sh4rpy's birding blog: Keyhaven in the mist

Tuesday, 9 October 2012

Keyhaven in the mist

Tuesday 9th October 2012. A day off work so an opportunity for some birding, however, I had no idea of where to go. Eventually I decided to go to Keyhaven and Pennington Marshes on the Hampshire coast. I arrived about 07:30 and was slightly disapointed to find the area shrouded in mist. After about an hour the mist started clearing making for better visibilty but fairly soon after that it started to drizzle this gradually got worse and turned into quite heavy rain. The most noteworthy birds encountered in the 3 hours I spent here were; Redshank, Greenshank, Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Curlew, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Turnstone, Grey Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Brent Goose, Kingfisher, Wigeon, Teal, Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail, Cetti's Warbler. Also several hundred Swallow and House Martin. Whilst walking along the sea wall I noted a Sparrowhawk pluck a Swallow from the air. I was now soaking wet and considered heading for home. Instead of heading home I made my my way to Pig Bush in the New Forest and although it was now raining hard I decided to have a wander. Little or nothing was noted here in heavy rain. So time to head home. With the heater in the car on full blast I soon warmed up and dried out also the further north I got the drier the weather. When I got nearer to home I made a spur of the moment decision to go to Ivinghoe Beacon. Not a bad idea as it turned out as here I encountered the following; Stonechat, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Redwing, Skylark.