Wareham Forest

Holes / Baiter

Highlights of a 7 hour survey in the south west corner of Holes Bay

Feeling a bit deflated now

Off to Baiter which is always more productive in bad weather, for one it keeps everybody indoors.

About 10 RP were taking advantage of the low disturbance and soggy conditions, pulling up worms.

Could only manage a blurred shot of that

Few different plumages of RP on show

Even more of a rarity here than RP. This Dunlin was ringed but couldnt make anything out on it.

Colour ringed Brent.

Portsea, Langstone Harbour

Bit of a turn up here today. A Black Brant and a Pale-bellied Brent with c350 Db Brent. Didnt hang around and soon flew off west. Havent heard of one here before but am assuming it is the Gosport bird having a wander.

Had to settle for coolpix/scope shots today.

Nice view of extent of neck band

Pale-bellied

Both birds

Gosport

Bit more time out again from surveying.

Very confiding Ring-billed at Walpole boating lake

Direct comparison with Common showing the characteristic 'flat back' on water.

Was sat there doing nothing for a while when suddenly decided to do a real screechy 'long call' never seen one do that before

Ad Med also there

This Brant was in Stokes Bay, Gosport.

Was soon flushed from here and flew to HMS Sultan playing fields, nice neck collar

Rooks are tame in these parts, obviously not getting shot at here

Hatch Pond

Joined the ranks at Hatch today to try my luck at photographing the very popular Bitterns

This bird was tantalisingly close for a good hour but always just obscured.

Flushed by an old guy in a dingy (see below)

Looks like he's having fun

Fishbourne, W.Sussex

Lots of time in Hants and W.Sussex last couple of months with a survey contract. Managed to find a bit of time today to get record shots of a couple of finds, although all are with coolpix and scope

Spot the Black Brant, click to enlarge

Zoomed in

The bird on the left here looks very close to Pale-bellied but did actually have a dark vent area which can just be seen here, though nowhere near as extensive as the usual bird on the right.

Same birds again, the one with very little brown on the underparts has also paler flanks, features getting pretty close to Pale-bellied. This is either an extreme variant or perhaps a hybrid, they have been known to occur.

Not too good on flora and fungi, anyone know what this thing is