6th June - Titchfield Haven, Hampshire

There has been more rain this week than the whole of the spring this year, an amazing fact.  However the rain always frustrates and it was good to be able to get out today.  I decided on a trip to Titchfield.  I wasn't expecting much but there was always a chance of seeing something from the hides.

It was quite sad to see the work taking place on the old visitor centre and then to go to the ISO containers that are now the new office and centre.  It was also frustrating as there were several vans blocking the path meaning I had to go all the way around to check in.

After checking in I headed to the west side.  A Pied Wagtail was catching flies that were attracted to the sea weed that had been left by the fishermen on the sea wall.

It was pretty much business as usual in the Meon Shore hide with Black-headed Gulls busy around the islands, There wasn't any sign of any Avocet chicks which was concerning, but plenty of Avocet sitting on nests.  Amongst the gulls were several pairs of Common Tern.  What was good to see were the number of Black-tailed Godwits.

Here showing the flexibility of the godwit's bill.

Common Terns flying around the scrape.

Lesser Black-backed Gulls were testing the resolve of the nesting birds, cruising around the scrape.  Here an Avocet takes to the air to chase off one of the gulls.

The Lesser Black-backed gull in question.

It was nice to see four Mediterranean Gulls on the scrape.

All four of these were adults, more of which later.

I walked all the way around to the Spurgin Hide, it was still late morning and the light wasn't brilliant.  A Marsh Harrier glided by at the back of the pool every so often and Swifts could be seen hawking back and forth between the scrape and the pool here.

A Little Egret took off from the reeds and flew towards the scrape.

I spent a lot of time and shots on the Swifts but could only manage this.

After my lunch I decided to try the Pumfrett hide. In the ponds close by there were Common Blue Damselflies and this Four Spot Chaser.

A little more activity here, plenty of Swifts, and a few more successful shots.

The Pumfrett hide had some other action aside from the swifts.  On the central causeway an Oystercatcher had either found or taken a Black-headed Gull's egg and was addressing it like it would a limpet or mussel on the beach, hammering away with its bright red bill.

Then started to eat the contents.

Black-tailed Godwits were moving, this group coming in from up the valley.

I mentioned earlier about the adult Mediterranean Gulls, they had the black hood, redbill and legs and the all white wings.  On the causeway there were two, what initially looked like adults with the black hood and red bill and legs, but look at the primary tips, they show black.

These two birds are third calendar year birds.  In the spring moult the colour of bare parts become adult-like, with the orbital ring and bill turning coral red, the bill often with a black bill-band of varying width. The legs are scarlet red. The iris turns deep reddish-brown. As with 2CY birds there is individual variation in this age group but it is less pronounced and mostly involves the amount of black in the outer primaries and the fullness of the hood.

But back with the Swifts, they were coming closer now, which helped, but only a little.

The Predators though were never too far away, this Avocet taking to the air to chase off a Lesser Black-backed Gull.

But the biggest threat seemed to come from this female Marsh Harrier that would come towards the scrape, low over the reeds at the back.

There were young Black-headed Gull chicks on one of the islands close to the reeds and the harrier was headed towards it, but then dropped into an area next to the island, hovering and hanging just above the ground, watching the attention of the Black-headed Gulls and Avocets that were going crazy.

It would drop down, stay and then appear once again, heading off north but always coming back and heading for the same place.

Despite the chicks being left and definitely vulnerable the harrier didn't approach them.  My time was up, its June and not the most exciting time of the year for birds, but there will always be something to entertain, today it was the Swifts and the Marsh Harrier.

2nd June - Portsdown Hill and Old Winchester Hill, Hampshire

Monday looked like the best day of the first week of June, the forecast showing sunshine for most of the day.  With reports of Marbled Whites at Portsdown Hill and a chance the orchids may have progressed I decided to head there first.  I was hoping today would be a good butterfly day.

The view as I parked was lovely in the morning sunshine, the tide out in Portsmouth harbours, but sufficiently deep for the warships that were at anchor.

It didn't take long to find the Marbled Whites, there were several flying amongst the short grass as I scrambled down the side of the hill.

A stunning male looking like it has just emerged.

The last two visits here have been in overcast and damp conditions so it was wonderful to see the chalk of the Portsdown cliff against the blue sky.

I was disappointed not to see any orchid spikes as I arrived at the triangle site.  It took awhile but I eventually found one Lizard Orchid, probably the same one Ian and I had seen just over a week ago.  It looked like it was suffering from the lack of rain, the flowers looking wilted and tired.

There wasn't any sign of the Bee Orchids, hopefully a little too early still, but there were plenty of Pyramidal Orchids just beginning to emerge.

Rather than climb the west side of the cliff I decided to retrace my steps back to the lay by where the car was parked.  A Buzzard was being mobbed by a Carrion Crow along the edge of the chalk cliffs.

Just before I started the ascent up the hill I came across another butterfly first for the year, the ubiquitous Meadow Brown, the first and maybe one of the last photographs of this commonly seen butterfly.

Other butterflies seen were a single Holly Blue, two Red Admiral and several Brimstone.

From Portsdown I drove over the downs to Old Winchester Hill, my first visit of the year.  I walked from the car park along the top path and was surprised by the short grass, normally by now this would be quite long and blowing in the breeze.  So with the short grass the only butterfly was the Small Heath.

Once I reached the flowering bramble things picked up, several male Brimstones nectaring on the flowers.

A very worn and faded Painted Lady flew past me, still, despite the state of the wings, a very strong flyer.  It settled on the bramble.

Then a little further along I came across half a dozen immaculate Painted Ladies, more indication that this could be a very good year for this lovely butterfly.

Just as I was about to leave the bramble I followed two orange butterflies, only one settled and showed itself as a Small Tortoiseshell, a butterfly that is becoming quite rare these days.

At the bridleway to the HillFort, on the other side of the fence a=was a bank covered with purple Vetch.

I walked through the Yew Forest and down on to the track that follows the slope to the fort.  Down below I could hear Red Kite calling and stopped to watch four birds all together, I think these were immature birds from last year collecting in the dead branches of the Ash trees.

Walking around the moat of the fort, what was noticeable once again was the short grass and lack of wild flowers.

With no flowers I didn't see a single butterfly on the walk around the fort.  Back at the gate the Red Kites had taken to the air, showing well below and at at eye level.

The view looking back towards the fort.

Walking down the slope towards the Woodpecker Wood there were several Common Spotted Orchids.

A white variant.

The commoner pink variety.

And I was also able to find a single Chalk Fragrant Orchid.

Walking through the wood there were plenty of Speckled Wood in the sunny glades.

This path shows how dry the hill is.

I only saw three blue butterflies, two Common of which this was a very worn and faded specimen.

And a stunning male Adonis Blue.

I sat at the bottom of the slope and ate my lunch, as I did so there were Meadow Brown and a single Marbled White about.  The walk up the slope saw the four Red Kite appear with a Buzzard and a pair of Raven fly over.  Not a bad start to the month, but it looks like the weather will not be very helpful for the rest of the coming week.