9th April - Titchfield Haven, Browndown South and Farlington Marshes, Hampshire

 At this time of year if I am meeting Ian at Titchfield Have I like to get there before sunrise, the light prior to dawn if the skies are clear is wonderful and I never tire from looking out across the sea or up the Meon Valley from the sea wall.  This morning it was clear and frosty to start and I arrived about ten minutes before the sun was due to emerge behind the distant buildings of Lee-on-the Solent.  The sky was a wonderful orange and this reflected into the waters of Duck Bay.

The calls of the Black-headed Gulls nesting on the scrape could be heard clearly as I stepped out of the car and there was a good amount of movement as gulls headed out to sea or just to the roost points in the bay.

Everything was either orange of black, the reeds by the water's edge contrasting with the reflective waters.

As the sun finally appeared it highlighted the beauty of this lower part of the Meon Valley, a wide expanse of reed bed, turned into a golden glow.

The tide was still high and with the wind blowing from the north west there was little of interest out to sea.  We decided to walk around to the harbour itself, first though checking the beach area behind the sailing boats.

The hope was that there may be some Sanderling but all that was present were Turnstone, but with the morning light highlighting the water and providing some glow to the surroundings the humble Turnstone became a focus of beauty.

Scanning across to the scrapes the gulls were in full swing, it was also possible to make out a few Avocet.  Behind us two Sandwich Terns flew over the harbour heading east while in the harbour itself the water had dropped and a single Black-tailed Godwit fed in the shallow.

While we stood talking a pair of Great-crested Grebes were on the water in front of us, unfortunately they never actually performed their "dance" but they looked superb in the reflections thrown by the early morning light.

A Mute Swan also cruised through the reflection of the reed bed.

We decided to walk the canal path in the hope that despite the northerly winds, some migrants might have arrived.  At the bottom of the path in the dead trees on the other side of the road a Great Spotted Woodpecker showed really well on one of the dead tree boughs.

Despite the glorious sunshine it was still quite fresh, fortunately there was very little wind so if you managed to get in some shelter the sun, despite the time of day, had some warmth in it.

The hedgerow and surrounding trees were showing signs of leaves and the pastel shades of the emerging leaves and the blossom of the Blackthorn added to the wonderful colours created by the morning light.  Here the tall Poplars add to the scene.

We had been tipped off to listen out for a Bittern along the canal path and as we reached about halfway and had stopped to listen to a Sedge Warbler which we eventually saw fly up out of the reeds we heard what was a "boom" that was followed again and this time we knew it was, there was one more then silence.  Only last week Ian and I were talking about why there was no recorded booming Bittern in Hampshire.  There is plenty of suitable reed bed and with the success of breeding Bittern in the country surely it would not be too long.  Lets hope this booming male is an indicator of Bittern breeding here in the county.

Another notable event was the appearance of first five, then six and finally seven Jays together in the trees and then following each other around the area.  I can't recall ever seeing so many in a group, so of course had to know the collective noun, which if you are interested is a "jabber".  It was difficult getting a clear view of all of them, here two in the top of one of the trees along the path.

It the best time of the year to see Cetti's Warbler, their song punctuated the walk along the canal path.  This one was perhaps not as showy as some of the birds from last weekend, but shows the challenge these birds provide.

The other numerous singing bird was the Chiffchaff, but as we waited for one to show just a little better one of the jays appeared in the tree alongside us.

Finally the Chiffchaff decided to show well on the ramble close by and then up into the Willow tree.

The Jays though continued to follow us and they all kept together.  They would gather in the top of the trees and then all together launch themselves towards us.  The broad wings held out and then drawn together to take the form of a missile through the air.

In the field in front of Posbrook Farm a young Roe Deer buck watched us with interest.

Approaching the Posbrook Floods there was plenty more colour in the trees alongside the canal.

And in amongst the blossom and young leaves another singing Chiffchaff.

Out on the floods were Mallard, Shelduck, Gadwall, Teal and a couple of Pintail.  While I scanned for possible Garganey and the elusive hirundines, I became aware of a Goldcrest in the tree close to me.

We walked to the bridge, climbed the gate and scanned the field for a hopeful Wheatear, nothing going, but as we turned to walk back a singing Willow Warbler from within the woods.

Further along the canal path a brief view of a singing male Blackcap.

The Jays were still about and we could hear their parrot like calls from the trees behind the trees lining the canal path.  Then at least one appeared in a tree closer to us and like before it launched itself at us from the top of the tree.

Of course they were not flying at us, it just felt like that, they passed over our heads and into the scrub of the branches

Stock Dove could be heard singing (if that is what you call it) and we found one sat silently on an exposed branch.

Back at the cars we debated whether to go into the reserve or head to Browndown south, the potential there with the sun out was to find more Adders, Ian was adamant this was the best time of year to see them and up to midday the best time of day.  There was also the opportunity of Dartford Warbler and maybe the elusive Wheatear.  On the basis of this we decided to leave the reserve today and try our luck elsewhere.

It was glorious sunshine still as we walked on to Browndown, the whole area looked like it was covered in yellow, the gorse flowers taking advantage of the beautiful conditions.  We started at the top of a hill, scanning and listening for Dartford Warbler but only finding Linnet.

We dropped back down and Ian led the way to a patch of gorse where he had found a male Dartford a couple of weeks ago.  Very quickly we heard a snatch of song and a very smart male appeared within the gorse.

The Dartford warbler is a typical warbler from the warmer parts of western Europe and northwestern Africa. It is a small warbler with a long thin tail and a thin pointed bill.   Its plumage comprises unobtrusive and muted tones, which blend in with the dry dead plants, old wood or sunny greyish wood found in its preferred habitats.

Popping to the top of the gorse I was able to use the blurred background perfectly to highlight the warbler.

Like many typical warblers, the Dartford warbler has distinct male and female plumages. The male (here) has a grey back and head, reddish underparts, and a red eye. The reddish throat is spotted with white. The sides are a dull greyish tone, being clearer about the abdomen.  

While the female (below) is paler below, especially on the throat, and a browner grey above. The female's throat also has white spots, although they are smaller and less marked than in the male.

We followed both birds as they made their way through the gorse, flicking at insect or spider prey as they went.

They are usually monogamous and the pair bond can persist from one year to the next. The male sometimes builds several simple nests (cock nests) of which one is chosen by the female, but it is more usual for both birds to participate in constructing the breeding nest. 

I like to think of this as a typical Dartford Warbler pose, and then after this it was off and way across the top of the gorse.

One target species down, with a couple more to go, as we headed back to the main path to look for Adders the Spitfire flying out of Daedalus flew over our heads.  It was inspired by birds so deserves to be on this blog.

We walked around the area we would expect to find the Adders, sheltered sunny spots under the gorse and did find one male but it was gone before we could take any photos.  As we completed the first circuit we came across this Peacock in the tree blossom, very much the spring butterfly.

Going around again in the area where we had seen the Adder briefly Ian found this Common Lizard basking in the sunshine amongst the wood chippings from the old gorse bark.

A really good spot as they are small and if still almost impossible to see.

We followed the same circuit, checking the same places, finally an came up with one, curled up on a warm sunny bank.  It was a small female, identified from the brown and black markings..

She was approachable but watched us very carefully, moving slightly to face which ever camera was pointed at her.

I was able to get head on and this allowed me to appreciate the beauty of the animal, the markings and scales just exquisite.

 

Here raising the head slightly to just warn us.

We decided that we had more than enough photos and decided it was time to look for Wheatear, but our search didn't turn any thing up.  Instead we took in the view of the gorse and blue sky.  Magnificent in colour.

But maybe as spectacular in black and white.

Beaten by the Wheatear there was always a chance of Small Copper Butterflies in the sheltered spots on the main path.  Walking along we check all the little open patches on the bank without any luck.  As we approached the last one I noticed movement on the ground, at first I wondered what it was, but then quickly realised.  In my excitement I could seem to get Ian to notice, but he didn't take too long to see them.

One of the behaviours we have wanted to experience was that of the male Adders fighting over a potential mate, this is where the snakes appear to "dance" as they entwine their bodies to try and fight off each other.  This at last is what we were now looking at.

By mid-April, both males and females have shed their shabby winter skins and are in prime condition for the breeding season. Males locate females by their scent and may track them for several hundred metres each day. Courting pairs move in a synchronised ‘flowing’ behaviour, with much tongue-flicking and tail-lashing. After mating, the male stays to guard his female and will ‘dance’ with intruding males, rearing up and entwining bodies to wrestle his rival to the ground and drive him away.

As they entwine around each other they try and flick the other away which results in them being thrown to the ground

Finally one snake gave up and was chased away by the other.  

The victorious male then returned and we were able to see the female, much larger, brown compared toe the grey and black of the male and wrapped up amongst the bracken.

The male slipped into the cover of the bracken and gorse and the female joined him.  The sun filtering through the gorse picked out his head beautifully.

We left the two of them together, after breeding is completed both snakes will go after what may probably be their first meal for six months.

You always hope for something special and we were more than happy to have the encounter with the young female earlier.  This though was definitely the icing on the cake, one of those wildlife encounters you hope so much to see, but many don't get the privilege, we felt very privileged.

As we walked back we felt it would have been wrong not to recognise one of the more plentiful birds of the day and a pleasure to see once again in good numbers, the Greenfinch.

After lunch we decided that the best possible place nearby for the missing Wheatear was Farlington Marshes.  On arriving the tide was still out so we walked around the to the south and east first.  To say it was quiet was a bit of an under statement.  On the east side there were good numbers of Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls, the latter foraging in the field in large groups.

Out on the mud were Grey Plover, Curlew and of course Oystercatcher.  In the channel a few Great Crested Grebes

There was little else around Point Field and it wasn't until we got close to the lake that we came across anything of interest.  This Black-tailed Godwit in almost full breeding plumage feeding in a pool by the sea wall

On the same pool was this Mute Swam that gave the perfect opportunity for a close up portrait.

Ian remarked that the best thing about our visit to the marshes was the view overlooking the The Lake, the water levels were high and the clouds reflected nicely in the water.  

The scene looked even better I think once again in black and white.

A day that will be remembered for the "dance of the Adders", but also some beautiful Dartford Warbler shots with a stunning background and some great light