Monday 28 February
A double visit this morning albeit both of limited duration due to still high tide and need to be back home before 11am. First to the Meon shore at Titchfield have where, as soon as I got out of the car parked on Cliff Road above Hill head sailing Club I was able to use the scope and find a line of eight Common Scoter about 200 metres off shore and slowly working their way northwards. Also below me a couple of Black-headed Gulls and singing in the bush to my left a Dunnock.
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| Meon shore looking south towards Hill Head |
Time to walk down to the shore and a call in at the hide adjacent to the Titchfield Haven reserve produced both Dunnock and Great Tit. Just round the corner at he public viewing point a couple of Gadwall and a number of Coot plus a trio of Cormorant. Also on the small island a sleeping Oystercatcher and over in the reserve proper I could see numerous Black-headed Gulls and a small number of resting Teal.
The now full harbour held thirty mallard and a quartet of foraging Turnstone on what little shore had now become exposed whilst oh the shore at the front at least seven resting Ringed Plover. Finally, a look up the Meon from the road on the beach front confirmed a couple of Canada Geese and a passing Carrion Crow. There were also a few Wood Pigeons to be seen in the trees at the back. Returning to the car on top of the hill I once more enjoyed the singing Dunnock along with a Robin and a few Starlings on the roofs opposite.
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| Turnstone Arenaria interpres |
Then it was off towards home but with a stop in Titchfield itself to walk a short distance along the canal path. No sooner out of the car and I was surrounded by Wood Pigeons and a number of Blue Tits in the adjacent trees. Lovely to see a Nuthatch land in a tree before setting off to the Barn Owl viewing point a bout aa hundred metres distant. Black-headed Gulls were flying around me and then I stopped to first note both Blue and Great Tits but then a lovely pair of displaying Wrens. As the Wrens departed they took with them the previously concealed Blackbird.
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| Blue Tit Parus caeruleus |
Checking the old, ruined tree I was surprised to find nobody at home. Were the Barn Owls off feeding, now about ten thirty and on the cloudy side but quite calm, or had they moved on to pastures new?
On the main water away to my left a number of Coots and mallard along with both Gadwall and Pintails. Beyond the water a trio of Magpie and more Wood Pigeons. In addition to the Black-headed there was also a small number of Herring Gulls. More Great Tits and Chaffinches as I carried on for a few more metres to take a closer look at the second lagoon where I dully found a large resting flock of Wigeon along with a few Shoveler. At the edge of the water a half-dozen Jackdaw were bust bathing and drinking. making my way back to the car a second viewing of the Wrens along with a pair of Robins. In the trees behind the car park many more Blue Tits and a party of eight Greenfinches. In the end a most enjoyable double visit which produced a total of 29 species in about 70 minutes viewing.
Birds seen:
Canada Goose, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Common Scoter, Cormorant, Coot, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, Chaffinch, Greenfinch
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