Titchfield Shore and Hayling Island

 Wednesday 7 January

The last morning with Derek and Barbara so an early morning visit to the Meon shore at Titchfield Haven and then on to Hayling Island.  Arriving at the Meon shore having noted the Moorhen as we crossed the canal and the Pied Wagtail walking along the road at the car park, we spent 50 minutes checking both the shore and lagoon from the observation area and corner bridge.

Teal Anas crecca

On the lagoon in low, bright sunlight a number of Lapwing and plus mainly Shoveler along with Teal, Mallard and Gadwall.  A couple of Little Grebe and a handful of Coot were also present .  A Heron was basking next to the reeds on the far side and over the fence into the reserve proper very many resting Teal and Wigeon.  Further away watched the departing quartet of Canada Geese and then a couple of Marsh Harriers over the trees at the back accompanied by Carrion Crows and a Magpie whilst a Kestrel rested atop the distant hide.

Heron Ardea cinerea

Walking past the harbour we noted the pair of Mute Swans along with both Coot and Mallard in the water and a Little Grebe near the road bridge gates. A Kingfisher was resting on one of the moored boats.  But just the one Redshank on show. On to the path ion front of the yacht club so we could check the beach itself where we found very many gulls, mainly Black-headed but also a few Herring, Common and a single Great Black-backed Gull.

Very many Oystercatchers and Dunlin plus a single Ringed Plover amongst the score of Sanderling.  The Brent Geese were fewer in number and more away to the south.  Just the one Little Egret as we made our departure to Hayling Island having already recoded 32 species.

An initial stop was made at the Ship Inn car park before crossing the bridge onto Hayling Island and amazed to find so many birds in front to us.  very main gulls, mainly Black-headed but also Herring and a couple of Common Gulls.  A large flock of Black-tailed plus a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits then came the scores of Dunlin and many Brent Geese.

2 Brent Geese Branta bernicla with Dunlin Calidris alpina

Moving on to the island's northern car park we found Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwits in the bay along with a couple of Little Stint and a Knot.  Shelduck, Grey Plover and Redshanks were also present.

Distant shot of Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola

Moving on to the Billy Line we walked out to the former bridge to check the main harbour and found a quartet of Great Crested Grebes along with both a Goldeneye and a single Slavonian Grebe. From here it was back to the main path with Teal and Shoveler on the pool to our left and then the path past the former oyster beds noting the air of Magpie ahead of us.  Out on the main water a single Red-breasted Merganser and more Redshanks and Curlew but once at the main pool with its thin rocky island a further two Red-breasted Mergansers along with half-dozen Tufted Duck.

Record shot of distant Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator

Making our way back to the car park we recorded both Blue and Great Tits along with Blackbirds, Robins and Starlings.  And as we passed the pond on our right we noted the arrival of both Mallards and a Herring Gull.  Just round the corner we added a Dunnock, our last bird of the morning giving a final total of 52 species.

Woodpigeon Columba palumbus

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, red-breasted Merganser, Little Grebe, Little grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Marsh harrier, Kestrel. Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Knot, Sanderling, Little Stint, Dunlin, Bar-tiled Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Kingfisher, Pied Wagtail, Dunlin, Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow.

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