Meon Shore, Titchfield

Wednesday 6 September 

An early morning start saw me at the Meon Shore, Hill Head just before 8 at an almost low tide on a still and very warm, cloudless, sunny day.  Starting at the harbour I could but not see the numerous local Mallards along with a family of Mute Swans and a couple of Coot.  Walking to the far side also produced a number of Turnstones at the river mouth a resting Cormorant.  Naturally, there were many Black-headed and a few Herring Gulls.

Mute Swans Cygnus olor with two cygnets and Mallards Anas platyrhynchos

Looking along the Solent shore to the west very many more gulls along with a few Oystercatchers and a larger number of foraging Redshank and a Dunlin.  In addition to more Mallards out on the open water at least a quartet of Gadwall.

Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo watching a Redshank Tringa totanus

Back to the viewing point overlooking the adjacent pool and neighbouring reserve, a slight diversion into the cafe area produced a Blue Tit, then many more Coots and Mallard plus, on the island, a mixture of Mallard, Moorhen and the missing Mute Swan cygnet. On the far side an adult and two juvenile Great Crested Grebes whilst at the southern end a single Shoveler and a halfdozen Gadwall.  In the reserve itself on the just visible pool a number of Lapwing.  As I was about to depart a Kingfisher flashed away upriver and a Magpie flew across the water.

Lagoon island with the missing Mute Swan cygnet and others

Once back on the shore a walk northwards along the front produced Woodpigeons in the reserve whilst a lone Common Tern flew northwards up the Solent.  On the beach many more Black-headed and Herring Gulls along with Carrion Crows, Turnstones and Oystercatchers.  Even a single Starling was seeking out a meal.  Finally, at the far end of the road,  a score of Starlings and starting out on the return journey home a quartet of Barn Swallows on the wires.

A few of the Starling Sturnus vulgaris flock

Birds seen:

Mute Swan, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Kingfisher, Barn Swallow, Blue Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling.

Mute Swan Cygnus olor and Mallards

Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus

Juvenile Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

Shoveler Anas clypeata

Redshanks Tringa totanus

For the latest news follow the Axarquia Birds and Wildlife Facebook page for more photos and comments and the opportunity to share with the wider birding world.