And so we start a New Year and a new birding year list. I spent New Year's day taking advantage of the dry (ish) weather to clear up the garden, while at the same time keeping an eye on the skies above and around the garden. This produced, at one time, three Red Kite quite low over the garden, a Sparrowhawk drifting over and Coal Tits on the feeders.
The sunshine on the second had Helen and I driving down to Hill Head to walk along the beach, in association with many other people. After negotiating a parking place, looking across Duck Bay, there were several Shoveler roosting in the pleasant sunshine beneath the reeds.
Oystercatcher were frequently moving from the reserve and out on to the beach exposed by the low tide, however with the many people and their dogs about the Oystercatcher were busy moving around.
A large flock of Brent Geese came off the fields and flew down to the sea to settle. Scanning the water there was very little else other than a single Great Crested Grebe to be seen. Along the beach there were several Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits in the tide line, while along the shore were Black-headed Gull and Herring Gulls.
We walked as far as the stream and then negotiated the mud and water to reach the bridge and then cross to climb the cliffs to the top. From here we walked back towards Hill Head. The sea was still very quiet, even the Brent Geese decided to leave and return to the fields.
We walked back through the chalets and then along the road, stopping for coffee I was able to scan the reserve. Every so often the sky would fill with Lapwing, the scrapes are probably flooded making dry space a premium. There was a Buzzard on one of the fence posts and this, too, could be the reason for the nervy Lapwing. We decided to walk to the harbour, there were two Great Black-backed Gulls patrolling the Meon River and over to the scrapes, their presence always looking menacing.
Despite it being low tide I have never seen the river look so high at the Haven bridge, it was also flowing very fast and the sluices were open and water pouring out into the harbour. With height of the water and high flow it wasn't really conducive for Kingfisher so it wasn't a surprise not to see one there.
The Titchfield Haven Visitor centre and cafe is now closed, we await to see what fate befits it. One fall out already was a lot of hungry and confused swans and ducks. The swans looking longingly at us and others as they walked past. There was also no sign of any Turnstone, normally they would be on the road and harbour walls. One Brown rat was seen.
We decided to keep walking and followed the sea wall as far as the Osbourne, where we decided to turn back. Looking across the beach the Beach huts were reflecting in the pools of water on the beach.
Walking back to the car I stopped at the start of the sea wall, scanned the beach and found a distant group of Sanderling wheeling over the water in an effort to avoid the dogs and people on the beach. Looking closer there were three near the groynes, with one just standing close to the rocks. Not my usual Sanderling photograph, but something different.
A very gentle start to the New Year list, it stands right now at 48, I know Ian's is longer but then he doesn't have Red Kite on his list. There is another 363 days to go, so why rush! It was a pleasant day in the sunshine and a nice walk.
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