For once it has been awhile since visiting Titchfield Haven, so I decided that today would be a good time. The forecast for once wasn't too bad and as I walked from Cliff Road to the Visitor centre the sun was shining and the tide was out. The water in the river Meon though was very high. After checking in I decided to head to the west side, but before going into the reserve I decided to walk along the path to the chalets. A Cetti's Warbler was singing in the scrub and blackthorn blossom provided a nice backdrop.
Very little around the chalets, a couple of Chiffchaff singing, but nothing else. I walked back along the beach and three Sanderling past me heading towards Brownwich.
On the reserve I started out in the Meon Shore Hide. The water was still high on the scrapes, but at least there were some islands visible and the the centre causeway was clear too.
As is always the case at this time of year, the Black-headed Gulls were extremely vocal. Some had managed to make nests on what land there was available, but the majority were still going through the courtship displays. This couple looking like a two headed gull!
The display involves bowing and dancing around each other.
The closest duck to the hide was the Shoveler, looking splendid in the morning sunshine.
A female Marsh Harrier appeared, hunting low over the reeds on the east side of the scrape.
With the water levels so high there is little space for waders, so the scrape is not somewhere you feel something will turn up. I decided to move on and set off for the Spurgin Hide. Along the path my first Speckled Wood of the year was present on the path in the sunshine.
There were a pair of Buzzards in front of the Spurgin Hide, one settled in a tree in the reeds. The resident male Marsh Harrier was not happy about this and started to mob the Buzzard.
The Buzzard in the end losing patience and launched an attack, at one point locking talons with the Marsh Harrier.
Aside from the harrier and buzzard conflict, there was little else. I had lunch on the tables at the visitor centre, decided against going down the east side, but did return to the Meon Shore Hide.
The Black-headed Gulls were still going through their displays.
The Shoveler too were displaying, to the other males in defiance and to available females and there own mates. This involves bobbing the head up and down
A drake Shelduck was able to stand on the close submerged island.
Other duck were now coming close to the hide. A drake Gadwall.
And Teal
There had been a few Black-tailed Godwits in the grass on the bank, they were now feeding in the water and were in their rusty red breeding plumage.
The female Marsh Harrier was hunting at the back of the scrape.
One of the Black-tailed Godwits flew to what currently remains of island A.
Then flew even closer, in front of the hide.
A shake and blowing bubbles?
They look lovely at this time of year.
It then flew from its position in front of the hide away over the hide.
The weather was changing, the sunshine gone and a few showers had passed through, and there was a threat of heavier rain not far away. It hadn't been the day I had hoped for, but it was nice to be able to get out in some sun a d dry weather.
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