Yesterday it had been a while since I had visited the Keyhaven - Lymington reserve, today I was addressing another long time away, walking the Titchfield Haven Canal path. I parked up at the Bridge Street car park, along with quite a few dog walkers and then in brilliant sunshine and a light cool wind I set off down the canal path towards Posbrook Floods.
There were plenty of hirundines over the Bridge Street floods which still had some water, but the Posbrook Floods were assumed dry as they were covered in vegetation, the only life being grazing cattle.
In the trees around the path there were Long-tailed Tits, a Nuthatch and several Chiffchaff. The warblers were all quite elusive feeding around the branches and leaves.
A little further along there was a Migrant Hawker hunting along the bushes by pushing the branches, but eventually it settled on a branch.
About half way down the canal path the Highland Cattle were grazing in one of the fields. I searched for any sign of Cattle Egrets, but they were not about.
As I got closer to the end of the path the number of Chiffchaff started to increase, with their calls clear in amongst the oak and willow trees. Finding them was not easy as they were very mobile, but I did manage to get some photos.
At the point where the canal diverts into the stream that supports the water levels on the scrapes, a Firecrest was heard and eventually they were found amongst the ivy. Again they were not easy and very elusive as they flitted amongst the leaves and catching insects.
A pair of Raven flew over as I reached the sea wall and the number of hirundine moving was seen to be quite significant, flying along the coast line before heading out over the Solent.
I walked around the the west entrance and in to the Meon Shore hide once again. The water levels have fallen a little further, there was no sign of the Curlew Sandpiper seen last week, but there were two Dunlin, not common here on the scrape. At the back of the scrape were two Glossy Ibis, and one caught an eel and was then chased by a Grey Heron that was close by, probably waiting to try and steal.
A Marsh Harrier at the back of the north scrape upset the Lapwing, putting them all up over the south scrape.
There has been at least one Common Sandpiper on the scrape since the end of July. Today only one was present and showed well in front of the hide catching flies off the exposed mud.
To the west a Red Kite circled above the trees with two Buzzards.
With things quiet from the Meon Shore hide, and to warm up as the north east wind blowing into the hide made it very cold, I walked around to the Spurgin Hide. A Red Admiral was enjoying the sunshine on the gravel path.
While another Migrant Hawker settled amongst the branches of the willows lining the path to the hide.
It was very quiet as well in the Spurgin Hide. A Peregrine flew through after upsetting the Lapwing on the scrapes and a Kingfisher flashed through. It was left to the long legged birds to hold the interest. A couple of Great Egret appeared.
One dropped on to the pond but didn't stay following the other off in the direction of the Frying Pan.
One of the Glossy Ibis flew north, but was seen later coming back to the scrapes.
And unusually a Grey Heron settled in the tree to the left of the Spurging Hide, not what I was hoping for but still quite welcome.
After eating my lunch I decided to walk back to the Meon Shore. On the railings outside the hide a male Ruddy Darter was sunning itself on the wood.
Back at the meon Shore hide, the Glossy Ibis were feeding at the back of the south scrape, the Grey Heron keeping a watchful eye for any opportunity to steal a meal
A Bar-tailed Godwit had been seen on the beach in the morning, but had ten joined the Black-tailed Godwits on the scrape. Earlier I hadn't been able to find it, but now it stood out amongst the Blackwits, behind island E. When you see the two together they stand out quite clearly.
The discussion in the hide was about the lack of Little Stint so far this autumn. It would seem everywhere else locally had had several birds, but nothing here. As we mused on this some one in the hide said"is that not a Little Stint, on the left hand end of island F?". It was, it must have just dropped in as the tide was rising.
It remained distant, a juvenile with the white braces on the back, these are passage migrants that will appear on the south coast at this time of year. Certain years there can be good numbers, this year hasn't been so bad, but as I said this was the first here at the Haven.
It flew across to island D and made its way around the back, as it came out on the left side, one had become two. They didn't appear to like each other and could later be seen fighting back on island F.
They would move between the Island F and Isnad B at the back of the scrape, never coming close to the hide.
I turned my attention to the Glossy Ibis, both birds were feeding in the open water and the sunshine was picking out the colours in the plumage that gives them their name.
A third ibis was picked up flying in from up river, as it banked around it's plumage looked a lot different to the other two birds, lacking the glossy appearance, more drab and brownish. Watching it later with the other two was presumed it to be a juvenile, possibly one of this year's young, from where though we don't know.
A Water Rail was scampering about on the right hand side, dodging in and out of the reeds. the first I have seen here for quite a while.
The reeds have been cut in front of the hide and also the vegetation on the island to the left of the hide that is known as Snipe Island. With the area now clear with only stubble a Snipe had already moved in.
Time was against me and I had to walk back up the canal path. The only birds of interest were about a dozen Stonechat halfway along the path and this almost perfect Shaggy Inkcap Fungus.
Another glorious September day if maybe a little cool. The sky though was an azure Blue with some lovely white puffy clouds, they always look spectacular in black and white.
There always seems to be something to see here at this time of year, you just have to be patient and it will come.
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