Things are a bit crazy at the moment. A member of the family is in the hospital (it's nothing serious, just very painful), and I've got a really bad cold. My throat feels as though it's about to explode. I was hoping to get out once more in November, but with everything happening at the moment, I couldn't go anywhere on public transport, and there weren't any decent options anyway. Staines was the only decent one, but 4 hours of travel in the cold and rain didn't quite suit the situation. So, we figured out I could be dropped off at the Oysterbeds by Dad on his way to the hospital. I wasn't hoping for anything in particular, just some fresh air and seeing some cool birds.
I ended up being dropped off at the Billy Line around 15:00, with about 2 and a half hours to kill. The sun was already worryingly low and disappearing quickly.
In the harbour by the garage, there were quite a few Herring and Black-headed Gulls, along with some Redshank, Shelduck, and Oystercatchers.
There was practically no chance of picking anything new up for the year, so I was just enjoying all the present species, paying closer attention than I normally would to the more common species. It's incredible how beautiful some of our common species really are, but we don't pay much attention to them because, well, they're everywhere.
There was a Greenshank on a pool. The lighting was pretty bad, and I was walking around towards the main lagoons as fast as possible to get the final bit of light, photographing the species on the lagoon with the sun behind me. A Little Egret and a Mediterranean Gull were also there.
The sun was rapidly dropping in the direction of the Isle of Wight. Very stunning backdrop.
I made it to the main lagoon, where 4 Red-breasted Mergansers were diving. I spent a few minutes photographing them, although the light was never good, and always behind the birds. Got some backlit ones... trying to make the best of the conditions
They swam away, so I continued on around the path. As I made it to the southernmost part of the lagoon, I heard the high-pitched "peep-peep-peep" of a Kingfisher, and watched as it zipped by. I got a picture... if you can call it that.
Always a great bird to see.
One of the Red-breasted Mergansers was a bit closer and in better lighting
I noticed a huge rainbow in the sky- absolutely beautiful. With only the sun seemingly around, I wondered at its appearance, but then noticed a very large threatening cloud on its way towards me.
Before long, the rain came down, and I scarpered for any sort of cover. Which seemingly didn't exist.
After the first wave had passed, I was sitting on the bench by the second car park for the Oysterbeds, and with the golden sun setting and the Brent Geese on the water in front of me, I couldn't resist getting some backlit photos. It was a really stunning sight. I was freezing, but enjoying myself.
And all of a sudden, the sun was gone.
Unfortunately, the rain wasn't. It came down thickly. I was absolutely freezing, and with no light or birds about, now the rain was coming down, I walked back to the garage as quickly as possible in search of shelter and a Cappuccino to warm me up.
After the rain had subsided and the light well and truly gone, I decided to take a stroll around Northney Paddocks to see if any owls might be about... I was mainly trying to kill time waiting for the others to get back to pick me up. I didn't see anything, but it was nice being back after all the hours I had spent there this summer in vain searching for those pesky Pied Flycatchers. Maybe next year.
After a bit longer, the others arrived, and we went back home.
A trip that went much as expected. Nothing rare seen, but always nice to just enjoy the common things. The sunset had been truly incredible. I have absolutely no idea what the week ahead is going to look like. Everything's just so chaotic here. As previously mentioned, Staines is an option, but I don't know if time and the situation will permit. I might be able to try for the Red-necked Grebe at some point, if it stays. There's one other bird about a bit of a distance away, which would be incredible, but I doubt it will be possible to get to. It's the second test in the Ashes next week, which I am cautiously looking forward to, but I imagine it will be another disappointment. Hopefully, the test will look something like this month's birding for me- absolutely brilliant. It's been an insane month. It all kicked off with a stop off on our way home from Cambs at Ouse Washes, seeing the Crane there. Then an absolutely chaotically brilliant and almost time-defying trip seeing the Snow Bunting, Great Skua and Guillemot on a packed Monday morning. The Saturday of that week, a HOS walk at Pennington produced yet another two-year-ticks, in the form of some very smart Spotted Redshanks and a stunning male Long-tailed Duck. Exactly a week on from that, I made the mandatory commute to Holbury to see the Boat-tailed Grackle, and although it may not count for an official British list, I am adding it to my personal list. It was my 200th bird of the year- what a way to bring that number up. Two days later, a freezing cold trip to Southsea produced another lifer in the form of four Purple Sandpipers that showed well all the time we were there. Then, of course, this Monday, a trip to The Burgh produced a brilliant covey of Grey Partridge, and although I frustratingly dipped the Hen Harriers and Corn Bunting, I'm never going to complain with a lifer. 6 Lifers, 9 Year-ticks. Incredible.
I need some sleep. Good night:)
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