Titchfield Haven Shore and Titchfield Canal

Sunday 17 December

Raining sunrays over the Solent looking towards the Isle of Wight!

Dry but cool and cloudy as I drove over to Hill Head to return to the Meon shore by 9am in time for the low tide and chance to see a good spread of waders.  I was not to be disappointed.  A quick stop at the top of the cliff to check out the open water but so sign of yesterday's Great Northern Diver.  However, apart from the watching Woodpigeon, a small flock of Brent Geese nearer the shore along with many Oystercatchers, Redshanks and Turnstone.  Lots of Black-headed and a single Great Black-backed Gull.

Brent Geese Branta bernicla

Moving down to the shore line a better view of the above and then, once the car has been parked alongside the sea wall just past the boatyard, a sight of 33 Eiders out on the Solent.  Carrion Crows were flying around as I mad my way to the viewing point overlooking the lagoon and, approaching, I disturbed a Dunnock feeding on the interior path.  Not so many birds on this water but still a few Gadwall and Shoveler along with a number of Lapwing on the island.  A Little Grebe was feeding and then chance to is the scope to look further into the reserve.  As yesterday, almost an hundred resting Oystercatchers along with scores of both Lapwing and Wigeon and many Teal.  A few Black-tailed Godwits were noted and then the first of a dozen Canada Geese.

Eight of the thirty-three Eider Ducks Somateri mollissima

Moving around the harbour towards the sailing club I recorded many Mallard and Turnstones inside the harbour and even the female Goosander was still present and bust carrying out her ablutions. 

Female Goosander Mergus merganser

Checking the feeding gulls and waders I even manged to find a single Ringed Plover and a pair of Sanderling along with many more Oystercatchers and a few Redshank.

Record shot of distant Sanderling Calidris alba with Oystercatcher

Stopping a few minutes at the Visitors Centre just the odd House Sparrow but away in the reserve a distant Marsh Harrier resting on the reeds. Then it was back to the car with a final stop at the lagoon viewing point which revealed a Heron at the far end and as I was about to set off I also noted the Little Egret that had arrived at the far end.

Heron Ardea cinerea

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

And so on back to Titchfield for a two-hour stop at the Titchfield Canal.Changing into wellington boots for the walk down the, presumably, flooded footpath I had a Blackbird fly across in front of me and the I set up the scope to check the Bridge Street floods and meadow on the far side of the canal.  I could see a couple of Mute Swans but, first, decided to check the old, ruined tree and, sure enough, there was the resident Barn Owl once again happily resting at the entrance hole to its nest site.  (But with even more twigs blacking the view!)

Barn Owl Tyto alba

Back to the water where I confirmed one adult and two Mute Swan cygnets now almost moulted out of their baby brown feathers, along with a few Coot, Mallards and a couple of Gadwall.  Teals at the back and then a Pintail drifted into view and a pair of Canada Geese were also revealed.

Pintail Anus acuta

Moving on down the path I found my first Carrion Crows of the visit and then, having noted the many Wigeon on the Posbrook Floods I also, finally, recorded the first of a handful of Woodpigeon. Time to properly check out the water but, for me, no sign of the long-staying Glossy Ibis.  I did, however, find very many Pintail, Teal and Tufted Duck as well as a quartet of Shoveler to add to the previously seen Wigeon.  Amongst the very many resting Black-headed a small number of Herring Gulls.

Tufted Ducks Aythya fuligula

Further down the tarmac track I cam across the local Jackdaw flock and also found a lone Robin at the end.  Carefully checking the reedy grass at the water's edge I did find a handful of Black-tailed Godwits and then, noting the mass of feeding gulls in the horse field from the brick bridge over the canal I confirmed Black-headed along with more Jackdaws.  A house roof at the far side of the field held no less than thirty resting Rock Doves.  About to carry on when a Jay flew across the field.

Jackdaw Corvus monedula

Back to the car park, noting that a Great Black-backed Gull had now joined the gulls on the flood water, and scope returned to the car's boot, I took a walk along the road the check out the flooded areas either side of the river bridge abut only found a single Robin along with a couple of Magpies, but there was a foraging Oystercatcher!  Returning to the car, I then took a walk along the muddy track to the back of the water works building and recorded Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tits.

Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa

Birds seen:   

Brent Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Eider, Goosander, Little Grebe, Little Egret, Heron, Marsh Harrier, Coot, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Sanderling, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Barn Owl, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow.

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Goosander Mergus merganser with Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

Bathing Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus

Shoveler Anas clypeata

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