 |
| Male Goosander Mergus merganser |
Saturday 1 August
Another bright and clear start to the day with the temperature already up to 24C when I collected friend Richard Osman at 8.30 to drive over to Hill Head and visit the shore, harbour and lake within Titchfield Haven reserve. Rock Dove, House Sparrow and Black-headed Gulls as we approached our chosen car park and visiting the viewing area over the lake soon added Cormorant, Heron, many Coot and Mallards along with Little Egret, Heron, Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank and Lapwings.
 |
| Grey Heron Ardea cinerea |
Moving along the road to the bridge over the Meon's outflow a few more Mallards along with a resting male Goosander and a Great Crested Grebe.
 |
| Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus |
Crossing the road back to the harbour its many more mallards along with 43 Turnstone and the breeding Mute Swans along with their two well-grown cygnets.
 |
| Mute Swan Cygnus olor with Turnstones Arenaria interpres in background |
Our final stop was a little further along the sidewalk o the sailing club where checking the estuary not only many Black-headed but also a few Herring Gulls. However, immediately below as a Common Gull and way out at the Solent shore itself, three Knot still showing much of their summer plumage.
 |
| Knot Caladris canutus |
Time to move on and make our way back to Warsash to visit Workmans Lane and as we turned inland from the Solent shore three Barn Swallows on the wires and more feeding over the recently cropped field. Passing through the top end of Titchfield both Jackdaw and Collared Dove and a quick diversion down Brownwich Lane also produced Blackbird and Goldfinch.
Approaching Hook we passed a Moorhen walking at the side of the road and then, taking the gravelled track, we were at the top of Workmans Lane by 10.35 and ready for out next walk. Both Dunnock and Robin as we arrived, but then on the wires as we walked down the lane a half-dozen Barn Swallows on the wires.
Walking along the southern end of the horse field at least a score of Rooks plus four Carrion Crows and a single Magpie. A Stonechat put in a very brief appearance in the donkey paddock and at east four Woodpigeons were noted. Across the back of the field the far end a flock of about forty Starlings were seen.
 |
| Rook Corvus frugilegus |
Moving on down the lane to reach the shore the tide was now almost in with only a very limited area of exposed beach upon which we found a dozen Black-headed and a single Common Gull along with nine Oystercatchers.
 |
| Common Gull Larus canus |
But in front of us on the projecting concrete breakwater a collection of resting Black-headed Gulls. But closer inspection discovered a single adult Sandwich Tern at the back and a juvenile at the front. It was only when concentrating on the juvenile that I realised there was also another Common Gull resting at the back.
 |
Juvenile Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis with Common Gull behind
|
 |
Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus with Sandwich Terns Sterna sandvicensis
(back left and right front) along with Common Gull Larus canus (back right) |
Birds seen:
Mute Swan, Mallard, Goosander, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, sMoorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Knot, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Goldfinch.
 |
Male Goosander Mergus merganser
|
 |
| Common Gull Larus canus |
 |
| Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo |
 |
| Grey Heron Ardea cinerea |
 |
| Knot Calidris canutus |
 |
| Redshank Tringa totanus |
 |
| Black-headed Gulls with Sandwich Terns and Common Gull |
 |
| Turnstones Arenaria interpres |
 |
| Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus sheltering in the shade |
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.
