9th September - Titchfield Haven, Hampshire

I managed to get a parking space along Cliff road this morning, so it was a short walk to check in and then make my way around to the west side of the Titchfield Haven reserve.  It was another bright and sunny start, a little more of the autumnal chill in the air, but a lovely morning.  Clouds were bubbling up away to the west and there was always the chance of a shower later.

Out on the rising tide a Sandwich tern sat on the Rainbow Buoy.

For once there were several people in the Meon Shore Hide but I managed to find a space at the window.  I had already been informed that there were three Curlew Sandpipers present and one of the Glossy Ibis that are in the area at the moment.  The Glossy Ibis was feeding in the water, the morning sunshine catching the iridescence in the plumage that gives it it's name.

The three Curlew Sandpiper had been on the left hand or west side of the scrape and had kept their distance, but gradually they made their way back towards the hide.  They seemed to prefer the still, shallow water that creates a dark background.  They are all three juvenile birds, with a buff blush on the breast and lovely buff fringed feathers on the upper parts.

As they got closer they started to move away, wading out into the deeper water.

Two Stonechat appeared on the surround fence and a Kingfisher flew across the scrape, the first I have seen here for a long time

The Glossy Ibis was joined by another and they eventually settled down on one of the islands closer to the causeway.  The Curlew Sandpiper made their way back up the side of the scrape and appeared to be closer to the Pumfrett Hide.  Despite the light problem, I headed to the hide to see if I could get some closer views.

Looking south from the Pumfrett was not easy with the sunshine, but it would go behind the clouds to make the light a little better.  The Curlew Sandpipers had turned back, of course, but there was a Ruff close in.

This being a female it is only slightly bigger than the Curlew Sandpipers and has similar plumage colour to the juveniles, which at a distance makes you wonder if there are more Curlew Sandpipers.

Of course the bill is shorter and the supercillium not so pronounced.

Also on the causeway was the obligatory Common Sandpiper.

These two waders allowed me to get the exposure right as one of the Curlew Sandpipers ventured closer, eventually coming just below the hide window.

These two sho the lovely peachy buff wash on breast and neck.

It flew off with the Ruff towards a small spit behind one of the islands, but returned to show even better now with the sun behind the clouds once again.

It then made its way back towards the other two and I decided to try my luck through lunch in the Spurgin Hide.  On the way I was told of a few Common Lizards sun bathing on one of the pieces of corrugated rubber.

This one looked like it had lost its tail at some point and it was growing back.

The Pumfrett Hide was very quiet, a distant Marsh Harrier being the only sighting of note.  As a result I walked back tot he Meon shore hide where it had now also become quiet.  The Glossy Ibis were gone, but the Curlew Sandpipers were still present and flew from the favourite west side to the island to the right of the hide in the small bay.  Once again some dark water helped to provide a lovely background.

I called it day not long after this as the Curlew Sandpiper flew back to their favoured west side and it looked as if it would remain quiet.  Despite their distance and the challenge of the light, I was pleased with the photos of the Curlew Sandpipers today