9th January - Titchfield Haven, Hampshire

 An early morning start at the top of the Titchfield Haven Canal Path, the weather was still very cold, temperatures around freezing, but overcast and clear, leaving home it had been the freezing fog we have had for the last few days.  The hope was that the Barn Owl may be hunting but walking along the path there was nothing about.  From across the marsh a Cetti's Warbler rattled out its song while the whistles from the Meon of Wigeon were clearly heard.

Viewing the split tree we could see the Barn Owl was there, but very quickly it slipped out of view.  We contemplated walking further along the path but then decided against it, instead driving around Posbrook to the sea wall at Hill Head.

Across the Meon and into the reserve there were two male Tufted Ducks present, just resting close to the reeds.

The sea was like a mill pond, still and very calm with mist hanging low over the water and completely obscuring the view of the Isle of Wight.  Not quite a complete white out though, the lights of Cowes twinkling through the gloom.

Turning back to the reserve a Little Grebe had caught quite a sizeable fish close in.

The numbers of Great Crested Grebes remained high, with birds gathered in large flocks in almost all areas.  I counted 80, but I am convinced there were many more.  Every so often there would be small groups flying east and west.  A Great Northern Diver appeared from nowhere as usual, appeared to preen, then took off and headed away to the east and out of sight

On the beach Turnstone fed in amongst the sea weed pushed up the beach and a group of 20 Ringed plover took turns to bathe in the gentle waves that were rolling in on to the beach

As well as the grebes there were Eider and distantly a few Common Scoter.  With the tide falling we decided to walk along the beach, passing the chalets a Pied Wagtail was exploring the guttering of one of the chalets, probably looking for some fresh water for a drink.

There were one or two large gulls about, earlier there had been a Lesser Black-backed Gull on the island in the middle of the Meon, and two Great Black-backed flying along the sea wall.  As the tide fell and the Rainbow Bar revealed several Herring Gulls were dropping shells on to the gravel, while one or two could be seen offshore.

Last week the Sanderling had been completely absent, but this morning there was a large group of about 80 birds feeding in several groups along the edge of the water, scurrying about as they do between the water and the beach.  

Sanderling have been my go to bird to photograph over the last few weeks and today was not going to be an exception.  Walkers were now coming in both directions forcing the birds towards us and I managed to get down low to capture them in their environment once again.

I particularly like it when I can get completely head on with the Sanderling and they walk towards me.

With the number of persons increasing and with it more dogs it was to be expected that the birds would be disturbed.  The Sanderling would fly out over the water and then look to settle in a area that was free, but this would mean that they would only be off again as the dogs followed up.

The disturbance became more frequent and you have to wonder what this does to their energy levels especially on a cold day like today.  It did however provide some great flight shots some of which, like these were a lot different.

With the water so still and calm as the Sanderling flew around looking for a suitable safe spot to land they would throw dark rippled reflections on the water.

In this shot the Sanderling in the centre was definitely not going to give up its prize cockle!

As you can see they were also joined by other waders on the shore, above a Turnstone, but Oystercatchers too were being flushed from their feeding.

One more Sanderling photo.

This gives you some idea of what the conditions were in the Solent.

A pair of Brent Geese cruised along the shoreline, one reacting more to Ian's calls and coming closer.

After being informed that we had missed a Red-throated Diver that had flown east while we were photographing the Sanderling we decided to walk back to the sea wall.  Off shore the Eider were moving a lot closer to us, the males could be seen displaying, throwing their heads back and at times we could hear their "cooing" display call.

Despite this relaxed displaying they were also quite flighty, taking to the air, circling around and then returning to pretty much the same area.

There has been a drake Greater Scaup present over the last few days and it was picked up distantly associating with one of the Great Crested Grebe groups, then it appeared with the Eider, tagging along with one of the groups.  It was still distant but close enough now to get a reasonable photograph.  Here at the back of the Eider.

You always hope that it will drift closer but it was soon off again, flying when the Eider took to the air once more.

There was still no sign of the Red-throated Diver that had been seen to fly into the bay and things were now starting to quieten.  A Whats app message alerted to three Black Swan flying south over the reserve and we picked them up as they came over the Sailing Club and headed along the coastline towards Lee.

Black Swans at rest indeed, but once in flight they show white primaries.

We walked to the Harbour.  The water was rushing out of the Meon under the bridge but there was no sign of the Kingfisher or Little Grebe.  Off the Slipways a small group of Eider were close inshore.  We decided to walk back to the sea wall where they would probably be closer in, which is indeed where they were.

Then like all the others they took to the air, but circled around coming a lot closer as they passed us.

Another Pied Wagtail appeared on the sea wall in front of us.

The sea remained completely still.

Early in the morning there had been a drake Pochard with the two Tufted Ducks.  The Tufted Ducks had now gone but the Pochard was still present swimming and diving close the reeds.

The tide was dropping fast now and on the water the Black-headed Gulls were plunge diving into the water.  It wasn't clear what they were catching but there seemed sufficient food of interest about to ensure quite a few took part.

Whilst it appeared overcast, thinning and gaps in the cloud over the Solent sent towers of light down onto the water illuminating the grey monochrome conditions.

The dropping tide also revealed the rocks on the beach and a Little Egret took advantage of these to first fish from.

Then to fish around and use as cover.

Just as I was about to call it a day the Pochard swam closer to the road

They are a very difficult duck to photograph, the exposure is key, to high and the duck is washed out too low and it merges with the background.  These were so-so.

After that I headed home wondering if this would be the last by the sea for a while.  I hope not but the weather will also play a part, we shall have to wait and see.