Pennington Marshes is a place where a decent stint of birding is pretty much guaranteed. The Solent was a bloody cold place to be yesterday morning but the birding warmed the cockles. In fact, despite the Arctic wind blowing, the sun put in a decent showing early morning and even some of our commoner species weren't spared the lens in the favourable light.
There are certain species that I find I just have to point my camera at when I see them and one of these is Common Tern.....
......but along with a single Sandwich Tern were 3 of those most joy evoking of gems that are Little Terns.
Fishtail Lagoon served up Greenshank, Redshank and a right regal looking sum plum Spotshank to complete the set, with a couple of brief views of the long staying though elusive Long Billed Dowitcher. A drake Garganey was skulking around the sedges in the middle of the lagoon and a couple of Spoonbills dropped in as we made our way back towards the car park.
Other birds to trouble the note book were Med Gull, Knot, Ruff, Wimbrel and White Wagtail.
Before hitting the M3 and it's seemingly never ending roadworks, it seemed prudent to pay the New Forest a passing visit. A showy Marsh Tit was nice.....
....but a pair of Redstarts stole the show.
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| Mrs Redstart |
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| Mr Redstart positively glowing in a brief burst of afternoon sun. |
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