It was back to Titchfield after the travels at the weekend. Another lovely sunny day but a little milder with a south west wind. After checking in I walked to the harbour bridge where two Little Grebes were diving in the sky blue water.
Just as I was about to walk on a Little Egret came from the scrapes over the river nd out into the harbour.
A little further along the road there were five Common Gulls on the river, resting on the posts.
As I passed through the gate on the west side there were two Goldfinches feeding on the teasel seed heads. This are spectacular birds that we just over look as common. But if these were seen on the other side of the Atlantic they would be cherished.
There are teasel seeds or niger seeds around the base of the bill.
Through the main gate there were two Stonechats fly catching from the branches of the bushes.
The challenge was to catch them in the air and it was easy as they do twist and turn. I caught this one as it came towards me.
While this one isn't as sharp as I would have liked it, but I had to post with it targeting in on the fly.
On the south scrape there were good numbers of Lapwing and one or two were doing their crazy fly arounds. I like to try and catch them as they twist and turn at quite amazing speeds.
Also flying on to the islands were a few Snipe. I counted ten around the islands, catching this one as it crossed the water.
Word of a Glossy Ibis out on the river had me taking some time to have a look. My hope was I caught catch it on the brick island in the sunshine, but as I walked around a Cormorant flew on to the island and flushed it to the dark side of the river.
A surprise here when I processed the images, a Water Rail quite close to where the ibis was feeding.
Back on the reserve I dropped into the Pumfrett hide. A huge flock of Egyptian Geese flew in and on the South scrape I could now see the Pintail that had been hiding behind the islands.
Walking up to the Spurgin hide a Buzzard came over being mobbed and forced lower across the path.
Very quiet from the hide, but a message came in saying there was a Ruddy Shelduck on the north scrape. Leaving the hide, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was on the dead trees along Sally's Path.
Showing the nictating membrane that covers the eye.
As I came into the Pumfrett hide the flock of Egyptian Geese took off and I just managed to catch a glimpse of the Ruddy Shelduck as it flew with them.
It looked like the dropped on to the Eleven Acre Mere so I decided to walk back. There was a count of sixty three Egyptian Geese and it took a while to eventually find the Ruddy Shelduck, a male.
A stunning duck that originates from Asia. Whether or not this is a pure migrant and not an escape is always a debate, but it was great to enjoy this spectacular shelduck as it mingled with the Egyptian Geese, calling to them with a "pok-pok-pok" sound, a great contrast to the honking calls of the Egyptian Geese.
But the Ruddy Shelduck would follow the geese calling.
Leaving the Spurgin I walked back to the Meon Shore hide. Things were pretty much the same so I focused once again on the Lapwing flying around the scrape.
As I walked back to the car the tide was starting to rise and out on the beach at Hill Head were thirty seven Brent Geese.
The Weather looks like rubbish for the rest of the week, so it was good to be able to get out in the sunshine today. Also nice to catch up with a Ruddy Shelduck here at the Haven.
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