Titchfield Haven's Meon Shore

Sunday 26 July 

A breeze picking up and much cloud  I made a short early morning visit to the mouth of the River Meon at Titchfield Haven arriving at 6.15.  The high almost in but a few Black-headed and a single Common Gull resting on the sea wall as I parked my car near the harbour.  A short walk to the viewing point overlooking the pool at the southern end of Titchfield Haven where I found many Black-headed Gulls and Coots.

Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus and Coots Fulica atra on the island

Also present a handful of Cormorant and a dozen or more Mallard.  At the far, southern corner a single Little Egret and a lone Redshank working the edges beyond the island.  As well as the Black-headed Gulls and mature youngsters on the breeding rafts, a lone Common Tern atop a post in the water.  Resting in the trees on the far side the first of three Woodpigeons to be seen along with the Magpie and Blackbird seen as I approached the canal at the edge of the reserve.

Distant Common Tern Sterna hirundo

Moving round to the harbour I found a score of resting Mallards along with 17 Turnstone and a couple of Rock Doves (Feral Pigeons) still in summer plumage, foraging on what was left of the beach before the approaching high tide.  Two Cormorants fishing in the harbour were enjoying their breakfasts of good-sized fish as they struggle to swallow their prey.  The only other bird present was a lone Redshank on the near shore.

Turnstone Arenaria interpres

Making my way back home, as I passed through upper Titchfield Collared Dove, Jackdaw and Carrion Crow also noted, and then back home and in the shower well before 7.30am.

Birds seen:

Mallard, Cormorant, Little Egret, Coot, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow.

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