31st August - Titchfield Haven, Hampshire

After a quiet time at Fishlake Ian and I returned to Titchfield Haven.  There has been some rain over the last few days and it would be interesting to see how much the water levels have changed on the scrape once again.

An eclipse Pintail had been reported in the morning and as we walked past the viewing point we saw a male Pintail fly in and onto the river close to the viewing platform.  We tried to relocate it but it must have been close to the reeds on the road side.

The tide was rising and we checked the sailing club spit for a high tide roost and sure enough there was a group of Sanderling.  Walking on to the spit I was able to get a closer view.  I counted forty Sanderling in total.

One or two were still showing some of their summer breeding plumage.

We walked around to the west side of the reserve, there was quite a fresh breeze coming off the sea and out across the Solent there were some dark clouds and the threat of rain.

There were five juvenile Mediterranean Gulls on the small island in front of the hide.  They can be identified from the juvenile Black-headed Gulls by their larger size, the more sloping head and the more substantial black bill

This one using the black bill to a good advantage.

There were also a few adult birds about, some showing the black tips in the primaries that age them as third summer birds, but also a good number of adult birds.  They are minus the black hood seen in the spring, but are all white with the blood red bill.

This adult was taking the chance to bathe, you can see the feathers are still growing following its moult.

You can also see the raggedness of the wing feathers in flight

A Snipe was feeding on the left hand side of the hide, but I could only just see it through the reeds, hence the blurred green and pinkish red colours framing it.

One of two Common Sandpipers were on the small island, weaving in and out of the gulls that were present.

The Black-tailed Godwits have been feeding in the far north eastern corner of the scrape but for some reason a group of three decided to fly in to the left of the hide.  This one still retaining a lot of the lovely reddish brown summer plumage.

Godwit ballet.

Three small waders flew around the scrape and at first I thought they were Common Sandpipers, but there was n't the flicking wing behaviour seen in the sandpiper and it became clear that they were in fact Dunlin.  Here are two of them as they flew past the hide.

As quickly as they appeared they just disappeared.

The Common Terns are still present in good numbers and their calls are a constant reminder that they are there.  Every so often they will take to the air and fly around the scrape before settling back down.  The other birds stop and check for any possible danger, but usually don't take off with them.

They are still bringing in fish, but seem to lose the juvenile it is intended for and spend time either waiting for someone to claim it, or flying around the scrape in the hope someone sees them.

This adult sat on the goal posts and called quite loudly, it wasn't clear why though.

Lapwing numbers are beginning to build up, there were at least half a dozen on the small island in front of the hide and the still water was providing some nice reflection opportunities.  Again these birds are just out of moult and the head crests are still not at their optimum length.

This one is not far off a full crest.

Ian found the Pintail that had come on to the scrape from the river.

Clearly still in eclipse plumage but it is possible to tell the sex from the patterns on the flanks, the female has scallops while as can be seen in this one the male has barring on the flanks.  The elegance of the long neck and small pointed tail also help to identify it as a Pintail.

Another day of bits and pieces at the Haven, we still need those water levels to fall a little more, hopefully now with some rain about the threat of avian botulism is reduced or maybe eradicated.