Vidya Wolton

I have to say that today did seem like the first day of Spring and beckoned me out to the wilds of the Medina Estuary for a spot of birdwatching. To my delight there were Brent Geese congregating at the water’s edge and although a regular feature over the winter, they looked most striking today. The highlight of the walk was a seemingly insignificant wading bird which I thought was a bit out of the ordinary and my instinct was telling me it might worth further enquiry. Fortunately, hubby was equipped with his camera and we managed to get a snap for verification. I’m awaiting expert opinion, but it looks to be a Marsh Sandpiper, which is a Eurasian migrant putting in an appearance about a month earlier than expected. I am in a state of anticipation as I await confirmation. The footpath was breached in several places and finding the path not always easy, as seen here in an attempt to get to the footbridge.

Requiring some fresh air inspite of heavy showers, hubbie and I were well placed at lunchtime for a walk along the coast at Seaview with a brief excursion to the nearby birdhide. There is the welcome presence of Brent Geese feeding at the water’s edge and even within a deluge of heavy rain and hail stones we are able to get this shot of the Brents with the Spinnaker Tower of Portsmouth in the background. The light was actually quite interesting for photography and colour in the gloom seemed heightened after a morning stint of photo manipulation in Photoshop.