Titchwell Haven

Wednesday 19 August

The drought finally ended with light rain starting before 6am and continuing till around 11.45.  Lovely sunshine but then a heavy, half-hour downpour around 12.45.  However, all cleared up and able to visit the members only opening of Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve from 6 till 8pm.  Glorious sunshine but a very strong on-shore breeze.  And that's where the good news ended as, unbeknown to me at the time, I had left my rucksack by the front door so no camera, bins or even a notebook.  Good job the scope was already in the car's boot!

Sheltered from the wind once inside the Meon Hide and already scores of Canada Geese had arrived to join those already present.  Similarly, scores of Common Terns including many youngsters still being fed by parents.  Black-headed Gulls by the dozen with similar number of Mallards.  No Herring Gulls present but these, along with a pair of Mute Swans and their two well-grown cygnets, were seen on the open sea with the Solent having reached hight tide.

Common Terns Sterna hirundo

Checking the water in front of the hide a good number of Teal, mainly at the back, along with a small number of Gadwall and five Shelduck.  A lone Egyptian Goose was resting on the furthest island.  Also present a dozen Black-tailed Godwits and a quartet of Oystercatchers but just the lonely two Lapwing. Beyond the water in the now dry pool a lone Heron.

Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca

Continuing to scan the water with the scope I also found  a handful of Moorhen and on the small gravel island immediately in front of the hide, a Common Sandpiper with a second resting on the adjacent wooden perching rail. A Woodpigeon flew over and at the very far back above the trees a quartering Marsh Harrier.

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

An early departure enable me to reach home in time to watch the three Welsh Male Voice Choirs competing at the national Eisteddfod.  Not a bad way to the end the day.

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, Gadwall, Mallard, Teal, Heron, Marsh Harrier, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Lapwing. Black-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Jackdaw, Starling.

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