31st July - Titchfield Haven, Hampshire

After the family break it was back to Titchfield to see what had been going on while I was away and what state the reserve is in now after the complete lack of rain.

Plenty of spaces along Cliff Road this morning so it was a short walk to the Cabin where I checked in, from there I started to walk around to the west side of the reserve and the scrapes, but stopped at the harbour.  The tide was out and there was a sizeable increase in the number of Turnstone on the mud in the harbour.  All still in their summer plumage, there was a count of fifty three.

Common Terns were fishing off shore and could be seen flying back and forth from the scrape.  On arriving at the Meon Shore hide I was informed that there was a Spoonbill at the back of the scrape.  It was feeding with the characteristic sweeping motion as it searched for any food in the water.

There was some debate over the age of the Spoonbill, there were signs of black in the primaries and the legs were black which indicated a possible immature bird say second calendar year?

There always seems to be a Common Sandpiper feeding around the island in front of the hide and of course it was there today.

Also on the island were the three Common Tern chicks.  The oldest is now fourteen days old with the other two showing their age difference in their size.  Probably standing in the atwer to cool off.

The parents would bring fish in and for a while it was the older chick that was taking the majority of what was brought in.

There was an interesting dynamic where another tern would try to feed the chicks bringing in fish.  But the chicks were able to ignore it and hide under the roof tile, clearly they had been told not to accept gifts from strangers.  But what is interesting is that they are clearly aware of the correct tern's calls.

One of the parents calling out the intruder.

Plenty of tern action around the scrape, with a lot of immature birds still being fed by their parents.

Some close fly pasts as well.

And some squabbles.

There were two Sandwich Terns present, but both birds left the scrape heading to the sea as the tide came in.

A Mediterranean Gull was found amongst the Black-headed Gulls, an adult bird it was ringed with a white ring and the symbols 'EK22', hopefully I will get some more information on this at a later date.

Despite the fact that no Avocet chicks were raised on the Titchfield scrapes there were several juvenile birds feeding around the scrape.  They probably have come from the Hook Links scrape where there were a few birds raised.  These three were inseparable.

This adult was always close by and could be heard calling, maybe a parent?

Other waders included an increase in Common Redshank and the now long staying Spotted Redshank, unfortunately in its non breeding plumage.

There were four Green Sandpipers on the north scrape and one came south onto the area on the left hand side of the scrape with a Common Sandpiper close by.

Black-tailed Godwit numbers topped 105, with many birds scattered around the scrape.  These still in summer plumage looked quite smart in the dark water.

Apparently there has been a Water Rail showing over the last few days and this juvenile nipped out of the reeds and then almost as fast back in.

There was a strange event around midday, a sharp loud crack and gust of wind that blew the dust across the scrape and everything was spooked.

The thought was it could have been some sort of vortex that was generated by the heat and the wind.  It was very strange.

With all the birds spooked the Spoonbill left too, but it came back and stayed for a short while then flew off heading out to sea.  As it passed the hide you could clearly see the black tips to the primaries that probably age it as a second year bird.

When I arrived a Common Gull flew over my head towards the bay. As I walked back an adult Common Gull was sat on a post, a returning bird for the winter already.

One sad event I watched a juvenile Black-headed Gull struggling to keep its head up and eventually it dies on the edge of an island.  There was also a few dead Avocet around the scrapes.  The thought is that this was due to botulism caused by the low water on the scrape.  Lets hope it is that and not more avian flu.  The water levels have been increased now and hopefully this will continue through the dry spell.

22nd - 29th July - Corfu, Greece

It had been planned since the start of they ear and was finally here.  A holiday with all my family in an all inclusive resort in Corfu.  Not a holiday with camera and safari, but a chance to watch and share some wonderful family moments with my very special ones.

Needless to say I was always on the look out for a photographic opportunity over the week with some views, scenery and reflections, plus a couple of wildlife moments.  Lets get the wildlife out of the way first.  A rather damp spot near to where we were sat by the pool attracted a dragonfly.  My grandson alerted me to it and we all spent some time watching this Southern Skimmer return over and over again to a perch.

Down at the beach bar there were plenty of wasps but they were all out done by this impressive, huge Hornet.  Everyone is afraid due to their size, but at one point this one was crawling up my leg.  It was looking for moisture.

The two swimming pools were very busy during the day, but come the evening they were empty and the water was still providing some interesting reflections.

Corfu is a long island with a central peak.  Most of the villages are all along the winding road that goes around the shore.  The sides of the hills and mountains are covered in vegetation and in places there are villas looking out over the sea.

Swallows and Red-rumped Swallows would circle above the pool and then weave in and out of the tall conifers that were around the resort.

Plenty of Palm trees too.

At night the trees were lit up providing a spectacular scene.

Being on the western edge of the two hour time difference meant that the sunrise was around 6:30 and the the sun finally set about 21:30.  This meant that after dinner there was still plenty of lovely light.  We were also lucky to have an almost full moon.

The flight path into Corfu airport is from the south and the planes would fly past the resort on their final approach.  The number of flights arriving seemed to increase around the weekend.  They could be seen day and night.

Our final dinner was down on the beach and we were treated with a lovely still sea which produced a small pod of dolphin, unfortunately always distant, but lovely to see.  After sunset the sky turned that lovely mix of greys and pinks.

The "Buck Moon" appearing through the haze just after sunset.

Then as the moon rose in the sky it through reflections across the sea.

The lights along the promenade of the beach also reflecting in the water.

With a late morning flight home we were up early on the last day and were able to watch the sun rise over the mountains of mainland Greece.  The sea once again was so still.

The week went so quickly but created so many lovely memories and it was wonderful to have precious time with my wonderful family.

20th July - Titchfield Haven, Hampshire

Back to Titchfield today.  Much cooler with the fresh northerly breeze.  I headed around to the west side of the reserve, pausing to take a look at the male Goosander that was in the harbour.  Heavily in moult the spring's bottle green head was now a reddish brown and the wings were without and primaries or secondaries feathers.  It is separated from the female redhead at this time of year by the white panel on the wings.

The tide was at it's lowest and the terns were fishing in the shallow water and carrying their catch on to the scrape to feed the young terns.

There were four Common Scoter out on the Solent, much too far away to photograph.  As I watched them a message came in announcing a Little Stint on the south scrape.  Rather than go straight to the Meon Shore hide I walked around to the Pumfrett where you can view both scrapes.  The stint was showing but ironically closer to the Meon Shore hide.

So I walked back and it was still showing, but insisted on feeding around the legs of Black-tailed Godwits.

Here with a Dunlin for size comparison.

This is quite an early Little Stint for the Haven and shows that the wader passage is now well under way.

There were four Dunlin, all in summer plumage feeding around the island.

Over the last few weeks there has been a Common Tern on its nest on what was an island, but is now part of the mud.  I was beginning to think the eggs were not going to hatch, but today there was a glimpse of a chick and I was told that there are two.

The Black-tailed Godwits are still looking very smart in their brick red plumage.

Other notable birds on the scrape were the Tufted Duck still with her three ducklings and two Little Stint on an island on the far right hand side

There had been a Brown Hairstreak reported on Sunday on the east side of the reserve so I was keen to try and find one.  Turnstone have been absent in the harbour, but today there were nine feeding along the edge of the water, all in their orange summer plumage.

And so the search began.  I am sure I had one fly past me in the typical Brown Hairstreak manner as if a little tipsy.  It didn't stop though and the search continued and while it didn't turn up a photographable Brown Hairstreak there was plenty to see.

Two Jersey Tiger Moths, one high up in the security and shade ot the tree leaves.

And another on the Hemp Acrimony.

These moths are becoming commoner as the temperatures continue to rise.

The obligatory Painted Lady.

A Large White, there were also Small White and Green-veined White.

Then in amongst the wild flowers smaller butterflies.  A female Common Blue.

And a Brown Argus.

No Brown Hairstreak once again, but some interesting sightings, with Little Stint a welcome year tick.