Titchfield Haven and Workman's Lane, Warsash

Female Goosander Mergus merganser

Tuesday 30 January

Dry, cold, cloudy  and little wind as I arrived at the Meon shore adjacent to Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve at 9am in search of that illusive 100th bird of the month and year.  Driving down Posbrook Lane towards the sea I cam across a very large flock of feeding Rooks and then stopped, thinking must be a trio of Pheasants by the size of the birds, but no, three Buzzards searching for, presumably, worms. Finally as I approached the narrow bridge over the canal, a Jay crossed the road in front of me.  But it was not to be and not a Pheasant to be found even though I seemed to have searched every field between Hill Head and back home in Warsash.  On the other hand, I did have an excellent close vie of a female Goosander in the harbour and also recorded distant eiders out on the Solent and three Spoonbills resting just inside the reserve and viewed from the public viewpoint neat the bridge.

No sooner had I parked the car against the sea wall than I stepped out and found a score of Sanderling along with a couple of Herring Gulls on the beach immediately below me. Using the scope to follow both the beach to the south and the few spits out into the Solent and I soon added Oystercatcher, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Brent Goose, Oystercatcher and Great Black-backed Gull. A little further away at least three score of feeding Brent Geese on or near the water's edge.

Sanderling Calidris alba

Moving towards the centre I entered the public viewing area overlooking the large pool at the bottom of the river to find that, once again, we had an island on which rested a number of Lapwing.  Lots of Gadwall and a number of Shoveler on the water plus a pair of Tufted Duck.  A couple of Cormorant were resting and drying their wings and a pair of Coot exposed themselves whilst, on the far bank, a lone Heron was searching for its breakfast.

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus with Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus and Gadwall Anas strepera

From the bridge I had a better view of the water the other side on the far fence in the nature reserve itself and confirmed the three sleeping Spoonbill.  On a tree behind then a pair of resting Magpie.  On the water and neighbouring banks no shortage of either Teal or Wigeon plus, in addition, a dozen Shelduck, more Gadwall and Lapwing, a lone Moorhen and a couple of Canada Geese.

Distant Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia with Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

Time to move on round to the harbour itself with its resident population of Mallards and Turnstones and, on this occasion, a pair of Mute Swans and a female Goosander fishing in the harbour and, possibly/presumably finding food on the outgoing current.

Female Goosander Mergus merganser

Taking the car I rove up to the top of the cliff for a better view of any distant sea ducks and was rewarded with a distant quintet of Eiders but, on this occasion, neither a tern nor a scoter. The last birds noted were a Blackbird atop a yacht's mast and a female House Sparrow on the Visitors Centre feeder.

Taking the longer way home vis the small village of Hook I can across a huge flock of Jackdaw and a couple of Chaffinches before deciding to take the uneven track back to the top of Workman's Lane on the edge of Warsash.  Having got this far, I parked the car and walked down the lane to the end before continuing on down the tarmac path towards Chilling Head and back.  No sooner started than I was recording Robins and the occasional Carrion Crow,  The large field to my left with the winter "pond" held a dozen Oystercatchers and 29 Resting/feeding Curlew along with a trio of Magpies.  The sudden noise made me look up as hundreds of Brent Geese flew over me.  However, they settle in the horse field on my left and I was able to make a count of 400 but, no sooner walking, on, than every now and again another score would fly in to join the party.

Magpies Pica pica

Moving down the lane I added both Great and Blue Tit along with a female Blackbird. A Collared Dove was resting on the roof of the cottage at the bottom and a Black-headed Gull flew over. Making my way back, a few Woodpigeons were seen and once back at the "pond field" (now on my left), at least a score of Pied Wagtails had arrived to forage an, at the same time, a small flock of Starlings flew in. There was a stag Roe Deer in the last field as I approached the car to make a second for the morning having photographed the first as I left Titchfield Haven.

Distant Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus taken from the car

Birds seen:

Brent Goose, Canada Goose, Mute swan, Shelduck, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Tufted Duck, Eider Duck, Goosander, Cormorant, Heron, Spoonbill, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Sanderling, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch.

Female Goosander Mergus merganser

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus

Heron Ardea cinerea

Redshank Tringa totanus

Sanderling Calidris alba

Turnstones Arenaria interpres at the water's edge

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