15th September - Titchfield Haven, Hampshire

I was supposed to be at the Hawk Conservancy Trust today for a Birds of Prey Experience, but this was cancelled yesterday due to the forecast high winds and heavy rain.  As a result I returned once more to Titchfield.  There were definitely high winds as it was a struggle walking around the sea wall into a very strong south west wind.

I noticed this on Saturday, but never took the photograph.  The grass on the island in front of the hide appears to have taken the shape of a Kangaroo on the left hand side!

The number of birds was down once again.  There were only two Curlew Sandpipers present today, once again on the left hand side of the scrape and once again they made their way around to in front of the hide.

Once again the Curlew Sandpipers were flighty, returning to the left side of the scrape.

A Little Egret flew to the right of the Snipe Island.

The Lapwing were enjoying the challenge of the strong winds around the scrape.

The first year Marsh Harrier appeared at the back of the north scrape and made its way doggedly over the reed bed and around the bushes.  

It eventually reached the scrape, where it put everything up including three Avocet that were hiding behind island "B".

A Snipe landed on the island to the right of the hide and didn't look comfortable, so I waited and eventually it took off.

There were two large gulls on the scrape, the Great Black-backed Gull stayed at the back with a juvenile, but the Lesser Black-backed Gull, which was showing winter plumage, was a little closer.

A good look at those yellow legs.

There were also four Mediterranean Gulls around the scrape, but eventually they headed out towards the sea.

There were four Ruff on the scrape, but they stayed at the far end of the scrape.  One came a little closer and I managed to get it in flight.

Back to the Curlew Sandpipers as they flew back in front of the hide.

Take off.

Then chaos, everything went up and flew around the scrape, eventually I could see the reason, a falcon over the scrape.

It was struggling in the wind and at times appeared to hover like a Kestrel.  My first thought was Peregrine, but it looked quite small so next thought was juvenile Hobby.  However looking at these photographs it turns out it is a Peregrine, again a young bird.  There didn't appear to be any rings.

It held in the wind and flew around the scrape, which now was empty of birds.

Birds still flying around, the blurred dots in the sky behind the falcon.

A different view.

This shot probably clinches the identification, a broad tail and lack of buff vent.

The scrape was empty, all the godwits gone, the Avocet remained though and a Sandwich Tern flew over the hide, although I don't know where it came from.  One Curlee Sandpiper returned as did two Ruff, but little else.

I decided to call it a day and headed out into the wind.  The tide was on the turn and there were some spectacular waves out on the Solent.

Looking east towards Lee-on-the Solent.

A day with some variation, lets hope the strong winds turn something up over the next few days.

13th September - Titchfield Haven, Hampshire

Still lots of heavy showers forecast, so it was back to Titchfield and the security of the hides.  It was raining as I walked around to the west side and into my second home, the Meon Shore hide.  The squally showers could be seen out in the Solent

Settling in, the five Curlew Sandpipers were all together on the left hand side or west side of the scrape.  Surprisingly with the tide still low and high tide not due for at least six hours the Oystercatcher were flying in to roost on the islands on the scrape.

On the island in front of the hide the Lapwing produced a nice reflection in the shallow water.

Gradually the Curle Sandpipers came closer, with one bird moving into the darker water created by the reflection of the Snipe Island to the left of the hide.

The Lapwing were having a funny five minutes, producing some flying acrobatics around the south scrape.

Twisting and turning, swooping high and then diving towards the water.

A Sparrowhawk appeared on the predator fence and slowly made its way along the fence by flying low over the grass.  Eventually it appeared on the right hance side of the hide, then it flew off behind the hide and was not seen again.

A Common Sandpiper, one of two on the scrape, then flew on to the small "kangaroo" island in front of the hide.

The Curlew Sandpiper were now in front of the hide, these three together.

Then the five flew back to the left hand side of the scrape once more to start to do it all again,

A heavy rain shower then went through, vindication for the hide today.  After the rain had gone, the Lapwing then went a little crazy again, repeating the flying acrobatics seen earlier.

The Marsh Harriers have been conspicuous in their absence recently, so it was nice to see this female appear over the reeds and then make its way to the south scrape where it put up almost everything.

The Common Sandpiper was back and again there were some nice reflections.

It then moved to the right hand side of the island and had a good bath.

Some sunshine and the Curlew Sandpipers were in front of the hide, the shallow water providing reflections.

Plenty of flying around today, the Curlew Sandpipers covering a lot of the scrape, spending a good amount of time in the north east corner, but coming back in front of the hide.

A nice view of the underwing.

There were three Ruff present on the scrape, but they stayed on the causeway, well out of view, but just before I was about to leave one flew down to the mud in front of the reeds on the left hand side of the hide.

It didn't stay long and very quickly flew back to the causeway.  My time to leave too, the Curlew Sandpipers performed again today but it was nice to get some other birds as well.