Hayling Island and Titchfield Haven

Friday 13 September

A beautiful sunny day with a cloudless sky and quite warm when out of the shade. Arriving at Hayling Island at 10 am we started in the car park overlooking the bay and recorded a single Curlew along with an Oystercatcher, Carrion Crow and a few Black-headed Gulls. Moving on the the "Billy Line" we added many Oystercatchers and a Great Crested Grebe before concentrating on the pond on our left.  here we found a handful of Black-tailed Godwits plus a a few Common Redshanks, a single Dunlin and one of our target birds, a Spotted Redshank still showing many spots albeit no longer in its breeding black plumage.

Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus with Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa on left 

Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus

Time to check the distant island over towards Farlington Marsh where we noted the lone resting Peregrine Falcon on the shingle but no sign of the local Osprey.  The nearby bushes along the track produced Robin, Linnet, Chiffchaff, House Sparrow and Starling.  Eventually we were to see a huge flock of Starlings well exceeding 300 in number.

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus (Bottom) with Heron Ardea cinerea

The walk alongside the oysterbeds produced many more Starlings and on the oysterbeds a number of Curlew and many Oystercatchers.  Another three Curlew plus eight Little Egret and a Heron added to the morning's observations. A Cormorant flew over and Richard picked up a couple of Magpie before a (true) pair of Sparrowhawks were seen inter-acting above us as they moved westwards. Turning north to head back along the Billy Trail towards the Car park we encountered another Magpie before stopping to watch both a Chiffchaff and Spotted Flycatcher in the bushes ahead of of us.  Whilst photographing the Chiffchaff our second target bird, a Lesser Whitethroat, landed immediately above the former.  Nothing else added as we headed back to the car.

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata 

Richard wanting to see where I had seen the Wryneck yesterday, we set off for a short stop at Titchfield Haven on our way home arriving at 1pm. First a look at the shore where the receded tide produced good number of both Black-headed Gulls and Oystercatchers.  A couple of Redshank a handful of Herring Gulls were also noted.

Redshank Tringa totanus

Just the three of us on site and a couple of very high Buzzards pointed out.  Nothing seen and as we made our way back on the small path running parallel to the road we stopped as the Wryneck flew overhead and landed atop a nearby bush showing a rear view.  Almost immediately it moved to the nest bush and this time showing a front elevation as I indicated to other birders to come and join us.  As we finally decided to move on and take a look at Titchfield Haven's South Scrape the Wryneck disappeared into the vegetation below a small tree in the reedbed.  By this time over twenty birders were on site trying to find the bird!

Wryneck Jynx torquilla

A short stay in the hide provide a number of species including two very close Common Sandpipers.  Most of the Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits were at the back of the water along with  handful of Teal and a similar number of Canada Geese plus a couple of Greylag Geese.  Also on the water and islands a number of Mallard and Lapwing plus a Heron and many Coot and Moorhens. Both Woodpigeon and Magpie passed overhead and then the arrival of a small flock of Starling.

Common Sandpiper Actitis macularius

Finally, a look at the lagoon as we approached the car produced both Shoveler and Gadwall along with resting Cormorants and a number of Black-headed Gulls.  Then, passing through Titchfield village on the way home, once again the sight of many local Jackdaws.

Wryneck Jynx torquilla

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine Falcon, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Lapwing, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Wryneck, Robin, Blackbird, Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Spotted Flycatcher, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Linnet.

Common Sandpiper Actitus macularius

Common Sandpiper taking off

Common Sandpiper Actitus macularius

Curlew Numenius arquata

Robin Erithacus rubecula

Wryneck Jynx torquilla

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