Titchfield Canal Path

 Sunday 14 July

Arriving at Titchfield canal car park at 9.15 on a clear, calm and sunny morning I was immediately greeted by Chiffchaff, Song Thrush and Woodpigeon.  Once prepared, off up the canal to Titchfield church recording Blackbird, Starling, Pied Wagtail, Magpie and Moorhen before back o the car park to meet up with other members of HOS under the leadership of local birder, David Wallace for the morning's walk along the canal path to the shore at Hill Head and back.

Male Blackbird Turdus merula sunning itself on the shed roof

Setting off down the canal path we soon added Blackcap and Robin and, looking up, a Buzzard making lazy circles in the sky. The dead tree in front of Bridge Street Floods held a trio of Cormorant with  fourth individual in flight.  On the water a handful of Mallards and a similar number of House Martins feeding over the water. A little further on we came across a resting Reed Bunting and the first Wren of the morning.

Buzzard Buteo buteo

Approaching Posbrook Floods a number of Jackdaws were in the air and a lone Lesser Black-backed Gull passed overhead.  Once at the bridge we could also see a couple of Heron at the water's edge and, over the field on the opposite side of the path, a couple of Kestrels and a Carrion Crow with a pair of Goldfinch nearer to us. Moving through the avenue to take a closer look at the now exposed, partly hidden water we added a handful of Coot and a couple more Mallards.

Stopping at the bench at the end of the avenue we recorded a Chaffinch and Blue Tit before noting the Pheasant at the back nearer the water.  A trio of Stonechat were also seen and to our right a passing Stock Dove.  Then, the bird of the morning, as a single Glossy Ibis was seen above as it made its way down river.  No sooner departed that a Great Black-backed Gull put in an appearance quickly followed by the smaller Herring Gull.

I left the group further on down where the ditch across the path had now been filled and made my way back to the car park.  A Buzzard was once again seen and approaching the avenue a Green Woodpecker was "yaffling" from the trees on the other side of the river and no sooner making my way into the avenue a calling Cetti's Warbler. Once back on the narrow path beyond the bridge a couple of Collared Doves and then a pair Black-headed Gulls in the sky and then a stop to admire the trio of Common Swifts above the trees on the left. A most enjoyable 2 3/4 hours in lovely weather and good birding despite the overgrown nature of the reserve.

Buzzard Buteo buteo

Interesting to also se a good number of butterflies including Red Admiral and the Comma (?) shown below.

Comma Polygonia egea butterfly?

Birds seen:

Mallard, Pheasant, Cormorant, Glossy Ibis, Heron, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Swift, Green Woodpecker, House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting.

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