5th January - Titchfield Haven Canal Path, Hampshire

Another bright sunny morning after some incredibly heavy rain during the previous afternoon and evening.  On the way to Titchfield there was so much standing water on the road and the Meon Valley was flooded where the River Meon had burst its banks.  Arriving at Bridge Street car park, the river was flooding over the road and a white BMW was broken down in the flood water.

I set off down the canal path and almost immediately stopped with at least three Chiffchaff calling in the willow scrub along side the canal.  They were very active, picking off the many insects that were gathering around the trees in the sunshine

Nest it was the easiest year tick, with the Barn Owl in the split tree, not showing completely but just the head was enough.

As was to be expected the fields and meadows were flooded and the canal was flooding across the path in places where it had broken the bank.

I walked to Posbrook where the Snipe could be seen trying to find any dry or shallow water to settle on, the Snipe were constantly flying around in the search.

Black-tailed Godwits with their longer legs did not have the same problem.

The water levels are extremely high.

I was hoping to catch up with the Glossy Ibis, but there was no sign of the three either here at Posbrook or around the Bridge Street Floods.

Walking back the Buzzard was sat in its usual tree.

I decided to head down to Titchfield Haven, taking Posbrook Lane.  I parked up and walked to the visitor centre, where I was told the west side was flooded and not open.  We decided to go onto the reserve any way and the flooding was no problem for wellies.  A male Marsh Harrier was hunting over the reeds but stayed very distant.

From the Meon Shore Hide the two scrapes had merged into one large lake and the only birds viewable were several Canada Geese standing on the flooded causeway.  Walking to the Spurgin Hide one of the rangers advised that the Pumfrett Hide was now open after being closed for over six months.  I went into the hide, here is a view not seen for a while, but no birds.

It was much the same at the Spurgin Hide, high muddy water keeping the Kingfisher away.  A report came in of Water Pipit and the Glossy Ibis at Posbrook, so I decided to head back.

The walk to Posbrook was much the same with floods and Chiffchaff calling.  At the bridge this Goldcrest showed very well.

The news was that the Glossy Ibis were close to the path and it didn't take long to find them, but only two.

The bright conditions was lifting the colour in their plumage.

The two stayed close, feeding together.

Wing stretching again showing off the colour.

I noticed that one of the Ibis was moving vegetation about and it looked as if it was building a nest .  I checked out where they would normally nest and it would seem this habitat is pretty much the same habitat.  Its early in the year, they may have been confused by the mild conditions, they may just be practising or maybe it is not a nest.  It would be an interesting situation should they decide to nest in such an accessible area.

After some activity it was time for a rest.

Some different colours, a russet red on the breast.

The wing stretching showing off the petrol colours of green and blue in the wings.

Another rest showing off the flash of green.

A different stretch this time.

Both birds then flew back to the north and started to feed on an open stretch of water.

A nice reflection.

There are Pintail on the floods through the winter, but they always stay to the back of the flood where the water is deeper.  With the water levels so high the Pintail today were everywhere and closer to the path showing well.

I decided to walk down the canal path to look for the Water Pipits reported earlier.

There was no sign of the pipits but there were plenty of Redwing and Fieldfare.

A Long-tailed Tit posed very well on one of the fences.

This gives some idea of the amount of water in the meadows.

Heading back the sun returned and lit up the path, or flooded path, that runs along the south side of Posbrook Floods.

Midges were everywhere amongst the reeds and branches of the Willow in the sunshine and this was attracting the Chiffchaff once again.

The Glossy Ibis were not in the south west corner where they were last seen, the Pintail, though, were.

The Glossy Ibis were at the top end of the floods.  And after the possible nest building the two birds were then engaged in what seemed like a display or courtship behaviour.

A lot of wing flapping

The head thrown back and the bill open, I couldn't hear any sounds.

The other bird responds.

While the other continues to flap its wings and hop around.

They finally settled down.  I found a clip on YouTube showing a pair at Shapwick Heath in 2016.  In this the two birds circled around each other and raised their wings, it was similar to what happened today, but maybe the two birds today were not happy with each other.  It is one to watch though as the birds start to acquire their breeding plumage.

I was taken by this Snipe in amongst the tall grass.

Finally the third bird appeared and joined the other two as they settled down to preen together.

Walking back to the car two Water Pipits flew over at the Bridge Street Floods, a nice end to a day that could have been a disaster, the high water and heavy overnight rain seemingly having an impact on the bird life