28th July - Titchfield Haven, Hampshire

Back in April during the Easter school holidays I took my grandson Freddie to Titchfield for the day, so with the summer holidays just starting we were off again.  The journey was a little longer than he expected, but when we arrived and were out of the car he was clearly excited.  We checked in and then walked around towards the west side.

We stopped at the Haven bridge to look for Brown Rats on the beach.  We managed to see a couple and this very smart looking Turnstone in summer plumage.

He was keen to go into the hides so the first one was the Meon Shore Hide.  From here he was able to tick off the birds in his book, Coot, Avocet, Oystercatcher and Black-tailed Godwit were ticked and then a Common Sandpiper that came close to the hide calling.

Common Terns were everywhere, both physically and with their calls.  Adults and immature birds could be seen on the perches.

Attention span waivering we went for a walk down to the Pumfrett Hide.  The sun was hazy, but it was a warm day and there were plenty of Speckled Wood butterflies along the path and in the bushes.

There were also Gatekeeper and Meadow Browns around the bramble.

I let Freddie take some photographs using the view finder screen and letting him push the button.

Looking out from the hide over the south scrape.

The packed lunch had been calling and Freddie wanted to go back to the Meon Shore Hide to eat his lunch.  As we left the hide I noticed a yellow butterfly cross the path and fortunately it stopped on the bramble, another Clouded Yellow, the second here at Titchfield and my third of the year.

Walking along the path a Southern Hawker was patrolling the bushes on both side and eventually it perched up on the bramble.

Back in the hide, as well as eating lunch Freddie, was interested in taking some more photographs, so with the same method here is another Common Sandpiper.

And a beautiful Lapwing.

This was my effort.

We had managed a very good three hours so we decided to make our way back to the car and then to the visitor hut.  During his time in the hides Freddie took the chance to sketch some of the birds he saw.  I will leave it to the reader to identify them.

The first time I took Freddie bird watching was wonderful and it was the same today, he was attentive, interested and also surprised a few with his knowledge.  We will be back.