19th December - Titchfield Haven NNR, Hampshire

Having walked back from Brownwich, Ian and I decided to drop into the Meon Shore hide for the afternoon.  The sun was still shining and the low aspect was sending some lovely golden light and with it some great reflections on the still water of the scrape.

Despite the high water levels the Snipe were still able to roost on what was still above water.

There wasn't an island in front of the hide, but for some reason the Lapwing were aware that the water wasn't too deep where it should be and one individual flew into this to bathe.  A combination of the afternoon sunshine, the lovely blue water and the Lapwing's stunning plumage made for some interesting images.

Stunning crest.

I love the way the water runs off the feathers.

Followed by some glorious wing flaps.

A shake.

Down deep into the water.

Finally reflection time.

An adult Common Gull had found the water to be shallow enough to stand.

This one female Marsh Harrier repeatedly came over the reeds on the right hand side of the hide and then out over the scrape.

Hovering over the reeds.

Then out across the scrape in front of the hide.

There was about two hours before low tide and the Oystercatcher were slowly leaving the roost, flying out over the scrape.

A drake Teal took over the shallow water above the island in front of the hide.

A male Shoveler flying out to the bay.

Egyptian Geese leaving the Frying Pan and heading in the direction of the fields at Brownwich.  Say what you will about the rise of these geese but they do look smart in flight.

With the light fading, the Snipe were getting feisty on the island, almost as if they were "sword fighting".

The end of a day that turned out to be far better than I envisaged when I set out this morning.

28th November - Titchfield Haven NNR, Hampshire

I arrived a little later than normal this morning and was able to park along Cliff road. Another clear and sunny day after a lot of rain on the previous day.  I checked in and then walked down to the sea wall alongside the Sailing Club.  The tide was just on the turn and the water was coming out of the harbour.  The drake Goosander was snorkelling in the fast flowing water.  The light wasn't good with the sun behind it, but it is clear it is a Goosander.

Snorkelling is where the Goosander pushes its head under the water to look for prey.

It hauled out for a few minutes to preen, then was back in the water and into stream once more but never made its way into the harbour where the light would have been better.

On the other side of the stream there were Ringed Plover, Turnstone and Sanderling, the Sanderling were taking the opportunity to bathe in probably fresher water.

Walking around to the west side of the reserve I stopped to check the area around the reeds.  With the tide low the mud is exposed and a Water Rail was showing and preening, not something I can recall ever having seen before.

Looking towards Brownwich, a huge flock of Brent Geese took to the skies.

A few eventually passing just off shore.

Plenty of Shoveler in the bay, this group of drake Shoveler.

I made my way to the Meon Shore hide.  With the wind from the south west most of the duck were close to the hide, with Teal on both small islands.  A scan around the scrape found a drake Pintail, not a common duck on the scrape they prefer the deeper water of Posbrook Floods.

There were in fact four Pintail on the scrape, two drakes and two ducks.

At the back of the scrapes a male Marsh Harrier put in an appearance and gradually made its way along the right hand side of the scrape over the reeds.

Head down, the wings held in a shallow "V" and rocking back and forth in the wind.

It made its way to quite close to the hide then turned and headed back with the wind.

For once the scrape didn't go up, the harrier hidden by the reeds and bushes.  In front of the hide there were some smart Teal in the autumn sunshine.

And a Lapwing.

The male Marsh Harrier was back this time putting everything up on the scrape, coming over the scrape.

It flew over towards the West hide and dropped into the reeds.  A little later it was up and flew back across the scrape in front of the hide.

All the geese went up from the meadow, there wasn't any sign in the air to say why but the Canada Geese flew across the scrape and out towards the sea.  Over the Frying Pan the Egyptian Geese were also up.  I counted 28 birds in the air, this was a sample of the birds.

Back to the duck in front of the hide, a male Shoveler steaming towards the island.

And another smart drake Teal.

The Teal were also flying around the scrape, here two males and a female.

A second Marsh Harrier came over the scrape, this time a female and it put up almost everything including the Snipe.

Time was moving on, the light beginning to fade, out over the Solent a sign of tomorrow's weather cloud moving in from the west.

Another good winter's day t the Haven with some great Marsh Harrier action.