This weekend myself and Tony were visiting Portland for a joint Army/Navy weekend. The RN were down to just two as Slasher was away on the high seas catching moths, (as well as his day job of Not giving stores out to the hard working engineering departments). Anyway we were two and the Army Ornithological Society turned up with nearly a full battalion!! More on that later. On the way down we called in at Pennington Marshes, hoping that the Wryneck would still be showing although it had been a couple of days since the last appearance. We did a full loop of both Oxey and Pennington Marshes without success. However consolation was received in the form of a Grasshopper Warbler. After Slashers efforts in the Haven nets and his helping to ring about 20,000 Groppers this year; Tony and I thought we would be heading for a Hants Gropper free year. So we were more than pleased to see a single bird, possibly a first year bird atop a bramble bush on Oxey. The bird was in the classic reeling position with mouth wide open but it was emitting more of a warble than a reel. That said we were both happy with the ID. Even more so after it then flitted into another Bramble and after a further five minutes perched out in the open for a few seconds before disappearing again. Also seen on the marsh was a classic family group of Yellow Wagtails. The male was still in full breeding plumage. Another half a dozen or so were also seen on Oxey.

Grasshopper Warbler, Oxey Marsh, 11 Sep 2009

Grasshopper Warbler, Oxey Marsh, 11 Sep 2009   (how often do they perform like this)

Small Copper, Oxey Marsh, 11 Sep 2009  

Steve Copsey