14th April - Titchfield Haven, Hampshire

The weather forecast was good, a south east wind and overcast condition so I decided on getting to Hill Head early to sea watch.  I left home in mist, that in places was quite thick.  As I approached the turn to go down the hill to the West Meon Hut I noticed a white bird fly on to a road sign.  I guessed it must be a Barn Owl and as I went past I had a great view, but with cars behind me and nowhere to pull in I had to leave it there.

As was to be expected, I arrived at 7.30am, with blue skies, sunshine and clear visibility and a very light wind, the tide was also low but that was the least of my problems.  As a result I didn't hold out much hope of success, but I persevered and stuck at it.

Thee was a single Sanderling on the beach in front of me and out on the water there were several Sandwich Terns moving up and down the beach.  Highlights were distant, an all dark cormorant that could have been a Shag, and a Common Scoter and a male Long-tailed Duck that passed heading east, but again at distant.  So for a two and a half hour watch all I could happily see were the Sandwich Terns.

And a pair of Mediterranean Gulls on the rainbow bar.

Ian had joined me half way through my watch and we decided to walk around to th eeast side of the reserve.  We made our way to the Meadow Hide.  From there we could see over to the frying Pan where a single Spoonbill was feeding.

A Marsh Harrier, this time a female, was hunting around Duck Bay and in front of the Spurgin Hide.  At times it would drift over to us.

We moved on to the Knights Bank Hide, a female Kestrel was sat in the trees behind the bushes along the path.  Looking down she seemed to be concentrating on something on the ground.

A little further along a Whitethroat was singing in the hedge.

We spent some time in the hide, with nothing much of significance.  Two Whitethroats were in the bramble in front of the hide and Blackcap sang in the bushes to the right.  

On leaving and walking back along the board walk a Chiffchaff showed in the willows.

Ian left, but I decided to stay and walked around to the west side.  I decided to check the spit behind the sailing club.  There were two Sanderling flying around, but not coming on to the beach.

Walking back to the sea wall I flushed a Wheatear from the fence.  It flew across the road and a quick search saw it flush again and then fly away and settle in the trees by the Meon Shore hide.  It was a female.

A Marsh Harrier close to the bridge had me walking back, but it turned away.  However below the bridge was a Great Crested Grebe and it was catching crabs.

Some different views showing off the crest.

It then caught a small flat fish and attracted the attention of a Black-headed Gull so it would dive to avoid the gull taking the flat fish with it and not eating it. 

I headed around to the west side and for once avoided the Meon Shore hide and headed for the Spurgin.  Settling in to eat lunch, I waited for the Marsh Harrier to appear which it didn't take long to do.

Coming close on the left hand side over the reeds.

There wasn't any sign of the male today, maybe they share nest duties.

Of the many shots taken this was one of the best.

Leaving the hide I walked back to the entrance gate and came across the female Wheatear which showed well on the posts.

Te disappointment of a poor sea watch was made up for with some nice encounters through the rest of the day.