After the rain of Sunday it was dry, but overcast as I headed to Titchfield Haven. On arriving the tide was well out and on the exposed shingle and mud were my first notable gathering of brent Geese for this half of the year.
I walked down to the beach hoping to get closer to the geese, but they were spooked by a dog on the beach, I thought dogs were not allowed on the beach from October to March, but that doesn't mean anything.
With the tide out in the harbour there were eight Brown Rats feeding on the seed thrown for the duck.
The water levels on the river in the bay were low due to the low tide and a Water Rail was out feeding along the edge of the water, it was though very gloomy.
I entered on the west side and went straight into the Meon Shore Hide. The water is still high, but we are now past the opportunity for waders on the scrape. There were plenty of duck, but all on the far side of the scrape.
A male Marsh Harrier came along the reeds on the right hand side of the hide after having circled close to the Spurgin Hide.
I walked around to the Spurgin Hide encountering a Kingfisher that flew at me and turned away when it realised I was there. From the hide the scene wasn't much different, very quiet with only Coot and Gadwall to be seen. I was in it for the long run and settled in. After an hour the only highlight was a Wren that appeared in the reedmace in front of the hide.
Then a pair of Little Grebe appeared at the back of the mere, this one was preening and then wing flapped, not something I have seen very often.
Then a very brief appearance from a Kingfisher at the back of the mere. It didn't stay very long and flew off calling. Kingfisher appearances have tailed off over the last few weeks and they do not appear to come that close to the hide. The Spurgin has been very popular due to the Kingfishers and unfortunately this may have contributed to the recent tail off.
The Jays were still busy caching acorns, this one was seen flying back and forth regularly.
Then at last the Marsh Harrier appeared, a male.
It came quite close to the hide. The male harrier I have seen lately had a tail feather missing, this one did not so is another bird.
the evil eye.
It drifted off towards the scrapes and then came back. It flew behind a bush and then another appeared very quickly, was there possibly two males? Later one male was on the left hand side of the hide and another appeared to the right so there was two males. With the two female / immature types present that is four harriers and as the male with the missing tail feather hasn't been seen, there could have been five.
This harrier was taking an interest in a spot in the reeds in front of the hide.
Rain was threatening and I decided to walk back to the sea wall. The tide was very high and on the beach behind the sailing club. Here a roost of 44 Sanderling, the count is going up.
Walking over the bridge there was a Grey Heron in the area below where there should be a Kingfisher.
Looking from the road to the beach once again there was another 24 Sanderling on the beach, making a total of 66, the highest this autumn so far.
The tide was high there was no where other than the groynes for the Turnstone to sit.
Not the most spectacular day, but I was out and sharing some time with the wildlife.
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