Both Steve and I hoped for a call from Mark at 0600 to say that two places had become available to witness the morning ringing activity at Titchfied Haven Nature Reserve. Alas it wasn't to be so we headed to Keyhaven for a sea watch from Hurst Spit and a walk around the marshes. Unfortunately our two-hour sea watch from Cut Bridge proved to be rather fruitless. Apart from scores of Gannet and a steady movement of Commic Tern out of The Solent (150+) the only noteworthy record was a Fulmar northwest at 0730.
After a phone call from Steve's 'better half' to inform us that the Cattle Egret at Iley Lake and the Osprey at Lower Test Marshes had been reported we packed up and drove down the road to Keyhaven. From there we walked down Iley Lane and on route encountered four Whinchat perched prominently on scrub on either side of the track. Once we reached the access road to the refuse tip we spotted the Cattle Egret in the field beyond the lake [SZ313935]. Although a little distant we did get good views of the bird further along the lane and observed it sway its body and neck from side to side as it searched for food within the grassy sward.  Cattle Egret, Iley Lake, Keyhaven, 22 Aug 2009 - Photo by Steve Copsey Great Spotted Woodpecker, Iley Lane, Keyhaven, 22 Aug 2009 - Photo by Steve Copsey
From Lower Pennington Lane we headed for Butt's Lagoon where I hoped to connect with Curlew Sandpiper. However, on our arrival the majority of the small waders present took flight and headed offshore. Highlights of the walk back to the car via the seawall included several Wheatear, several Greenshank and a very yellow Willow Warbler.
Our next port of call was Lower Test Marshes and as soon as we got out of the car we spotted the Osprey in the top of a dead tree from the old road bridge at 1300. Due to the extremely high water level we decided to walk up the western side of the reserve in search of waders displaced by the flood tide. It turned out to be a good call because on the small scrape in front of the hide we had three Greenshank and a minimum of seven Green Sandpiper at close quarters.  One of seven Green Sandpiper from the hide at Lower Test Marshes - 22 Aug 09 Greenshank, Lower Test Marshes, 22 Aug 2009 - Photo by Steve Copsey Lower Test Marshes - 1400 Saturday 22 Aug 09
From the hide we headed along the flooded boardwalk in the hope of getting closer to the Osprey but at 1345 it flew South. It returned twenty minutes later with a fish in its talons to the same tree that we first saw it in. Unfortunately it didn't remain there to eat its meal. Instead it headed North with its catch facing fore and aft in its talons at 1409.  Osprey, Lower Test Marshes, 22 Aug 2009 - Photo by Steve Copsey A soggy Steve at Lower Test Marshes - 22 Aug 09
Good birding,
Tony T BSc (Hons) Geosci (Open)
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