I was a little late getting away this morning, but made up some time in the drive south to Titchfield. I had to park in the sailing club car park and then walked around to the check in. From there I walked around the sea wall. The tide was rising and the water was high in the bay probably due to the heavy rain we have had over the last few days.
Out on the Solent was the group of Eider, I counted sixteen and there was a single Sandwich Tern heading west along the beach. Brent Geese were disturbed by dog walkers further up the beach and the group flew past heading for the beach at Hill Head.
The South scrape was very high, the islands in front of the hide submerged now. Wha islands there were had the Teal and Lapwing on them, while Snipe Island had around twenty eight Snipe. On one of the wooden bars there was a single Lapwing taking in the morning sunshine.
A female type Marsh Harrier (although it was quite a large bird and more than likely a female, was quartering the reeds at the back of the north scrape.
FRom the back of the north scrape it moved to come over the reeds between the south scrape and river.
One spot held its attention for some time, hovering over the area, but never dropping into the reeds.
The Marsh Harrier was then ushered away by the crows and my attention turned to the Shoveler in front of the hide. There was a sizeable collection of male Shoveler pursuing a couple of females and as they moved away the males would fly to keep up with their rivals.
There was a lot of bobbing and preening followed by wing flapping as they vied for attention.
Very seasonal, halleluyah!
Then something, it wasn't clear what spooked the whole scrape and everything, including the snipe of the island went up. A chance to catch the duck in flight, especially the Shoveler, who engaged in some synchronised flying.
But it didn't stop them keeping tabs on the lone female.
As well as the duck, of course the Lapwing were up.
The Snipe Island wasn't empty for long and gradually the snipe started to make their way back.
Three Snipe however hadn't moved they were tucked down in the reeds just below the hide.
Reed Bunting have been active feeding on the reed seed heads and this one showed well at the top of the reeds on the right hand side of the hide.
The male Marsh Harrier put in a brief appearance on the right hand side of the scrape.
The Snipe numbers were building up again on Snipe Island.
The sun was now to the south and the light looked better from the Spurgin hide. The Marsh Harriers were showing well so I decided to walk around to the hide. Settling in, it didn't take long for a Marsh Harrier, a female, to appear. It was though being closely watched by the crows who were quite aggressive and the Marsh Harrier was fighting back.
Having avoided the crows the harrier drifted away to the north past the hide.
With the female moving away the male appeared and it too provided some close views as it flew south towards the river and the scrape.
Cruising low over the reeds, the yellow eye showing really well.
Then from nowhere the female appeared and didn't like the male hanging around and started to pursue. This gives the chance to see the size difference between the sexes.
The female forcing the male away.
Then both birds were gone and things went quiet and eventually very gloomy. Ian and I decided to leave. Walking out on to the sea wall the tide was still coming up, but there was some beach for the Sanderling and Turnstone to rest on, for awhile.
The Marsh Harriers continue to entertain at Titchfield and there were some great shots here today.
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