9th May - Titchfield Haven, Hampshire

I haven't been for sometime and there were times when maybe I should have for the sea watches, but chose to go elsewhere.  This morning the conditions looked good, a misty start and an easterly wind.  So I was up early for once and pulled up at the sea wall just after seven.  There was a report of two Arctic Skuas going into the Solent at Cut bridge just before seven, so I was hopeful.  It didn't take long before a dark phase Arctic Skua was picked up heading east with purpose.  It was a case of watching through the scope as it was too distant for a photo  opportunity.  My first Arctic Skua for some time and nice to see. 

Shortly after a Buzzard was seen coming across sea and accompanied by at least eight Kittiwake, which was a bit bizarre.  The down side to this was in watching the Buzzard two more Arctic Skua were missed.

That was really the end of the sea watch.  Several Swallows came in off the sea and there were Great Crested Grebes on the water while a Grey Seal attracted the attention of a few Black-headed Gulls.  There was a moment of panic for the gulls and terns as a Peregrine came over the sea wall and out across the water.

After nearly two hours I decided to go onto the reserve and in to the Meon Shore Hide.  As is the way at this time of year the scrape was dominated by Black-headed Gulls.  Water levels were still not where you would expect them to be, but almost every available piece of dry land was occupied by Black-headed Gulls.  There were also a few Common Terns and Avocet.  One Avocet was feeding below the hide.

It was a case of feed and rest.

Two Common Sandpiper were picked up at the back of the scrape, but as I watched the Avocet they appeared on the island in front of the hide.

Another first for the year they fed around the small island showing really well.

Always checking the sky above.

No doubt th efirst of many for this little wader.

A Reed Warbler was singing in the reeds on the right hand side of the hide.  I haven't had much luck with Reed Warblers so far this year, they seem to hide from me, staying low in the reeds.  This one was showing a little better and I was able to at least get a view of the eye and head.

I had to go out to the car to sort the parking out, as I came back this Fox, a vixen as you can see the teats, stood on the path in front of me.

She turned away from me and walked along the path, eventually stopping and looking back at me.  I found out later that there were cubs, probably under the hide or the boardwalk.  Something to look out for in the future.

Back in the hide, Common Terns were moving from the islands out to the sea and back, passing the hide.

The Reed Warbler was still singing in the reeds, but now it was showing a lot better, singing from a position where the reeds were not in the way.

Classic Reed Warbler images.

THere were several Avocet around the scope and this meant that there were a few quarrels breaking out.  This would involve fights on the water and sometimes this would extend to battles in the air.

One or two Common Terns were carrying fish, bringing them in to try and impress a possible mate.

Two terns calling and displaying above the scrape.

An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was hanging around the scrape and every so often would fly around to get the attention of the gulls and avocet.  They would chase it off but it would return, and from almost nowhere it dropped onto one of the islands and took what is probably one of the first Black-headed Gull chicks to hatch.  The carnage has begun.

The Avocet looking on as the gull is chased away.

I decided to walk up to the Spurgin Hide in the hope of catching up with the Hobby that have been on show.  At Darter's Dip there was an Emperor Dragonfly and a couple of Hairy Hawker.  Smaller but easier to photograph were the Damselflies that settled on the leaves.

A Large Red Damselfly.

And a Common Blue Damselfly.

A white butterfly with a very fluttery flight caught my attention and when it settled on a reed stem I could see the patterned underwing of a female Orange Tip.

It was the usual bleak outlook from the Spurgin Hide, a lone Gadwall bleating away as if it has lost something and a family group of Mute Swans with five cygnets.

A Jay flew across the reeds which was unusual, they are more likely seen in the autumn when they are caching acorns.

While a Reed Bunting sang from the reeds.

A Buzzard and an immature Marsh Harrier tangled around the bushes, the Marsh Harrier heading away while the Buzzard circled back and behind the hide.

Then one of the male Marsh Harriers drifted past the hide, the light wasn't good but it came quite close to the hide which helped.

Marsh Harrier activity is quiet right now as there are two possible nests and female brooding.  That leaves just the males to find food for their mates.  Things will potentially increase once any young hatch and need to be fed.

An immature Marsh Harrier flew to the scrapes causing some panic and flushing a flock of Balck-tailed Godwits that were hiding on the north scrape.

Black-headed Gulls were fly catching over the reeds and I had a very brief glimpse of a Hobby, but that was it.  I thought that with the gulls catching insects the Hobby would appear, but it wasn't to be.

Through out my time the drake Gadwall swam up and down calling, why wasn't clear, at one point it flew off but came back and still continued to call.

The reserve had a feel of summer about it, but then last year the "Hudwit" turned up on the 16th May so you never know.

8th May - Hawk Conservancy Trust, Andover, Hampshire

For those that know me well, they will know that I do not photograph captive animals, today was going to be a kind of exception.  Back at Christmas 2024 I received a voucher for the all day experience at the Hawk Conservancy.  My booking last year was cancelled due to weather and today was the earliest I could get.  But the good new was that the weather was behaving, although a little cool first thing the sun was forecast to come out late morning and warm up.

I arrived just before 9:30and met with the team for the day and four other visitors.  We made our way to the Woodland area, the scene of an owl flying display in the afternoon.  We were told we would be flying birds today, but I don't think I realised how involved we would get and what birds we would fly.

First out was a Tawny Owl, called Troy, a male and a very bright little bird, that was very light when it landed on my glove.

There was a distraction a rat was running around the benches and the owl was clearly watching it.

I had seen the Tawny Owl at Fishlake earlier in the week, but this was a special encounter.

Next out was Galaxy the Spectacled Owl.  Coming from central America, I have seen one on my first visit to Costa Rica.  Galaxy was even more distracted by the rat and I only managed one flight.

There is one owl that I was lucky to see in the Grand Tetons in 2015, the Great Grey Owl, but here I was flying one, incredible, this one was called Walter and he looks huge but in fact was only 750 grams.

Here I am with Walter on my arm.

A chance to get in close with this incredible bird.

A huge facial disc that helps focus the sound when hunting in the snow.

When Helen found the Great Grey in the Grand Tetons it was sitting in an Aspen tree.  The equivalent to the Aspen here in the UK is the Silver birch and you can see how the plumage just melts into the brak of the birch.

Next was a Siberian Eagle Owl, a stunning looking owl with some beautiful plumage, the owl named Cinnamon it did fly to me and I was able to look closely at those orange eyes.

The final owl encounter was with Coral, the Burrowing Owl.  A little smaller than a Little Owl, but with long legs, she was a delight to handle and watch scurrying around.

We had some time to watch the African Savannah display and then it was lunch.  After lunch we went to the Savannah set and were introduced to our next bird.  Here I am being introduced to Orion.

What a bird, Orion the Bald Eagle.  He seemed comfortable sitting on my hand and I am sure the fish helped.  However you can't help focusing on the huge bill and looking into the eyes and wondering what the bird was thinking.

After Orion, the Bald Eagle, we were introduced to a Hooded Vulture called Sundance Kid.  Some video of him flying to me.

And a photo of Sundance.  Hooded Vultures are one of the smallest vultures and like all vultures are threatened today.

It was then time to watch the "Masters of the Skies" display which does what it says on the tin.  There were Lappet-faced, White-backed and Hooded Vultures, Black Kites and two "wild" Red Kites, a Steppe Eagle and for me the star of the show, Stellar's Sea Eagle.

As always a wonderful show with the added bonus of the Red Kites interacting with the Black Kites.

We were not allowed to fly any birds while the public displays took place so we spent the time during the Woodland display seeing the areas the public can not go to.  An interaction with a White-backed Vulture called Simba was special.

Our final bird to fly was the Harris' Hawk.  These birds are one of the most popular falconry birds and there are many in the country.  A true predator, in the wild these birds hunt in packs.  It is not a true hawk and is based in its own family, they are found in arid areas, notably Arizona, Texas and New Mexico.

This is Josie and she knew what to do flying back and forth several times.

And so an incredible experience came to an end.  When I arrived I had no idea what to expect, but I can honestly say this was a wonderful day.  Both of our guides, Hugo and Gwen were amazing and the birds were as always here in immaculate condition.  If you get the chance to just go, do so, it is a good day out.  Even better though is this experience.