Titchfield Haven and Titchfield Canal

Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba

Thursday 9 January

Thursday morning and friend Richard Osman turned p to collect me and the scopes so that we could send the morning birding in nearby Titchfield.  Arriving just after 9 on the Meon shore we took advantage of the free parking as near to the watch point as possible.  We had started out in below freezing weather but calm and a cloudless blue sky with a bright, albeit low initially, you soon started to melt the light frost on the paths and roads.  Indeed, unless in the shade, the temperature rapidly rose during the morning to reach a dizzy 4C although giving the impression of almost double figures.  Step into the shade and you soon discovered the reality! 

No sooner arrived and we checked the far shine beach below us near on the sea side of the harbour approach where we found over thirty resting Ringed Plover and a almost a score of Turnstone awaiting the outgoing tide to reveal fresh feeding areas.  The occasional Black-headed Gull on the open water and reaching the harbour quickly made contact with the many Mallard and more Turnstones.  A couple of Woodpigeon flew over and on the opposite side of the harbour a quintet of Redshank were working the edges.  Viewing the opposite end of the harbour from a different perspective we soon discovered not just more Turnstone but also a few Sanderling.

Sanderling Calidris alba

Walking on round to the yacht club mariner and the far side of the beach below Hill Head we found over forty, plus yet more Turnstones and few Redshank, foraging the shingle at the water's edge.  A Pied Wagtail appeared within yards of us as it walked the path and then, making our way back towards the road through the car par, first a couple of Woodpigeon the a pair of House Sparrows atop a tall metal pole with access to a breeding site at the top followed by a resting male Reed Bunting at the top a large, bare tree.

Male Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus

Back to the harbour via the back entrance to Titchfield Haven Visitors Centre where we recorded both Blue Tit and Robin along with more House Sparrows. In the harbour, very many Black-headed Gulls and Mallards on the water along with a Coot whilst the resident Turnstones were now on the beach.  Moving across the road to the bridge overlooking the reserve a Little Grebe was on the river and, apart from the overflying quintet of Canada Geese, the main lake contained many resting Shoveler plus a few Gadwall and Teal along with a handful of Coot.  Also present among the few Black-headed an immature Herring Gull.

Moving back along the shore car park to check the upper Solent, which produced nothing, we checked the distant pool on the reserve in time to see the mass appearance of around 50 Lapwing whilst on the water a Mute Swan, Shelduck and Heron.  Deciding, as it was now just after 10, to move on we stopped at the toilet and upon returning to the road Richard found the perched Kingfisher in a small tree on the opposite of the road.  Once back at the car, a last check of the now well-exposed beach produced more Redshank and a quintet of Oystercatchers as a group of three Brent Geese made their way north.  Our final bird at this site was a male Blackbird that crossed the road in front of us as we turned away from the shore road.

Redshank Tringa totanus

Arriving at Titchfield Canal car park at 10.45we then enjoyed over two and half hours walking down to the seat at the end of the avenue before returning to check the canal path upstream from the car park and the view from the road bridge. Almost immediately a Kestrel flying over and the first of very many Long-tailed Tits that were to be seen on this walk.  No shortage either of both Woodpigeons and Magpies from the start.

Blue Tit Parus caeruleus

Checking Bridge Street Floods we noted the mangy Black-headed and a handful of Herring Gulls. Most birds on the bank including Wigeon, Teal, Pintail and Coot.  A couple of Cormorant and a lone Lapwing made up the numbers.  Both Carrion Crow and Jackdaw flew over as we made our way downstream towards the avenue. Once in the avenue we quickly added both Blue and Great as well as many more Long-tailed Tits.  On the Posbrook Floods more Wigeon and Teal plus a few Shoveler.

Great Tit Parus major

Stopping at the end of the avenue to enjoy our picnic lunch, we found a single Chiffchaff at the end of the track down to the back of the floods and a couple of Jackdaw plus a number of the above tits came to enjoy their lunch at the same time.  Both Blackbird and Robin were also noted here whereas in the distant trees beyond the river a trio of soaring and circling Buzzards were seen.  The, as a special bonus, a male Kestrel came to perch close by giving excellent views.

Male Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

Making our way back to the car park another check of Posbrook Floods produced a couple of Tufted Duck and reaching Bridge Street Floods we first noted the Stonechat posed atop a tall reed clump and the the mass take off and landing, concealed below the bank, of about forty Black-tailed Godwits. By now most of the ducks and gulls were out on the water and on a fence post bordering the water we had already identified a Common Gull.  Nearby more Robins and Long-tailed Tits and even a pair of Goldfinch put in  very brief appearance.  Off to the other side of the path, not so far away from the Barn Owl nest, we finally found the calling Jay.  Time to pay a visit to the rear of the pumping station next to the car park where, as in addition to the tits, we found our first Firecrest of the year.

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus

With the scope back in the car we walked up the canal path on the other side of the road as far as the churchyard.  Not just a handful of Moorhen but an Egyptian Goose wandering along on the far side of the horse paddock.  Near the end of the path a resting Carrion Crow, many Woodpigeon and alone Pied Wagtail alongside the large pool on the top meadow. Working our way back to the road we stopped to check the far ditch where we found another Moorhen plus a handful of Mallard.  Finally, walking along the road the the river bridge we checked the horse paddock on our right and found a pair of Egyptian Geese.

Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Heron, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Sanderling, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Kingfisher, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Firecrest, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting.

Sanderling Calidris alba

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.