A Grey Phalarope has been at Keyhaven/Pennington for the last week of September and so on the 27th, I made an early start to the hour and a half journey to Keyhaven harbour in the hope of seeing the bird.
Unfortunately on arrival, the coast was covered in fog and so I had to wait until it cleared for an hour, which it did and turned into a beautiful warm sunny day.
The bird was still present at the Fishtail lagoon, which it had favoured for most of its stay, feeding up before it continued its migration.
It's amazing how confiding these birds are, this one swimming and feeding to within a few feet from several excited bird photographers including myself, standing on the grass bank.
As an added bonus, a Temminck's Stint was feeding with Dunlin on another lagoon, fifty yards away. I had good views of the bird through my telescope and the only downside was that it was too far away for any decent photographs.
Other birds of note seen were Swallows and House Martin, feeding up before departing south. Spotted Redshank, already dressed in their winter plumage, Dartford Warbler, Black and Bar Tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Avocet, Grey and Golden Plover and Water Rail.
All in all an excellent days birding.
Unfortunately on arrival, the coast was covered in fog and so I had to wait until it cleared for an hour, which it did and turned into a beautiful warm sunny day.
The bird was still present at the Fishtail lagoon, which it had favoured for most of its stay, feeding up before it continued its migration.
It's amazing how confiding these birds are, this one swimming and feeding to within a few feet from several excited bird photographers including myself, standing on the grass bank.
As an added bonus, a Temminck's Stint was feeding with Dunlin on another lagoon, fifty yards away. I had good views of the bird through my telescope and the only downside was that it was too far away for any decent photographs.
Other birds of note seen were Swallows and House Martin, feeding up before departing south. Spotted Redshank, already dressed in their winter plumage, Dartford Warbler, Black and Bar Tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Avocet, Grey and Golden Plover and Water Rail.
All in all an excellent days birding.
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