Titchfield Haven

Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Thursday 12 November

An accurate forecast with clear blue skies and bright sunshine, but a definite drop in the temperature to prepare us for the big frost this evening!  Arriving at Titchfield Haven by 8.40 The sun very much against me as I tried to scope the shore and Solent.  Just a four Brent Geese noted and then to the roadside viewing pint to check the lagoon and its favoured island.  Lots of Gadwall and Shoveler plus a few Mallard and Teal and on the island itself, dozens of resting Lapwing. A few Black-tailed Godwits and a Redshank working the far edges before the arrival of a Little Egret.  No Moorhens but at least a dozen Coot on the water.

Teal Ana crecca (male above, female below)

The harbour held mainly Mallards and Black-headed Gulls plus a pair of fishing Little Grebe.  The Mute Swan family duly departed for the nearby lagoon on the Meon.  Up river beyond the first bend a resting Grey Heron and a Magpie flew past. Moving beyond the harbour and just past the sailing club to get the sun behind me, a single Pied Wagtail before I found the feeding flock of Sanderling and Turnstones plus a single Curlew and a handful of Oystercatchers.  Well out on the open water a lone male Eider Duck.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Making my way back to the reserve's booking cabin I watched most of the Sanderlings also move towards the harbour and, at last, in the open sunshine. Opposite the small cabin another Grey Heron on the river.

Sanderling Calidris alba

Time to enter the reserve and opposite the entrance on a pebbled spit the main Brent Geese flock totalling well over 250, many of which were just off the shore on the water itself.

Once in the Meon Hide I noted that the scrape was mainly full of resting Teal along with scores of Lapwing.  Immediately in front of me on the island to the left a quartet of resting Snipe with the larger island behind holding most of the resting Oystercatchers.

Snipe Gallinago gallinago

The larger islands towards the back held more Teal and Lapwings plus a few Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks.  I even, eventually, found a Moorhen on the island.  Just the two Canada Geese present at the very back along with both a Shelduck and resting Grey Heron.  On the bank beyond the far scrape a quintet of resting Woodpigeons.  Lots of excitement when I found a lone bird foraging in the tall grass behind the resting Teal but it turned out to be "just" a Starling.

Mainly Teal Anas crecca but with a few Redshank Tringa totanus and Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

 

Leaving the reserve and back at the car parked opposite, I checked the Brent Geese flock and amongst those resting on the stoney spit the missing Ringed Plovers, so making a final tally of 34 species.

Brent Geese Branta bernicla with resting Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula

Birds seen:

Brent Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Eider, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Sanderling, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Pied Wagtail, Stonechat, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow.

Redshank Tringa totanus with resting Teal Anas crecca

Sanderling Calidris alba

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Starling Sturnus vulgaris

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