Tuesday 31 May 2011

May 2011

Except for a cancelled trip to Bass Rock (due to high winds), that resulted in going to the Farnes for the day. I didn't leave the county once - May was wet, windy and on the whole very disappointing. However the Farnes was as enjoyable as always, thankfully the sun wasn't as bright this time and allowed better photo oppertunities. I spent most of my time photographing the Puffins, to try and better the relatively poor flight shots I got last June.
It was pretty good in county though with a good passage of waders and seabirds; and so several mornings were spent at Cutbridge counting the likes of Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwits being the most numerous. This was by far the most productive I have ever seen Hampshire in terms of numbers - hightlights included: Wood Sandpiper & Garganey at Farlington (1st), Pomarine Skua (3 on 5th), drake Long-tailed Duck (5th) all past Hurst, Roseate Tern off Hill Head (6th), Ring-necked Parakeet & Pectoral Sandpiper at Pennington (7th), Manx Shearwater (several on 26th), poss Balearic (29th) again off Cutbridge, and 2 Quail (30th).