After six days the skies, although overcast still, were clear and the dampness that has hung in the air since Christmas Day was gone. The skies were also showing signs of the sun breaking through as I headed south towards Titchfield
I parked on Cliff road and as I waited for Ian to arrive a quick watch of the sea produced a good flock of Eider, mostly males they appeared to be chasing females.
They settled on the sea and I went back to pick up Ian. We walked down the cliff and around to the Sailing club where the Eider were now grouped together. The males were displaying lifting their heads out of the water and flapping their wings. You could hear their calls quite clearly as they circled the three females.
As we stood watching the Eider a Great Crested Grebe appeared below us and then had a quick shake before diving once more.
Checking in at the visitor centre there was a Coal Tit on the feeders, not a common bird around here.
The tide was high and there was the usual roost of Ringed Plover and Sanderling on the Sailing Club Spit. The temptation was too much and we went down to have a look and see if we could count the numbers.
A few Sanderling were feeding along the water's edge.
I was able to use the groyne as cover and could get low to the beach. Its easy to stand on one leg.
Kayakers then disturbed the Ringed Plover and they flew off out over the water, estimates were of at least seventy in the roost.
We left the waders and headed for the Meon Shore Hide. Conditions were good, it was still and the water on the scrape was calm. Scanning around there was a single Avocet on the north scrape, a maximum count of 31 Snipe on the island to the left of the hide. Noisy Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwing and the Oystercatchers coming in as the tide rose even higher.
Of the wildfowl there was a few Shelduck, plenty of Teal and a good sized flock of Wigeon on both banks of the south scrape. It was the shoveler that looked the most spectacular with the reflections in the water. This male though was a little wary of something.
The head was raised and it was looking around.
I was convinced it was going to fly, so I waited and then as predicted it burst from the water and headed towards the hide.
A Lapwing all on its own away from the many others.
A marsh Harrier appeared but dropped into the reed bed and remained out of sight. Common Gulls were on the scrape and a Lesser Black-backed Gull cruised around before being ushered away by the Lapwing.
A report came in of a drake Goosander on Brownich Pond and the though of a smart drake in dark water tugged at us, so eventually we decided to walk over to the pond and see if we could find it.
The wind was picking up now, but the sun was out and it felt quite pleasant to be without a hat for once. As we approached the lane that leads to the pond a Buzzard was surveying the field from a telegraph pole.
Brownich Pond looked quite spectacular in the winter sunshine with the back drop of dark clouds.
Of course, the Goosander was on the other side to where we could view from.
We decided to have lunch and wait and see if it would come closer. It was hanging out with Tufted Duck and they may venture a little closer. As we watched a Buzzard flew over, probably the same bird we had seen on the pole earlier.
After some lunch we walked around the path to see if we could get any closer views. The Pond is owned by the Portsmouth Angling Society and is fenced off, both with a wire and wooden fence and a low level electric fence, presumably to keep possible otters out.
We couldn't get a clear or better view of the Goosander, but in trying we had moved it out into the centre of the pond. Returning to our original spot the views were marginally better.
This could quite possibly be the same bird that was around the Haven from the summer, now having moulted into full adult, male plumage.
We headed back in what was now quite a fresh breeze. Paragliders were hanging in the air over the cliffs.
The Buzzard was now in the field alongside the path and appeared to be looking for worms, very much like the Common and Black-headed Gulls were also doing. We were able to get close using the bushes as cover.
Now the commonest bird of prey in the UK, it doesn't take from how impressive they can look up close.
We walked back along the cliffs and then down through the chalets. The tide was still quite high but slowly falling. As walked along the side of the beach a flock a=of about fifty Sanderling dropped on to the exposed sand and started to edge towards the water. We had to get into a better position with the sun behind us, so moved ahead of them. They weren't feeding but were looking to bathe in the surf and they would take turns for them to go into the surf.
I just love to watch them move around the sand and the water as they make up their minds what to do, their legs moving like clockwork.
Waiting a turn
The it was all about what to do when in the water.
Others just went straight in!
Nothing like a nice foam sea water bath!.
And so that was it and the end of yet another wildlife year. This one has been quite special with me achieving over 200 birds in Hampshire for the first time. Here's to 2025 and hopefully some more great wildlife experiences.
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