Southerly winds have brought the regular migrants into the county,last weekend there were good numbers of Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat along the Titchfield Canal Path, so I thought today I would see what was happening at Fishlake Meadows, where a similar canal path becomes the centre of the reserve.
It was a sunny start, but there was rain forecast for the afternoon so it was an early start. From the car park I headed around to the first viewing point. I had expected hirundines over the lake but there wasn't any to be seen. There was though, a Sedge Warbler singing from the bush in front of the viewing area.
The scratchy song contains many different chirps and whistles that vary from individual to individual. They also mimic other bird calls and song.
Of interest the bushes in front of the view point are growing and when in full leaf may well obscure the view across the lake to the dead trees.
A Cetti's Warbler sang from the scrub and was challenged by a showy Wren.
In the small space there was chiffchaff and Blackcap singing as well.
I left the view point and walked back to the canal path and headed onto the reserve. Looking across the reed bed I could hear quite a few more Sedge Warbler and there was a Raven perched on a dead trunk.
I saw two together later on. This one was calling so trying to catch up with it's mate.
Cetti's Warbler were everywhere, their song announcing their presence and sometimes they would hide and sometimes they would show themselves out in the open.
You could pick out a few Sedge Warblers within the reeds and in amongst them was this male Reed Bunting.
It wasn't just the warblers sing, there were also Robins and Dunnocks the latter of whom there appeared to be some sing offs this one using a prominent branch to sing from.
I managed to find this Chiffchaff when I was looking to get a photograph of a Garden Warbler. The warbler was singing a quiet sub song and was being harassed by a male Blackcap. I thought the Chiffchaff was the Garden Warbler unfortunately, but there will be time to get them.
Out in the open, definitely a Chiffchaff.
I walked around to the centre path, along the cross path there were at least six Cetti's Warblers, but they kept out of sight. Just past the gate to the centre path a Reed Warbler was singing, you could just make it out amongst the reeds but not good enough for a photograph.
A little further along the centre path a Whitethroat was singing in a hawthorn bush.
Sedge Warbler and Cetti's Warbler singing kept me company to the screens where of course there was very little. It wasn't until I reached the canal path that I came across something of interest, a Wren singing on the top of a fallen tree. A lovely background helped to frame this little pocket speaker.
Rather than turn right and head back down the canal path, I turned left. A male Blackcap was singing in the bushes.
Then a little further the bird I had hoped to find along this stretch of the canal path sang from the trees above me, a Willow Warbler.
Pink legs and longer primary feathers the physical differences with Chiffchaff, but the song is the easiest way to tell them apart.
Walking back I stopped at the first view point to watch a Sedge Warbler singing in th ereeds, this time there was nothing obscuring it.
Here the reeds behind the Sedge Warbler appear to make it like there is music coming from the bill.
In full song the Sedge Warbler shows of a red gape.
At the next view point a Cetti's Warbler was in the tree anlong side the deck.
Time is beginning to run out to photograph Chiffchaff, a combination of the emerging leaves and the fact they have been with us all year so far. This one though showed beautifully with a lovely green background.
If they are the last Chiffchaff photos of the spring, these have done this little warbler justice.
I walked up to where last year's Grasshopper Warbler sightings were and met some friends. There wasn't any sign or sound of the "gropper", but there was a confiding Whitethroat that continued to return to the same perch in the bramble close by.
Walking back along the path the Sedge Warblers were singing in the reeds once again.
Head on
While it is nice to get up close to these summer visitors, I wanted to get the opportunity to show the habitat in which they sing, here I was able to get the reed into shot while also including the Sedge Warbler. Whilst the bird in not full frame I think it captures the bird's environment.
After a break for lunch I walked around to the viewing point. There were now plenty of hirundines over the lake. All three were present, Swallow, House Martin, and the most numerous Sand Martin.
Out on the water were Tufted Duck.
And a smart male Pochard.
The skies were darkening away to the west and I decided to walk back tot he canal path. From the first viewing point the hirundines were dropping lower over the water and the reed bed. In amongst them were two Swifts, possibly my earliest ever Swifts.
With the rain falling now I walked back to the car, as I turned into the car park a Peregrine flew over, probably the male from the nesting pair at Romsey Abbey.
A successful day, seven warbler species, is always nice and four year ticks. Still no "gropper" though, will they show here this year? We will have to wait and see.
