That said I arrived at the sea wall opposite the Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve just before 6.00 am. It was still very overcast then despite the sun just starting to rise. The wind was a light north easterly, nothing to disturb the sea which was slowly rising to high tide around 9.00 am.
The view across to the reserve is now going to be the closest you get to it as along with all the other recreational facilities in the country the reserve will now be closed to visitors. Not that this had any impact on the residents, they continued to go about their business of mating and nesting on the scrape, the noise levels slowly increasing as the Black-headed Gulls flew back and forth.
Just before Ian arrived three Eider flew east and were followed distantly by three Common Scoter
As the tide was starting to absorb the shingle banks and cover the groynes Brent Geese streamed past in good numbers still, it will not be long before they start the long journey north to their breeding grounds.
Six ducks flying low over the water were thought to be Eider at first but on closer inspection they turned out to be three pairs of Shoveler.
The Brent continued to pass, at times close to the sea wall
Then joined by a pair of Cormorant close in.
Oystercatcher flew from the banks and beach over our heads and into the reserve and we could see them on the scrape. Also on the scrape were several pairs of Mediterranean Gulls.
Turnstone flew past us, announcing their presence with their familiar klip calls and three Dunlin. We were hoping for Sanderling though, and the hope was answered when a group of 35 flew past heading for the harbour.
A closer view
We walked up to the beach to see if the Sanderling had collected there but they were not to be found. We decided it was time to move and we headed back towards the Canal Path. At the bottom end a Chiffchaff was singing, one of several we were to come across. A Cetti's Warbler burst into life from within a clump of bramble. As always it would remain elusive giving only brief glimpses as it moved from the bramble to the adjacent tree.
As we approached Posbrook Floods the meadow to the south was also still partially flooded. A flock of Black-tailed Godwits flew back and forth over the bullrushes before settling.
Black-tailed Godwits have been a rarity in Hampshire this winter although close by in West Sussex there have been considerable numbers. Some of these were showing the copper red breeding plumage.
We walked along the flooded path to view the floods but were unable to get a good clear view. Sand Martin were hawking above the water and trees and on the water were Shoveler, Wigeon and a few Teal.
Walking still north more Godwits flew in, and on the flood close to Bridge Street I counted around 80 Black-tailed Godwits feeding. Sand Martin must have numbered over 100 birds wheeling around high and over the open water.
A Stock Dove was in one of the trees close to the split tree owned by the Barn Owls.
Alarm calls rang out as a Sparrowhawk drifted over from the south, the Sand Martin dispersing as it passed.
The Barn Owl could just be made out in the split tree, the sun picking out the white of its chest. We turned and headed back, stopping for a Wren that was thundering out its song from the base of the reeds.
A search for a singing Song Thrush failed to find the bird, but a Long-tailed Tit posed nicely for us.
It was one a pair and I suspect that there might be a nest close by.
With tree branches hanging low across the water there are always some interesting reflections. One or two of the trees have either been cut or the branches broken in the recent storms. This new leaf growth looked lovely reflecting the dark water.
As we approached the end of the path a calling Chiffchaff in a group of willows stopped us. It would call as it moved through the branches poking and pecking at the lichen in search of insects.
Every so often it would stop and pose nicely, you just had to be focused and lucky.
We were both surprised by the number of people about when we reached the beach. When we left there were very few cars parked, now almost all the places were full. Families with dogs wandered on what beach there was and couples sat reading newspapers in their cars.
With the tide still high we tried the roost site on the beach by the sailing club for the Sanderling. Sure enough they were there, settled on the first bank of shingle just up from the water.
The wind was quite fresh and the Sanderling were facing into it. You can see the shape they are adopting to shelter.
The ones in the front would endure the wind for a while and then would break off and move to the back exposing others to the wind and to provide the shelter. A bit like the behaviour of the Emperor Penguins in the Antarctic.
Some also chose to move down the beach close to the surf.
Those on the beach though were pressed together just waiting for the tide to drop to allow them to move back to where they normally feed on the beaches up towards Warsash.
There are 30 together here.
We left the Sanderling and decided the next stop would be Browndown South.
We parked and crossed the road. Dog walkers were about and it seemed quite busy. We headed into the gorse area, looking for sheltered spots.
It is at this point I should warn you that if you suffer from Ophiophobia you should not go any further.
We were looking for Adders. Early spring is the best time to see these beautiful snakes. As they come out of hibernation they bask in the sunshine to start up the metabolism. They seek out sheltered spots normally at the base of the bushes using the dead bracken leaves as a source of warmth. They are very susceptible to sound and vibration so it requires a quiet and slow approach as you search the base of the gorse bushes.
Ian found the first one, but it was gone before we could get anywhere near it. We decided to come back later as it would probably return. We walked carefully along the edge of the gorse and I spotted another one, just the body laying out in the open sunshine.
But where was the head? Well I managed to find it under a dead bracken leaf.
The characteristic red eye and the vertical split pupil.
It was a large snake probably just around two foot long and we suspected that it may well be a female. Finally it moved a little and showed the arrowhead shape or inverted "V" on the head where the zig zag shapes end.
Lying there amongst the dead bracken leaves I noticed for the first time how similar the zig zag shapes on the back appear to be to the dead bracken leaf shape.
Very slowly it started to move, but not purposefully like the previous one, this snake did not seem to be wary of us turning back to face us.
There is something compelling about watching a snake, it combines fascination and fear, something primeval and dangerous while still driving an admiration. The lack of legs and the way the creature moves can either be of beauty or complete dislike. Is there any other creature that combines so many polarised feeling?
The coils all started to come together and the Adder started to move to face us. We were not that close having the benefit of the long lens, but it was as if it was being defensive and preparing to strike should it need to
Here you get the beauty and beast all combined in one animal.
As everyone knows the Adder is the United Kingdom's only venomous snake. The adults can be variable in the body ground colour varying from reddish brown, greenish yellow, grey or even a creamy buff. They all have the dark zig zag markings along the back culminating in the "V" at the base of the head.
While the Adder is widespread across England, Wales and Scotland its precise distribution is patchy being excluded from areas of intensive agriculture preferring heaths, moors, natural grassland, open woodland and sand dunes.
Ours was on the move again
But double back once again to face us, this time providing what we were waiting for, the flicking forked tongue.
Adders seem to spend more time sun bathing than our other snakes. Hibernation takes place between October and March with individuals in the south coming out of hibernation earlier than their counterparts in the north.
The fangs are hollow and needle like through which the venom is delivered. The bite is delivered with a lunging action with the victim being stabbed. The snake then backs off and follows its victim consuming it once the venom kills it.
Finally our Adder decided that it had seen enough of us and started to make its way through the bracken.
But it never disappeared from view and we were able to follow it as it moved through the bracken leaves for about 30 metres before turning away and gone into the darkness. An absolutely beautiful animal, and a privilege to have such time with it.
We decided to go back to where we had seen the first Adder and it was there coiled up in the sunshine. This time we were much more careful and was able to get some pictures.
Then the head turned and it was off once again, not as confiding as the other.
We continued to search for more and in the process came across my first Comma of the year.
And a Bee Fly, which isn't a Bee but a member of the fly family. They are sometimes also known as a Humblefly.
Searching the gorse produced another two Adders together.
But they too were easily spooked and slid away into the gorse through the bracken leaves.
In the sheltered spots one or two bluebells were starting to flower.
Browndown is not a haven for many birds but it has its specialties. Linnets perch at the top of gorse bushes showing off their pink breasts while the wheezing calls of Greenfinches announce their presence at the top of a tree or bush.
The real specialty though to be found here is the Dartford Warbler. Ian discovered he had lost his hat and decided to back track to try and find it. As he set off a Dartford Warbler burst from the gorse in song flight, dropping back down. I called him but he was away after his hat. As I stood looking to see if the warbler would show again I was aware of another singing behind me. I turned to find another Dartford Warbler singing close to me.
I moved slightly to see if I could get some better light and a darker background.
The hope this year is that the mild winter has been beneficial to these very specialist birds.
Named after Dartford in Kent, near to which it was first
noted as a breeding bird in 1773, the Dartford warbler is a bird of lowland
heathland in the south east of England and south Wales.
A perky character, the Dartford warbler is slate-grey above
and deep wine-red below. Its long tail is often held cocked at a jaunty angle
while it sings its scratchy, rambling song from a perch on the top of a gorse
bush, however this one sat with tail pointed down.
Dartford Warblers almost died out in the United Kingdom in
the severe winter of 1962/1963. The national population dropped to just 10
pairs. Populations fluctuate depending on the weather conditions the more recent milder conditions have enabled the populations today to increase significantly
On the other side of the path though another appeared at the top of a bush. A little more distant but with a more classical Dartford Warbler pose.
Ian returned without the hat and also without any Dartford Warbler photographs, but I am sure he will have plenty of opportunity to return.
As we made our way to the road a Peacock butterfly flew along the ditch by the fence. Spring is here!
From Browndown North we drove the short distance to Browndown South. Here we walked through the heath looking for more Adders but without any luck. The path took us into the Sandhills area of Alver Valley Country Park. Once again we were on the search for Adder but without any luck. Widening the search we found one individual on a piece of corrugated tin, but it was very wary and was off very quickly.
The weather was beautiful and we walked around the park along with many others. A pigeon in front of us looked a little different and as we got closer it was clear it was a Stock Dove. Its not often you get this opportunity, they have always been perched on a branch with a white sky behind them.
The grassland also supported several pairs of Skylarks, this one dropping slowly to the ground.
The last bird of the day was yet another singing Chiffchaff. It sang as it foraged, bringing another meaning to the phrase double tasking. At this time of year the Chiffchaffs are a good bet for a photograph, active and no leaves on the trees.
And at that we called it a day. We said goodbye not knowing when we would be able to go birding together again, but happy with the way the day unfolded. I don't recall ever having the experience with Adders as I have today, brilliant.
