The day started well as we travelled down via Eastleigh Sewage Works, hoping for a view of the Yellow Browed Warbler. We had only waited about five minutes before it was heard by us both, then viewed working through a close by Ivy plant - before it shot across the road and out of sight. We took a brief walk down the footpath where no less that nine Chiffchaff were present on the periphery of the works. On returning to the car some eight or ten people had gathered, waiting for a glimpse, but we left them to it and moved on at 8.45am.
After breakfast we went on to Titchfield Haven where a Mediterranean Gull loafed on the groyns with the Black-headed Gulls andTurnstones delicately picked their way along the tide line before we had even entered the reserve.
Our first birds of note here were the Penduline Tits. They were feeding on seed heads a short distance from the path. We went into the hide to try for a better look. The shots were achieved inspite of the NGBs present, as excitable (and noisy) as seven year olds with ADHD and off their Ritalin, leaping about in order to get the optimum shots without a care for other hide users!
There were plenty of Cetti's Warblers and Water Rail to be heard in the water-logged undergrowth but these went mostly unseen.
The reserve also has several fine examples of interesting fungi. These are not my forte and there is every possibility that I may have misidentified these by my best attempt from internet research is as follows
After breakfast we went on to Titchfield Haven where a Mediterranean Gull loafed on the groyns with the Black-headed Gulls andTurnstones delicately picked their way along the tide line before we had even entered the reserve.
Our first birds of note here were the Penduline Tits. They were feeding on seed heads a short distance from the path. We went into the hide to try for a better look. The shots were achieved inspite of the NGBs present, as excitable (and noisy) as seven year olds with ADHD and off their Ritalin, leaping about in order to get the optimum shots without a care for other hide users!
There were plenty of Cetti's Warblers and Water Rail to be heard in the water-logged undergrowth but these went mostly unseen.
The reserve also has several fine examples of interesting fungi. These are not my forte and there is every possibility that I may have misidentified these by my best attempt from internet research is as follows
Jelly Ear
Hairy Curtain Crust
The Gorse shrubs are already flowering.
Along the shallow edges of the Meon Gadwall, Teal, Wigeon were joined by Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit and Snipe.
Just some of the 40 or so Snipe secreted along the banks of the river.
We didn't manage to find any Bearded Tits, but Reed Bunting and Stonechat were both seen perching in the reeds.
Reed Bunting
Male Stonechat
A large flock of Brent Geese frequent an area close to the reserve.
Sun over the Isle of Wight
The Sun was already low in the sky by 3.20pm, time to set off home again.