Yesterday's visit to TH, the first for 10 weeks without access to the west side, was pretty uninspiring with just Kingfisher, some visible Water Rails on the river with several others heard and good numbers of hirundines, mostly Sand Martins.
By teatime it transpired that a Wryneck had been seen by a visitor but posted 6 hours later much to the chagrin of everyone else who was on site!
Luckily, the ever reliable MF was on site early today to refind the bird in the area of the ant hills which previous year's birds have favoured.
The bird showed on and off and, although its definitely a top-ten bird for me, its location between the road and the fence line ensured it would always be distant. Thunder and lightning were over the IOW and Southampton water and a waterspout was briefly off to the east but quickly dissipated. A coffee from the van was welcome and just in time, as the rain arrived and the thunder and lightning moved closer. Luckily, it didn't come to much although there was torrential rain between Hill Head and the motorway. Back in Pompey it didn't look as if it had rained at all.
This Snipe popped out in front of MSH briefly and it was nice to see a few juvenile Black'wits.
And a few moths from yesterday morning.
A Beautiful Plume, a Garden Tiger egg laying on the fence and a Snout.
