Ian and I decided on a repeat of last Saturday's itinerary, starting once again at the Bridge Street var park, today though there was not the strong breeze that was present then and the skies initially were clear. The day before there had been quite a bit of activity with warblers, wagtails Wheatears and Whinchats turning up almost everywhere, surely some would be left behind today.
The sun had just risen and as we set off along the canal path, was just appearing above the trees, while a mist hung over the waters of the Meon in the valley. The air had a decidedly autumnal feel about it.
Looking across the field towards the Barn Owl tree there was a distinct contrast between two trees, on the right a Sycamore heavily laden with seeds, while to the left a Horse Chestnut with leaves badly damaged by the leaf miner larvae.
Coming away from the willow lined canal path a view across Posbrook Floods, more mist hanging above the water and in the fields the bulrushes covered in spider webs.
As the sun rose it began to light and warm up the bushes at the back of the canal. With this there was a little more activity, both Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler were seen, but the Whitethroats were the more showy, sitting in an opening to take in the warmth of the sun's rays.
At the bridge we checked the horse field behind the canal, but despite some movement in the oak trees lining the path, that turned out to be Blue and Great Tits, there was nothing about.
We returned to the Canal Path and was confronted with this view.
A bird was sitting in the middle of the path. We had been hearing the calls of Green Woodpecker as we had walked the path, here in front of us was an immature bird that was clearly looking for Ants on the edge of the path.
Green Woodpecker are not easy birds to photograph, notoriously shy they normally disappear the moment you raise the camera, so it was nice to be able to watch and photograph this one.
We walked on scanning the field posts for Whinchat and Yellow Wagtails, but without any luck. Just before the path reaches the thatched cottage at about the halfway stage of the path the area opens up with reeds and a scattering of bushes. In the bushes there were Whitethroat showing well and also a few Sedge Warbler, one of which showed well.
Looking to the south there was a huge gathering of clouds over the Isle of Wight, checking the radar it was clear this was a huge thunderstorm, fortunately it looked as if it would miss us so we were able to enjoy the majesty of the incredible cloud formations, enhanced by the morning sunshine.
Walking back there were more birds in the bushes, a Reed Bunting.
And a rather bedraggled Long-tailed Tit.
A Dragonfly was hawking around a patch of reeds but then fortunately settled on one of the surrounding trees. This allowed us to identify it as a Migrant Hawker.
More warblers in the bushes, another showy Whitethroat.
And a Chiffchaff.
On Posbrook Floods there were two Little Egret and an immature Cattle Egret, all were tucked at the back and I couldn't get a suitable shot.
At the bridge I walked on while Ian went to check the horse field, he quickly called me back as he had found a Redstart in the bushes. It took a little time to re-appear but when it did there was no mistaking the identification.
It then dropped to the ground and came back on to a post.
Just before the car park another Whitethroat in the bushes.
Like last week we decided to try our luck once more at Hook and Warsash. After negotiating the speed bumps and the expected absence of a Little Owl by the cottages we turned into the TLC field and like last weekend the only birds of interest were the Wheatear, two in fact, one distant in the field, but the other showing well in the paddock next to the Donkey field. At first on the ground where the sun played havoc with the photography, but then it flew up to a post and showed very well.
So where had all the Yellow Wagtails gone and what about the Whinchats? They must have heard we were coming. Back at the cars I found this Jersey Tiger on a branch by the fence. These seem to have had a very good year, I an had 48 in his moth trap in the week.
So next we headed back to Titchfield Haven and entered the west side of the reserve and the Meon Shore Hide. For once the water levels were good with a fair bit of mud on show. The Spotted Redshank was feeding close to the hide, but immediately flew off. A Common Redshank showed well though with a nice reflection in the shallow water.
A Common Sandpiper was feeding on the mud to the left hand side of the hide. There were at least four scattered over the south scrape.
While the Spotted Redshank was found roosting just off the side of one of the distant islands.
There had been reports of Green Sandpiper and Little Stint in the week. We quickly found two Green Sandpipers and fortunately one of them decided to leave the causeway at the back of the scrape and come a little closer.
We had some rain as we left Hook and Chilling, but this had dried up as we arrived at the Haven, however the clouds were gathering around us and it wasn't long before a storm passed through.
We hoped it might push something down on to the scrape, but all we did get was a Marsh Harrier coming low over the reeds.
Sexing Marsh Harriers is difficult, this was not a large bird which made you think possibly a male, the plumage was quite bright and the secondaries show wear. There are better people than me who would struggle with this so I will leave it open for debate.
As the rain eased we picked up three waders on the causeway at the back of the scrape, closer inspection revealed these were the Little Stint.
One then flew to one of the closer island and showed reasonably well.
First of the year for me.
There had been Snipe feeding along the edge of the west side of the scrape, but now they started to appear from the closest island to the left of the hide.
A drop of mud!
From this angle an extremely long bill.
Others would come and go.
Providing a nice reflection.
A sign of the tide rising was the influx of Oystercatchers coming on to the scrape.
Black-tailed Godwits feeding to the left of the hide.
Storms continued to move past us without any impact. This one missing us but delivering some heavy rain over the New Forest and Southampton.
And producing a flat rainbow away to the north of the reserve.
Then a problem, I noticed that the Lens Hood had disappeared and looking out of the hide widow realised it had dropped off. So now you have to imagine the sight of a 65 year old man crawling under the hide to retrieve it, which I managed to along with some nasty scratches from bramble on my head and legs, those lens hoods are not cheap!
Another surprise was a single Snipe appearing on the mud and heading towards the reeds. Ministry of Silly Walks!
It soon realised it didn't want to be where it was and it turned around and headed back to the island.
There is always a Lapwing close to the hide, this one producing a very nice reflection.
As we edged towards closing time one of the Green Sandpipers came close once again.
And just before the hide was closed we were treated to four immature Moorhen climbing one of the Kingfisher perches, quite comical.
So another frustrating day in search of the special birds at this time of year, the positive though was the Little Stint and keeping out of the heavy rain showers.
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