Titchfield Shore and Canal Path

Sunday 17 November

A few of the 220 Brent Geese Branta bernicla facing the incoming tide

With the long period of dry weather about to end and high tide due by mid-morning, time t make an early morning visit to the Meon shore at Titchfield Haven ion the hope that there might still be some activity on the beach. Driving along Meon Road from Posbrook I can across a flock of over thirty feeding Rooks on the field to my left and quickly followed by a couple of Magpies and the occasional Blackbird.  Arriving  at 8.45 I was greeted by the last "island" of shingle before the whole area was underwater to discover over two hundred resting Brent Geese and, on closer inspection, a few Ringed Plover and a small flock of Sanderling. The scope eventually also picked out a a small number of Turnstone and a couple of Oystercatchers.

Turnstone Arenaria interpress

Moving on to the end of the promenade car park adjacent to the sailing club compound at the side of the harbour, a small number of Black-headed Gulls and many Mallards along with a trio of Mute Swans, couple of Coot and many more Turnstones were on show.  From the bridge I could see a Heron and a large flock of Lapwing inside the nature reserve itself.

Gadwall Anas strepera

Checking the beach before it entered the harbour I found the roosting flock of 29 Ringed Plovers and 31 Sanderling.  Further away across the harbour entrance on the far beach a flock of 25 roosting Oystercatchers.

Roosting Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula and Sanderling Calidris alba

Finally, onto the viewing area where a small number of Shoveler, Gadwall and Mallard were on the water with a couple of Lapwing and handful of Black-headed Gulls on the small island.  More Black-headed Gulls and Coots were also on the water along with a couple of resting Cormorant.  Finally, a short drive up to the top of hill and look over the sea from from the cliff top revealed a solitary Great crested Grebe on the open Solent and behind me a quartet of Rock Doves atop one of the houses. 

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus (bottom centre) with gulls and ducks

Given it was not yet 10 o'clock I decided to call in at Titchfield Canal on the way back to see if the Glossy Ibis were still about as seen in the past few days.  Walking the canal path east of Bridge Road no sign of the birds but I did record a Buzzard moving towards me and into the trees on my right along with a Magpie further back.  Collecting the small scope from the car I then walked along the canal path from the car park and paused as a female Kestrel passed me and came to rest on the wires.  At the same time a Green Woodpecker was "yaffling" from the trees behind the raptor.

Female Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

The Barn Owl nest hole is gradually coming into view now that the leaves area falling but no sign of the bird.  Meanwhile, on the opposite of the path, Bridge Street Floods held scores of resting Black-headed Gulls and using bins and scope was able to pick out resting Pintails along with many Teal, a few Coot, Mallard and Black-tailed Godwits plus a couple of Moorhen.

Roosting Teal Anas crecca and Pintails Anas acuta

Moving on down the path towards the bridge I also added Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Magpie and a Goldfinch.  Naturally, there were regular sightings of Woodpigeon and even a few Jackdaw in the field to the right.  It was also from this field that the continually calling Pheasant was heard.

Once at Posbrook Floods I discovered very little bird life other than a Heron at the eastern end.  However, scoping the far bank of the exposed water produced a handful of Shoveler and another couple of Coot.  The to the amazement of both myself and a fellow birder, who had seen the Ibises near the horses around nine o'clock where they were chased off by a loose dog, the three Glossy Ibis flew low over the reads from the east and dropped into the deep reeds beyond the water immediately in front of us.  Not only  sighting as the trio circled before descending but, having watched their landing, I was able to pick up the three birds taking cover in the deep reeds. A great end to the morning's biding and as I made my way back to the car a Cormorant few across Bridge Street Floods and a lone Starling was seen on the chimney of a neighbouring house.

The 3 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus coming in to land

Just able to pick out the resting Glossy Ibis left of centre in the reeds

Birds seen:

Brent Goose, Mute Swan, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Great Crested Grebe, Glossy Ibis, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Sanderling, Black-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Dunnock, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, Goldfinch.

Teal Anas crecca with a couple of Gadwall Anas strepera

Roosting Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula to the left and Sanderling Calidris alba to the right

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.