included some nice bright red tulips with some daffodils which I took a picture of and tweeted and liked admiring on the way back. The perfect birthday for my Mum to kick off our time off, what a day for wildlife and photos! I hope you all had a good one.

Wildlife Sightings Summary: My first Glossy Ibis and Redstart of the year, three of my favourite birds the Shelduck, Little Egret and Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Mallard, a straggling Wigeon, Mute Swan, Herring Gull, what’s not so usual for us in a day both Lesser Black-backed Gull and Great Black-backed Gull, Sandwich Tern, Cormorant, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Kestrel, House Sparrow, Wren, Dunnock, Great Tit, Linnet and Greenfinch in another nice day of finches, Robin, Blackbird, Rock Pipit and I heard Cetti’s Warbler and also Reed Warbler faintly I believe.

Cettia cetti

reference photo by Cristiano Tedesco

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RSPB Rye Meads and Amwell. Common darter, red-tailed bumblebee, kingfisher and cettis warbler.

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21/11/2020-Stanpit Marsh

We came here today in search of the rare Glossy Ibis that had been around and showing nicely here. We did not manage to see it today. But I must admit after some amazing, varied and wild New Forest daily exercise walks at weekends whilst we worked out what walks would be possible in the current set of restrictions this morning, it was very nice to be back at the coast for the first time since the end of October taking in the very nice marshy, harbour and river habitats. There was a touch of autumnal colour left in the trees visible from here too and some brightness just tried to poke through the sky. I took the first, second, fourth, seventh and tenth pictures in this photoset of view here today.

It was very nice to see to see the delightful array of birds for this area especially at this time of year. This included brilliant views of a Black-tailed Godwit, lots of Brent Geese some I took the third picture in this photoset of and they were in the second too and Little Egrets also showing flying in my second picture in this set throughout the walk around the place and lots of Wigeons we got very close to one group in particular where we got to really see them so well and make out their gorgeous orange, grey and brown body and pretty golden heads. II enjoyed photographing these too I took the eighth picture in this photoset of one which I liked. I also saw a great few Teals. Its interesting I probably had never been here often in the winter before I do recall a February visit but can’t remember much about what I saw that day, but I had never been when all the winter waterfowl was arriving so it was a different set of birds to what I would normally see here today we do come mostly in summer and autumn it seems and once in a spring too. But it didn’t feel very different seeing these ducks and geese here as it reminded me very much of being at Farlington Marshes or Lymington-Keyhaven nature reserve where we go more regularly and I never really appreciated ever Stanpit Marsh is so similar to these habitat wise.

There were the ponies that roam Stanpit Marsh which looked very nice I took the fifth picture in this photoset of one reflected into one of the many puddles I’ve seen today at Stanpit, and it was interesting to see both Starlings and then some Magpies which I had never seen before do it flying onto their backs. Fascinating to watch. It was nice to see some sea aster or michaelmas daisies still about I couldn’t quite tell which and some nice mushrooms too I took the sixth picture in this photoset of one two nice ones in horse dung nice to see two so close to each other and I also tweeted a picture I took of one from the other side so it was nice to have two angles. A really enjoyable walk today. Missy enjoyed a walk on her birthday she turned 12 today I took the ninth picture in this photoset of her in the water.

Wildlife Sightings Summary: Two of my favourite birds the Brent Goose and Little Egret, Oystercatcher, Lapwing a bird I hadn’t seen for ages, a few Curlews, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Starling, Pied Wagtail, a really nice view of a Dunnock and I heard a Cetti’s Warbler which was nice.

21/03/2020-Spring afternoon at Pennington (and some garden pictures before going and sky picture when back)

On a very sunny and bright day today it was great to take the first four pictures in this photoset of the small tree in blossom I photographed last week, a Starling in the sun, the regular Feral Pigeons that visit the garden and a plant in the garden before going out.

Pennington in the Lymington-Keyhaven nature reserve was our location of choice besides the sun and relatively high temperature it felt like the official second day of spring. I took fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth pictures in this photoset of beautiful views in the sun here today. Upon arrival we were greeted by the song of Skylark, as our walk went on Chiffchaff which we would later see today and Cetti’s Warbler joined in. Even with a bit of wind it was a lovely day to be by the sea definitely. It was great to see and hear waves from the bright blue sea lapping.

What had driven us to come here was some Sand Martins had been reported here we’ve had a massive influx of these spring birds across Hampshire over the past week. Very early into our walk today we looked up and saw three. What a great moment to see a very crucial bird for every spring and one of the key migrants. A very beautiful bird I always think too. One of a few spring species I have seen already this year. I was very happy to get to watch these birds for a bit and cash in on the influx to get this bird under my belt. It’s the second earliest I have ever seen this bird in a year by one day after a sighting at Blashford Lakes on 20th March 2011 and only the third time I have seen one before a Swallow or House Martin in a year to mark my first hirundine sighting in a spring. The other time being when I saw one also at Pennington around the same area but towards the end of a walk this time in very early April in 2017. A really good 138th bird of the year for me.

I also took the ninth picture in this photoset of a lovely Little Egret flying over today. Once again it was brilliant to be out in the open just normally focusing on spring and birdwatching and photography with the doom and gloom at the moment and interesting and different days to come to say the least.

Wildlife Sightings Summary: My first Sand Martins of the year, three of my favourite birds the Shelduck, Brent Goose and Little Egret, Spoonbill, Spotted Redshank, some winter ducks still around today Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler and Pintail, Gadwall, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Cormorant, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Pied Wagtail, Carrion Crow, Rabbit, plenty of bees and I heard Skylark and Cetti’s Warbler.

21/12/2019-Great Tit in the garden and Titchfield Canal Path: Water Pipit makes my year list my joint highest ever and more

Earlier today I took the first picture in this photoset of a Great Tit we saw in the garden, just like last weekend’s Blue Tit it was another unique bird for me to see in the garden. My Mum had seen a Great Tit come in recently but other than that I’d only ever seen one in a garden at my Dad’s house when taking part in a RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch actually when I saw one in a tree in the opposite side of the road and thought “Wouldn’t it be great if that flew in” and it did one of my most memorable moments doing that survey ever.

This afternoon for the second time this week we went to the Titchfield Canal Path, I took the second picture in this photoset of the canal. As we walked along I saw so many Redwings with one cracking view of one on top of a tree which was spectacular. I also heard Cetti’s Warblers which was nice. We had come to try and see one bird though, the Water Pipits which had been about quite a lot based on reports a bird I had not seen yet this year. When out we got to the area where the latest report had said they’d been one particular field that was flooded as they all were. Here we heard so many pipit like sounds and watched a couple of birds in the binoculars fly high and in dark conditions but just could not make out that they were Water Pipits. We saw a couple a few times. I was not able to really get any good shots with my camera with big lens of them flying where I was able to zoom in on the camera and make them out either and they didn’t land at all. After walking back to the car in a shower I was leaving thinking I’d missed this bird once more.

But in the car I found I did have two pictures of the birds we were watching flying, one I had remembered taking and one I hadn’t I’d taken it after another where I’d photographed separate birds one of which I had been able to zoom in and see was a Pied Wagtail. I kept both of these photos to zoom into when looking through my memory card on my laptop when home just in case. Am I glad I did. From the first shot the one I knew I had the bird was way too blurred to make anything out as I had though. But the second one I zoomed in and I could actually see some details on the bird. I did usual ID checks and I could make out on my photo solid details of the Water Pipit in current plumage. I took the picture down to show my Mum for a second opinion who in truth had informed herself on these particular birds that were being reported more and got the better look at them out there today. She agreed with me and said this distant and not fully in focus ID shot confirmed her thoughts whilst out there, we had seen the Water Pipits we were quite certain and happy to say! I am quite happy that to have photographed this bird I did have to see it in my camera to aim for it so I have seen it and what’s more I watched the other birds a few times that were exactly the same shape and size and definitely not the wagtail and when watching them in the binoculars I said they were probably Water Pipits but didn’t quite have enough on them to confirm so this ID picture really was just the confirmation I needed.

This brought me great happiness because this is my 198th bird of the year. If you’ve followed my recent posts you may know that this means I’ve now levelled my 2018 total which was my highest ever. Just like in 2018 when I beat three of my year list records and levelled one, after seeing my highest ever amount of butterflies, dragon/damselflies and wild mammals this year I have now made my bird year list my joint highest ever. I am so happy to achieve this I did not think I would get anywhere near the amount I saw last year an amazing year of birding for me with the Scotland trip, all those year ticks and more. But I feel like I am dreaming to today level that total after staying in touch with how many birds I had seen a year ago with how many I had seen on certain dates all year. What a way to do it as well, this is the first time really I’ve used an ID standard photo to confirm a year tick it was always bound to happen at some point with the way I watch birds. You just have to love birdwatching and these thrilling moments it gives you!

Its a fantastic bird to have this moment with as it was one that came back into my life in November last year only the second I have ever seen at Blashford Lakes the place I had first seen them in 2011. I then saw some again at Lower Test on the last weekend of December 2018, a brilliant one where bird sightings took my year list from 195 to 198 to end the year with a bang the number Water Pipit now takes me to of course. At Lower Test again on 6th January this year I ticked Meadow Pipit from a group of them seen in a wet field and this group was the one we saw the Water Pipit among Meadow with a week earlier in 2018 I came so close to seeing one that day but could not confirm it. I have had another bird in late November I saw that I thought was a species but could not confirm it so to get over the line as such today with this bird was fantastic. With possibly four days of birding left this year as we are having our family Christmas meal tomorrow so won’t go far, I can dare to dream that I can surpass last year’s total which I never felt possible meaning my last four year lists will have been the highest ever when they finished or reach the famous 200 birds in a year and do what every birder wants.

Wildlife Sightings Summary: My first Water Pipits of the year, two of my favourite birds the Great Spotted Woodpecker and Buzzard, Mallard, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Oystercatcher, Cormorant, Black-headed Gull, Pheasant, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Pied Wagtail, Grey Squirrel and I heard Cetti’s Warbler and Moorhen.