Insect wise lots of Red Admirals on flowering Ivy or sunbathing nearby or being pushed speedily away on the strong winds - 30 at least. The sheltered, sun dappled areas had plenty of Speckled Woods, some very fresh looking. A few hovers in the same areas, mostly Eristalis tenax, but a few each of Syrphus spp and Myathropa florea, several black and yellow unidentifiable (to me!) ichneumon type wasps.
One of two Kingfishers chasing each other around the river.
This Wigeon was a bit of a billy-no-mates on the river with ten or more on South Scrape and 25+ over the seas on arrival. Thirty or so Pintail arrived but only four females dropped into South Scrape. Waderwise just six Ringed Plover, six Redshank, ten Snipe, a couple of Dunlin plus the usual godwits and Lapwings.
Raptors today totalled eight species, although I missed Peregrine and Merlin.
The ubiquitous cream-crown Marsh Harrier showed a few times as did two different Sparrowhawks and a single Hobby plus this fine juvenile Osprey which appeared over the frying pan before drifting straight towards and over Meon Shore hide escorted by crows and gulls.
