Titchfield Canal

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

Tuesday 23 January

A damp, wet start with light rain but no wind as I set out for a morning visit to Titchfeld canal.  Well wrapped up against the damp with both layers and extra waterproofs and "wellies," I was soon off down the canal path towards the avenue where, all being well, the recent Ferruginous Duck might still be resent on Posbrook floods.  It was not!  However, as I started off no shortage of both Blackbird and Robin and stopping to check out Bridge Street floods I soon recorded Mute Swan, Mallard, Pintail, Coot and Cormorant.  A lone Magpie was foraging along the edge of the water.  Looking behind me over the field no sign of the Barn Owl but a few Woodpigeons resting in the nearby trees and a number of wandering Jackdaw.

Moving on down the path and into the avenue I stopped a few times to check the water at Posbrook floods for the Ferruginous Duck with out success, as did a half-dozen other birders who had braved the light rain before the promised oncoming storm, but did manage to find more Mute Swans and Coot along with a quartet of Canada Geese and Mallard, Gadwall, Teal, Pintail and Tufted Duck.  A resting mixed flock of Herring and Black-headed Gulls plus a single Shelduck were recorded on the open water.  A Heron flew off down stream from the back of the water and in the nearby trees more Jackdaw and the occasional Carrion Crow.

Making my way back to the car park a Song Thrush crossed the path in front of me and came to rest in a nearby small tree and more Great and Blue Tits were noted.  Meanwhile, at the Bridge Street floods a large flock of approximately forty Lapwing took to the skies and headed south.  Once the scope had been returned to the car's boot a walk round the back of the water works building produced both tits and a small flock of Starling.

Teal Anas crecca

With the rain almost stopped I crossed the road and walked north up the now flooded canal footpath noting more Mallards and Teal along with many Moorhen.  The three Glossy Ibis were still on the same horse field and in the flooded field beyond a few Teal, more Moorhens and a lone Black-tailed Godwit.  Returning to the car park a Green Woodpecker flew across the paddock to a nearby old, bare tree and, a slight diversion along the road to look at the "rubbish" field next to the river produced another pair of Magpie and a foraging Mistle Thrush on the wet ground.

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

Upon leaving the car park I drove along the road to Titchfield Haven and the large field on the left backing on to the canal held a large flock of Rooks plus a few Carrion Crows.  With the tide full in and the wind now picking up with the sea spray crashing over the seawall and across the road there was little bird life to be seen apart from a few gulls over the water.  However, a couple of Mallards and a single Turnstone were noted on the harbour wall.

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Cormorant, Glossy Ibis, Heron, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Green Woodpecker, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling.

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.