A strange day at Keyhaven
I've had a few local trips in the Campervan recently, all to the Hampshire coast, which I reckon is my best chance to find rarer birds. So far, I've walked over 30 miles, and had two extreme soakings!
but finally today my luck seemed to improve along the coast at Keyhaven. I was actually thinking, "birding has got harder over the years, I never seem to find anything these days, are my expectations too high etc". Passing the spot where I did once find a Grey Phalarope, in similar crappy weather.
I'm not unrealistic, I don't expect firsts for Hampshire on my walks, but a Scarce or two would be nice.
Then I resigned myself to the fact that at least these walks are good for the mind, and ridding myself of all that work throws at me through the week.
No sooner had I had these thoughts, a Great Skua passed just off the saltmarsh, and landed out of sight. More like it! Seawatching in Hampshire is not the easiest of choices with the Isle Of Wight placing most of the coast at a distinct disadvantage, but anything that is blown into the Solent usually gives cracking views.
This was followed by a Merlin over my head, and a distant Marsh Harrier. Had a quick look at the lake and flooded field at Keyhaven, then started the return journey. Two Greenshank in the inland boggy patch, that I have never seen a bird in, in all my previous trips! presumably it's a bit close to the path.
Then the bird of the day, month, year! A light phase Skua again along the edge of the saltmarsh. It screamed Pomarine straight away, looking big, thick breast band, and bulk behind the tail. I decided to swap binocs for Scope, whipped off the rucksack, took the cap off the scope.. and it had gone!
Back to binoculars, frantically scanning the coast and the Isle of Wight backdrop, then scanning along Hurst spit, every second thinking the net gets bigger! It must have landed. It was so obvious against the sea, there is no way it could have gone in a couple of seconds.
So I wait for a few minutes no sign, then saw it sitting on the edge of a sandbank. Got some photos, but every one had the bird looking away! Also, trying to look at my phone apps / pdf field guides.. how do you identify a Pom from an Arctic sitting in front of you!?
Turns out the black hood is more extensive below the bill, and no white at the base of the bill.. This bird was jet black all the way, not a hint of pale anywhere around the bill. The Spoons it turns out had snapped off, but it did show short squared off central streamers beyond the tail, when it later flew around the marsh, onto the sea, then back to the sandbank.
Other clinching features where the double wing bar on the underwing, only glimpsed a couple of times despite the fairly close viewing. Heavy chest/build. Again, these can be subtle features, and only at certain angles do they scream at you. Did manage some video footage and the grab below is the best I could manage.. in overcast heavy rain, phone held to the scope, scope at 70x, phone at 2.5x! Sometimes miracles do happen!
but finally today my luck seemed to improve along the coast at Keyhaven. I was actually thinking, "birding has got harder over the years, I never seem to find anything these days, are my expectations too high etc". Passing the spot where I did once find a Grey Phalarope, in similar crappy weather.
I'm not unrealistic, I don't expect firsts for Hampshire on my walks, but a Scarce or two would be nice.
Then I resigned myself to the fact that at least these walks are good for the mind, and ridding myself of all that work throws at me through the week.
No sooner had I had these thoughts, a Great Skua passed just off the saltmarsh, and landed out of sight. More like it! Seawatching in Hampshire is not the easiest of choices with the Isle Of Wight placing most of the coast at a distinct disadvantage, but anything that is blown into the Solent usually gives cracking views.
This was followed by a Merlin over my head, and a distant Marsh Harrier. Had a quick look at the lake and flooded field at Keyhaven, then started the return journey. Two Greenshank in the inland boggy patch, that I have never seen a bird in, in all my previous trips! presumably it's a bit close to the path.
Then the bird of the day, month, year! A light phase Skua again along the edge of the saltmarsh. It screamed Pomarine straight away, looking big, thick breast band, and bulk behind the tail. I decided to swap binocs for Scope, whipped off the rucksack, took the cap off the scope.. and it had gone!
Back to binoculars, frantically scanning the coast and the Isle of Wight backdrop, then scanning along Hurst spit, every second thinking the net gets bigger! It must have landed. It was so obvious against the sea, there is no way it could have gone in a couple of seconds.
So I wait for a few minutes no sign, then saw it sitting on the edge of a sandbank. Got some photos, but every one had the bird looking away! Also, trying to look at my phone apps / pdf field guides.. how do you identify a Pom from an Arctic sitting in front of you!?
Turns out the black hood is more extensive below the bill, and no white at the base of the bill.. This bird was jet black all the way, not a hint of pale anywhere around the bill. The Spoons it turns out had snapped off, but it did show short squared off central streamers beyond the tail, when it later flew around the marsh, onto the sea, then back to the sandbank.
Other clinching features where the double wing bar on the underwing, only glimpsed a couple of times despite the fairly close viewing. Heavy chest/build. Again, these can be subtle features, and only at certain angles do they scream at you. Did manage some video footage and the grab below is the best I could manage.. in overcast heavy rain, phone held to the scope, scope at 70x, phone at 2.5x! Sometimes miracles do happen!
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