Titchfield Haven

Thursday 22 October

The day between! Rain all day yesterday and Storm Austen arriving tomorrow followed by more rain on Saturday. Good enough excuse to get down to Titchfield Haven just after 8 to check out the river and harbour before an hour on the reserve inside Meon Hide overlooking the scrapes. In the harbour, at high tide, plenty of Mallards, a couple of Coot and at least two dozen Turnstones.

Turnstone Areanaria interpres

Next to the viewpoint overlooking the river and island where I fond a dozen resting Lapwings on the island along with the sheltering Gadwall and up to fifteen Cormorants on the river. At the back against the bank a Heron and off to the far left the resting Shovelers. Also present five Little Egrets and just the single Black-tailed Godwit and a single Common Gull. Fewer Coots this morning but still over a score present.

Common (Mew) Gull Larus canus

Making my way to the main reserve and the Meon Hide overlooking the scrapes I encountered both Woodpigeons and Magpies along with a foraging Chiffchaff in the nearby bushes.

Magpies Pica pica

Once inside the hid not so many birds as I expected and no geese present. Whilst over a hundred Teal the great majority were resting up against the western bank and the nearer islands. Also in score the bulk of the Lapwing flock. A couple of nearby Black-tailed Godwits but most of the other species were further back.

Male Teal Anas crecca

The back islands held most of the gulls present.  Mainly Black-headed but also a quartet of Common, a couple of Herring and a single Great Black-backed Gull.  In amongst the gulls another four Little Egrets with a couple of Herons on the northern scrape.

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus

The larger island held more of a mix with a flock of Shoveler, a few teal and a small group of Oystercatchers.  Looking closer I also found a number of Black-tailed Godwits at the back which almost masked out the single resting Glossy Ibis.  All very tired judging by the sleeping Redshanks. And at this point one of the resident mars harriers decided to put in a brief appearance.  At the same time a Cetti's Warbler was calling from below the hide and a Stonechat flew across the water to the reeds on my right.

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

With one island holding a number of Lapwing and Teal I also found a sleeping Snipe and then the arrival of flock of about thirty Starlings.  Even a couple of wandering Moorhens.

Sleeping Snipe Gallinago gallinago

The distinctive calls from above and to the left let us know that the Canada Geese, about sixty, were arriving accompanied by a couple of Greylag Geese.  No sooner had they landed at the back on the northern scrape than a single Avocet arrived followed by a pair of Egyptian Geese.

Egyptian Geese 

With a handful of Magpies and a few Carrion Crows wandering around the site and car park time expiring it was time to make my departure for home and, as I approached the exit gate, a couple of House Sparrows made a very brief stop in front of the large gate as I approached.

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Cormorant, Glossy Ibis, Little Egret, Heron, Marsh Harrier, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Lapwing, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Stonechat, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow.

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

Greylag Geese Anser anser (front)

Lapwings Vanellus vanellus

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus

Sleeping Redshanks Tringa totanus

Male Shoveler Anas clypeata

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