Titchfield Haven shore followed by Titchfield canal

Tuesday 11 March

The weather has returned to very cold for my 7.30 arrival at the Meon shore, Hill Head this morning. A Robin as I arrived on the shore road and once parked at the far end a check of the beach alongside the harbour oat storage yard produced 55 Sanderling along with 9 Ringed Plover and upwards of 40 Turnstones. In the harbour itself a pair of Mute Swans and a good number of Mallard.

Sanderling Calidris alba

Crossing the road to visit the observation platform overlooking Titchfield Haven a number of Black-headed Gulls resting on the main lagoon below plus a pair of Tufted Duck and four Gadwall. Just the one Cormorant and a trio of Coot. Further over within the reserve itself I could see a handful of Shelduck along with a number of Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal and Canada Geese plus a trio of Avocets. A flock of two score or more Oystercatchers flew up the lagoon and into the reserve.  below me in the edges a Cetti's Warbler. A lone Starling was atop the Visitors Centre and a I made my way back to the car an a pair of Carrion Crows flew over and, reaching the end of the shore road to turn inland a Magpie in the tree to my left. 

Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula

Fifteen minutes later I had arrived at the Titchfield car park to walk down the Titchfield Canal to the end of the avenue and back followed by a short walk up the canal to the church and back ending up with a total of 36 species in 70 minutes. Stating in the copse behind the pumping station I quickly came across a number of Chiffchaff, Blackbird, Blue and Great Tits plus both a Song Thrush and Magpie.

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

Back to the main path alongside the canal and the first of many Woodpigeons seen. Once near the overhead wires a stop to check the birdlife on Bridge Street Flood.  A pair of Mute Swans plus very many Black-headed and a few Herring Gulls then noticed the handful of Lapwing and a solitary Black-tailed Godwit. Most of the Wigeon were feeding on the grass and in the nearby water Coot, Mallard, Shoveler, Pintail, Gadwall and Teal.  Just a couple of Canada Geese seen along with a couple of Cormorant and at the far end of the water I finally found one of the resident Glossy Ibis and a pair of Moorhens.

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

As I moved on down towards Posbrook Flood a Buzzard resting in a nearby tree to my left and the first of a quartet of Cetti's Warblers and a Wren.  On the grass to my immediate left not only more resting Canada Geese but an eventual total of nine Greylag Geese.

Buzzard Buteo buteo

Nothing new to add on Posbrook Flood but at the bridge a Robin and at the far end of the avenue another Blue Tit and the a handful of Jackdaws plus a pair of Carrion Crows. Making my way back I had a brief sighting of the drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker and then came across a Little Egret in the canal.  Passing Bridge Street Flood I noticed a pair of Shelduck had joined the mixed duck flock.

Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos major

The walk up the canal on the other side of Bridge Street produced more Teal and Mallard plus a pair of Magpie and, at last, a Heron.  making my way back to the car park to return home a I noticed the Starling on top of the house nearest the car park.

Bird seen:

Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Cormorant, Glossy Ibis, Little Egret, Heron, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Sanderling, Black-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, Greenfinch.

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