I met Ian at the sea front at Hill Head on a lovely morning with sun and a blue sky with wispy clouds. Looking out across the reeds and Duck Bay the feeling never changes.
There was a lot of activity of shore with groups of terns and gulls feeding over the water, but very distantly unfortunately. Moving between these feeding groups I picked up a Gannet moving in from the west around about mid channel.
It moved east and then headed up Southampton Water, but decided to turn back and then followed the feeding flocks, making one attempt at a dive before turning again and then heading back east at height.
Common and Sandwich Terns moved from the reserve and the sea and both birds could be heard calling. The feeding flocks were much too far away to pick out anything of interest so we decided to go for a walk along the sea wall.
Turnstone were still in their partial summer plumage, the orange brown contrasting with the greens and browns of the bladder wrack on the groynes.
A Mediterranean Gull passed heading west offshore.
Walking along the beach a few Common Terns were gathered on the groynes.
Two left leaving one bird.
Getting ready to leave.
From the viewing platform we could see the Great-crested Grebe with its two chicks that had grown significantly since we last saw them 9 days ago.
A walk to the harbour bridge was interrupted by a message saying that there were Black Terns off shore. We headed back to the sea wall and were able to pick out at least three Black Terns feeding in the distinctive fashion amongst other gulls and terns. However they were all too distant to photograph. We took some time to scan the other feeding flocks and picked up the Gannet once again following them around.
Off shore we then picked up a Common or Harbour Seal.
Walking to the reserve to enter the west side a juvenile Water Rail scampered across the mud close to the reeds.
The water levels were still high on the south scrape and we were told that the Spotted Redshank had just flown from in front of the hide. This left us with the Black-headed Gulls and of course the Common Terns, this one a juvenile.
A Common Sandpiper flew across the scrape and landed on the island in front of the hide and started to stalk the flies that were on the surface of the water and the mud of the island.
It was a clear strategy to pick the flies gently off the surface.
It did venture out into the water as well.
The Spotted Redshank appeared on one of the next islands, When it first arrived it was in full summer plumage, but now that was moulting and patches of the grey winter colours can be seen on what is now a very mottled plumage, but at the same time quite spectacular.
Down below us there was a family of two Moorhen chicks, apparently there had been six but only two were left. The adults were very attentive, one going off across the scrape, evading the Avocets, to bring back what looks like scraps of a dead fish.
There were two pairs of Oystercatcher around the scrape, this one came close to the hide.
There were good numbers of Avocet around the scrape and a few chicks that were defended by the parents with typical aggression. There was a no go area on the left hand side and the adults would attack anything that came in. They would also launch sorties across the scrape to attack anything at will. After last week's Avocet fest I was determined to avoid them today, but sometimes they are hard to resist. These all in black and white.
One close enough for a lovely portrait
The Spotted Redshank had now moved to the right hand side of the hide and was resting after a vigourous preen.
We decided it was time for lunch and then a walk around the east side of the reserve, on the way we stopped to check out the beach. The rising tide had pushed a few terns up the beach, but there was nothing like the number we had seen in the morning offshore, or any sign of the Black Tern. Here Common Terns and a juvenile Sandwich Tern.
Coming back to Duck Bay the juvenile Water Rail was now showing well on the exposed mud on the right hand side.
It came out of the reeds to walk along the mud.
The juvenile lacking the blue grey plumage of the adult.
Then it showed very well before heading back into the reeds.
Stopping at the harbour bridge the Great-crested Grebe family were showing close to the reeds.
We finally made our way into the west side of the reserve and to the Suffern Hide. As we walked in a Cormorant was sitting on one of the strategically positioned branches. In the sunshine this gave the opportunity to see the different colours in the feathers and the white spines of the tail feathers.
Some yoga poses from the Lesser Black-backed Gull on the benches, showing off the yellow legs.
A Common Tern fished over the river, you can just see the red tip of the bill as it scans the water below.
The Cormorant had been for a swim and had returned to dry the wings in the classic pose.
We walked around to the Meadow Hide, stopping to watch this Banded Demoiselle. I have seen plenty of beautiful Demoiselle this year but this was the first Banded.
From the Meadow Hide there was distant views of Marsh Harrier and Buzzard, but not the hoped for chats along the fence posts. We decided to head back to the west side to see if anything had come in with the rising tide.
The wind had picked up and as we entered the reserve we found this male Brimstone sheltering from the wind close to the reeds.
The Spotted Redshank was showing well as we entered the hide.
These were my favourite set of photographs of the bird.
The gulls and terns would come and go, spooked by aeroplanes flying over and the predatory Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. This would clear the island in front of the hide, but slowly they would return and on one occasion Five Mediterranean Gulls appeared, one was quite relaxed.
A Common Tern settled on one of the posts before being kicked off by the Black-headed Gulls.
A Mediterranean Gull still with a complete black hood.
A Lapwing close to the hide with a Common Redshank in the background.
And then the Common Sandpiper flew from the island to the old reed stems where it commenced the fly stalking once again.
Then out into the open water.
My favourite Common Sandpiper photograph.
One of the young Avocets came a little closer to the hide, showing the downy feathers and the brown and black colours.
Finally after all the Spotted Redshank photographs it was nice to end with one of a Common Redshank, which has its own special beauty.
There is still an element of the summer doldrums but there are signs of migration starting up. The water levels though need to fall to expose more mud to attract the waders to Titchfield Haven, this autumn I have the time to ensure I get to see as much as I can.
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