28th November - Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve, Hampshire

The forecast was not too bad for the day so I decided to head down to Titchfield once again, as I arrived the tide was almost covering the Rainbow Bar and on what shingle there was still exposed were at least fifty odd Sanderling, the white and grey plumage standing out against the deep blue of the water.

I made my way down to the beach as I can't resist a Sanderling and watched as the tide edged the flock up the beach towards me, here those at the water's edge had to take evasive action.

Gradually they made there way along the receding shingle.

There was though time to bathe.

I made my way to the Sailing Club, where I met up with a group of birders who were searching for divers on the sea, unfortunately there were none about, although four Eider did fly by.  As we stood discussing what to do a message came in reporting a White-tailed Eagle on Posbrook Floods, the message was from a reputable source so I decided along with others to head there straight away.

I parked at the Bridge Street Car Park and quickly headed along the canal path towards Posbrook.  As I passed the Barn Owl spot there was someone photographing a raptor on a post, this was a Buzzard, surely not?

I walked all the way to the south end of Posbrook Floods and met the person who had reported the eagle.  It turns out the bird was just south of Bridge Street Floods, so unfortunately this Buzzard was the White-tailed Eagle.

Never mind there were Pintail on Posbrook to ease the disappointment.

So it was back to the reserve and into the Meon Shore Hide, where once again it was quiet with only duck to entertain.  The water levels were still falling and where the island was in front of the hide, it was shallow enough for the usual pair of Gadwall to stand and preen.

The male Marsh Harrier put in an appearance on the right hand side of the hide, coming in over the reeds alongside the river.

The clear skies of the morning had given way to a fair bit of cloud which added drama to the scene and the reflections on the south scrape.

The dominant duck on the scrape, and the one most likely to venture close to the hide aside from the pair of Gadwall were the Shoveler, and now the drakes are looking superb in their breeding plumage.  So today became a homage to the beautiful duck that is the Shoveler.

Incoming from the back of the scrape.

Showing off the stunning colours in the wings.

More incoming

Water skiing.

I decided on a walk along the beach but there was very little about at high tide, coming back there was yet another report of a White-tailed Eagle, this time seen from the Suffern Hide and was supposed to have dropped down in front of the Spurgin Hide.  A trip to the hide revealed very little, but it passed sometime looking at this view.

It says something when the highlight is a fly past by a flock of Gadwall.

So it was back to the Meon Shore Hide and the Shoveler.

Shoveler swimming backwards.

Just love the way the reflections in the water match the markings on the back.

The Shoveler is perhaps the most outwardly distinctive of the dabbling ducks thanks to its large spoon-shaped bill, the Northern Shoveler busily forages head down in shallow wetlands. Its uniquely shaped bill has comb-like projections along its edges, which filter out tiny crustaceans and seeds from the water. If the bill doesn’t catch your eye, the male's brightly coloured plumage certainly will, with its bright white chest, rusty sides, and green head. The female is no less interesting with a giant orange bill and mottled brown plumage.

In the UK, they breed in southern and eastern England, especially around the Ouse Washes, the Humber and the North Kent Marshes and in much smaller numbers in Scotland and western parts of England. In winter, breeding birds move south, and are replaced by an influx of continental birds from further north. The UK is home to more than 20 percent of the north-west European population, making it an Amber List species.

Shovelers are monogamous and remain together longer than pairs of most other dabbling ducks. They form bonds on the wintering grounds and stay together until just before the autumn migration.

Then as usual all the lapwing decided to take off, there was no seen threat and they circled the scrape with some close passes attracting some photographs.

The mid afternoon sunshine turned the distant trees across the scrape into gold, one tree standing out like a tower.

Then just as I began to think the day was going to be a quiet one a pair of Bearded Tits flew across in front of the hide and into the reeds on the left, they then appeared, feeding on the reed seed heads, the male being the most showy.

The distinctive moustache, not beard!

Then the male coming out onto a hanging reed stem to feed.

The male then flew into the reeds leaving the female who was a lot shier, preferring to stay behind the seed heads.

As the light faded another report of an eagle in the middle of the reeds turned out to be a Marsh Harrier.

It was fitting that the final photos of the day were of the Shoveler, captured in the pastel colours reflected in the water of the scrape.

So much promise today, but saved at the end by the Bearded Tit show.  I also think I now have enough Shoveler photos!