Titchfield Haven and Canal

Friday 17 January

Remaining dry but still cold and cloudy for my morning visit to nearby Titchfield.  First to the Solent shore and mouth of the Meon river at Titchfield Haven arriving at 9.20 having passed a flock of feeding Rooks in the ploughed field as I entered Posbrook Lane and then a resting Buzzard in a tree alongside the road as I approached the shore.  Parking opposite the end of the Meon lagoon I first checked the sea and beach where I found a few Oystercatchers whilst a Pied Wagtail walked the roadside and a magpie flew over the trees behind me.  Crossing the road to check the birdlife on the lagoon I found many resting Black-headed Gulls along with more than a handful of Shoveler plus a few Tufted Duck and Gadwall plus a trio of Mallard.  At the far end over the reserve hundreds of Lapwing were in the air and swirling around but no sign of a raptor.

Mainly Turnstone Arenaria interpres but also Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus and Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus

Moving on to the harbour and crossing the road to check the lagoon from the viewing point I also found a Little Grebe, a couple of Coot and a pair of Shelduck.  Many Lapwings resting on the small island in front of me and across the reeds and fence into the reserve proper a few Wigeon.

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

With the tide still out as I walked passed the harbour scores of Mallard, two adult and the remaining Mute Swan cygnet plus a Coot.  Only a handful of Turnstones present, so I pressed on round the corner passed the sailing club to check the southern beaches.  This was where I found the massed gulls, mainly Black-headed but also a number of Herring plus a pair of Great Black-backed Gulls at the water's edge.  

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus

Nearer the shore the flock of thirty Brent geese along with the waders.  Oystercatchers a plenty numbering around 70 plus even more very active Turnstones, constantly flying back and forth as a flock and, once landed, leading me to find both a few Sanderling and Ringed Plover but just the one Redshank. making my way back to the car a Dunnock flew from the small bushes near the viewing point and below the car on the sea a lone Brent Goose making its way to, presumably, join the the flock.

Brent Goose Branta bernicla

Fifteen minutes later I was back in Titchfield village and parked in the Canal car park and preparing to walk to the end of the avenue and back.  A Great Tit was foraging in the tree opposite and a Cormorant flew over and on upstream. Once through the gate a Robin in the bush next to me and on the other side of the canal a Heron trying to hide in the fallen branches on the other side of the canal.

On to the overhead wires to check both the Barn Owl nest site and Bridge Street Floods on the opposite side of the path.  No Barn owl but a pair of Stock Doves were taking an active interest in the former nesting site.  Meanwhile, on Bridge Street Floods lots of Black-headed and a handful of Herring Gulls.  Closer observation with the scope also quickly discovered both Gadwall and Pintail along with about fifty Wigeon feeding on the bank behind the canal.  A single Lapwing put in an appearance and further right on the water a lone Canada Goose.  t this end of the water also a few Shoveler and after a couple of Carrions Crows had passed over I was able to catch a very brief view of the Glossy Ibis that moved through the long grass.  On the far side of the water, well hidden behind the vegetation, at least a score or more feeding Black-tailed Godwits.

Distant record shot of the Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

Moving on down the path I stopped about half-way towards Posbrook Floods and to the right of a quintet of Coot found the three "resident" Glossy Ibis.  All at a fair distance so only a record shot possible. Then on to avenue and a closer look at Posbrook Floods.  Immediately in front of me feeding on the grass a half-dozen Woodpigeon and resting atop a nearby tree to the bridge, a female Kestrel.

Female Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

On the water itself, mainly Shoveler but also far more Tufted Duck than usual.  This is also the water where, as again today, I tend to find the Teal.  On the far side a resting Heron behind one of the passing Pintails that were also present.

Pintail Anas accuta

Continuing on down the path a couple of Blackbirds and then the first of the many Long-tailed Tits plus more Robins and a Chiffchaff.  But not until my arrival at the welcoming bench for a rest did I find the first Jackdaws of the morning.  Close by a resting male Kestrel.

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus

Time o make my way back to the car park and approaching Bridge Street Floods a Wren "nipped" across the path in front of me and a last look at the water not only revealed a dozen Canada Geese and a Moorhen but also one of the Glossy Ibis, unless there is still a fourth?

Heron Ardea cinerea

At the car park and scope in the car I looked up to find a single Greenfinch atop the tallest tree at the entry gate and then decided on a walk up the norther path as far as the church and back.  Lots of Magpies, at least eight, along with a couple of Moorhen and more Woodpigeon.  Walking back I also found a pair of Mallard off to my left and then watched a Buzzard drift southwards over the trees. Finally after all put away and about to enter the car, a Blue Tit decided it, too, wanted to be included in the report as it foraged about in the tree immediately in front of me.

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Heron, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Glossy Ibis, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Sanderling, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Great Back-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, Greenfinch.

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