Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve

Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Thursday 24 September

Time for an hour at Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve on my way home from Gosport and certainly no shortage of visitors in the Meon Hide overlooking the south scrape. Sores of Canada Geese, Teal and Black-headed Gulls then chance to identify the other 25 species recorded during the visit.

Right in front of the hide seven feeding Snipe and a couple of Redshank along the first of many Black-tailed Godwits that seemed to occupy the whole scrape.  carefully checking the very many gulls I eventually found a handful of Herring Gulls and then it was the turn of all the "black birds" with, maybe, thirty plus Carrion Crows and, probably, just as many Jackdaws occupying both the islands and banks.   In amongst them all, but mainly in the trees at the back, the Starling flock.

Jackdaws Corvus monedula with Black-headed Gulls and Spoonbill (at back)

Taking a closer look at the larger islands I was able to locate a number of "hidden" Oystercatchers plus a few Little Egrets but, on Island "D", a pair of resting Spoonbill.  Out on the water between the many Teal at least a quintet of Moorhen and ,eventually, I managed to find a handful of Mallard.

Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia (Centre back)

Both a Woodpigeon and a single Magpie were seen at the back of the scrapes and a Grey Heron flew away towards the neighbouring lagoon so revealing a second individual resting behind a number of Canada Geese.  It was whilst checking this far group of geese that I also found the lone Barnacle Goose.

Departing Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Returning to the car opposite the entrance gate I was able to take a closer look at the lagoon where not only three Mute Swans but a number of Coot and resting Cormorants.  From the roadside observation area I discovered both a Pied Wagtail and a Cetti's Warbler but just the one Turnstone seen in the harbour with the water at almost high tide.

Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo with Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus

Birds seen:

Barnacle Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Mallard, Teal, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Spoonbill, Moorhen, Coot,  Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Pied Wagtail, Cetti's Warbler, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling.

Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Redshank Tringa totanus

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus

Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa (above) Snipe (below)

Little Egret Egretta garzetta (right of centre) with company

Incoming Mute Swan Cygnus olor

Many of Lapwing Vanellus vanellus flock (on top scrape)

A few of the very many Canada Geese Branta canadensis

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