2nd June - Titchfield Haven, Hampshire

Its June, the heatwave has gone, this morning being woken up by heavy rain.  The rain continued in showers as I travelled south to Titchfield Haven, for the first time in awhile.  When I arrived it was dry but with some impressive clouds out over the Solent and away towards Southampton Water.

I started on the east side hoping to find some orchids and like everywhere else they were out early, these Southern Marsh Orchids looking impressive in the grass by the side of the path to the Knight's Bank hide.

This orchid is tall with a strong stem and a crowded, cylindrical spike of pale pink to deep red-violet flowers.  Each flower has a prominent saucer-shaped lip centrally marked with speckles and dashes.  They are variable though and some plants can be more intense in colour than others.

They often grow in large colonies and the there were quiet a few here, so th ehope is they will spread even more.  They like wet soils and typical habitats include marshes, water meadows or fens along river valleys.

Also amongst the Marsh was an impressive spike of Common Spotted Orchid.  This orchid is both common and has spots on the leaves which help to identify it.  This is Hampshire's most common and widespread orchid and is found in a variety of habitats including open, dry grassland, damp fen, and woodland.  It colonises new areas easily and can be found along road and railway verges.

I had a look in the Knight's Bank hide, but it was very quiet, so I decided to head around to the west side.  Along the board walk there was a Blue-tailed Damselfly.

And a smart Comma.

Walking around the sea wall the clouds to the north of the Haven looked impressive and I hoped it stayed dry for my visit because it looked like there would be a lot of rain under those clouds.

Walking up to the Meon Shore hide the clouds looked even more impressive.

There were two drake Tufted Duck in front of the hide, always a nice duck to photograph.

The islands were full primarily of Black-headed Gulls but with a few Common Terns amongst them.  Looking around the scrape there were also a good number of Avocet, although there did not see any sign of nesting or chicks.  The Avocet were mobile chasing each other around.

This Avocet in front of the hide.

Black-headed Gulls having a chat on the island in front of the hide.

With so many gulls looking to breed there is always going to be predators, Foxes have been thought to be a problem as they have managed to break through the predator fence, but during the day the threat comes from the air and the Lesser Black-backed Gull.  There are at least two pairs around the scrape and they patrol up and down looking all the time for a weakness in the gull and Avocet defences.

The dark ominous clouds behind the gull adding to the menace these predators bring.

Sometimes they work together, one distracting the Black-headed Gulls while the other attacks with the gulls away, or they just dive in and grab the unsuspecting chick.  In this case the Lesser Black-backed Gull grabbed the chick but in the ensuing scramble the chick was dropped, but it looked like it was dead as it lay in the water.

The Lesser Black=backed Gull being chased off without any chick.

Another attack though was successful and flew off with the Black-headed Gulls giving chase unsuccessfully.

 

While I was in the hide two chicks were taken by the gull, while another looked like it had died as a result of an attack.  So is the scrape colony going to raise any young, we will have to see.

It doesn't look like the Common Terns have any chicks at present, the do have the opportunity to use the half pipes placed on the islands, but if the chicks come out into the open they will be vulnerable.  The Terns though were on show around the scrape.

Using the wooden posts close to the hide.

Heading out to the sea.

Other highlights on a typical June day, were Swifts and House Martins, mostly over the reed beds.  The Black-tailed Godwits prefer the deeper water of the north scrape, but were flushed and flew around before returning back to the edge of the reeds on the north scrape.  I counted 32 godwits as the passed by, this a selection.

And you can't keep the Marsh Harriers away, this male at the back of the North Scrape along with a couple of Swifts!

The showers, some showing as heavy on the radar were passing by to the north of us, and I had managed to avoid the rain.  As I walked over the harbour bridge, once again the clouds looked impressive and threatening.

I drove home through very heavy rain and flooded roads, a good start to the summer!

11th May - Titchfield Haven, Hampshire

I opted for Titchfield again this morning as the weather looked a little dodgy and there was always the shelter from the hides to fall back on.  There was also the outside chance that the Red-rumped Swallow seen on Sunday might be about, but the chances were looking slim from the negative reports posted this morning.

As I approached the A32 junction with the Ropley Road I noticed a Brown Hare in the field close to the road.  Fortunately there was a pull in available and I pulled over and managed to get to the camera without disturbing the hare.

One of my favourites and this one seemed unconcerned by me and started to have a wash and brush up.  Probably wet from the dew and rain of the night before.

A good old scratch.

And a clean and stretch for the toes.

I left the hare to its ablutions and made my way to Titchfield.  Fortunately I was able to park along Cliff Road, so I dropped down the steps to the sea wall.  The tide was starting to draw out and there were a pair of Oystercatcher in the water and they appeared to be swimming, not something I have seen before.

I walked around to the spit behind the sailing boats in the hope that there might be some Sanderling, however the only birds were a pair of Common Tern showing nicely on a groyne.

And two Oystercatcher that were probably the same two I had seen swimming earlier.

I went to the west entrance and the Meon Shore hide.  It was pretty much like I had encountered Saturday, the island dominated by the Black-headed Gulls and Avocet feeding in front of the hide.

What was of interest were the Swifts that were hawking at the back of the scrape and occasionally coming closer across the south scrape.  These were the largest group I have seen so far this year and were joined by a few Swallow.  As always the Swift present a challenge to try and get an acceptable shot.  These were the best I could do over the time I was in the hide.

Saved the best until last?  Probably.

The Common Terns were showing off as well.

This pair engaging in acrobatic displays together high above the scrape.

A little more standard.

I love the way they lower the tail and bring the streamers of the fork in as they come in to land.

There were two pairs of Sandwich Terns in amongst the Common Terns and also quite a few Buzzards high above the reserve.  A more recent sight has been the presence of three Tufted Duck pairs on the scrape, these ducks breed later than others so we may see some ducklings, if they can evade the marauding Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

I walked around to the Knight's Bank hide to see if the Swifts were any closer there.  I thought that I could watch them and have lunch.  Unfortunately nobody told the Swifts.  But there was a nice show of Marsh Harriers.  A male and maybe a female although it could be an immature male Marsh Harrier.

Although the female type was calling a lot, so maybe it was the male's mate?

The male scattering the gulls on the Frying Pan.

News then came in of a sighting of the Red-rumped Swallow at Posbrook so I was off there more in hope than anything else.  When we arrived there wasn't any positive news, seen by one person and there did seem to be some doubt.  There were plenty of hirundines distant above the trees and a few Swallows came past as we stood on the Canal Path.

Unfortunately it wasn't to be and I had to go.  There were no more sighting in my absence, so I didn't miss out today.  Its the middle of May and anything can show up, remember last May?