19th November - Titchfield Haven Canal Path, Hampshire

The rain and gloom of Saturday was replaced with sunshine and quite brisk winds.  I was meeting Ian at the Bridge Street Car Park and I was there early.  In the car park a pair of Siskin flew over and settled in the alders before flying off.  I wondered down the canal path and almost immediately stopped for the Chiffchaff that was showing well in a willow.

It settled on a branch in the sun and kept opening and closing its bill.

But was still alert.

A large group pf Long-tailed Tits flew through.

It was possible to just make out the Barn Owl in the split tree.

making my way back to the cr park there was a group of Sallow that had at least six Chiffchaffs feeding in it.  They were more mobile when the sun was out and the gnats were moving.

This one was of interest, the legs appear pale and from this angle the primaries look long, could it be something other than a Chiffchaff.  I am now of the view this is one of those anomalies created by nature and light.  I think nit is a Chiffchaff.

I crossed Bridge Street and walked along the footpath past the stables.  The canal was very high and in two places and breached the banks and flooded the path.  In places it was at least a foot deep.  There were a few Magpie about and a Grey Wagtail flew over while on a dead tree there were at one time three Mistle Thrushes.

Ian arrived and we set off along the canal path.  Approaching Posbrook you could see the extent of the water, it was even higher than when I had been here last Tuesday.

The canal path itself was covered in fallen leaves.

Black-tailed Godwits were feeding on the Posbrook Floods and on the water were Pintail, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard and Gadwall.  And in the south corner a large gull roost of mostly Black-headed and Common Gulls.  There was no sign of the glossy Ibis.

We walked on and passed the closed section where the canal has washed away part of the path.  It was though easily passable with wellingtons.  WE walked as far as the thatched cottage.  There was very little about so we turned back..

The limited highlights of the walk back were a female Stonechat on the fence.

And Ian located the three Glossy Ibis on the Bridge Street Floods.  As you can see they were not as confiding as they were for last Tuesday!

Ian was not himself all morning, self inflicted I understand.  Back at the car park I could see he wasn't 100% so he decided to go home.  I drove around to Hill Head but the wind and dark clouds that di deliver rain did not fill me with enthusiasm so I decided to call it a day and headed home.