Tuesday 11 February 2025 Titchfield Haven
On a thankfully still and dry (but chilly) day, ten ChiNats members gathered at the payment desk ( having seen a remarkable number of Turnstone busy on the shore of the little harbour). Recent sightings were up on a notice board and it was decided to head straight up the eastern side of the Reserve, using the well maintained boardwalk, to Knights Bank Hide from where Long-eared owls had recently been recorded. On the way, various fungi were spotted including the intriguing Scarlet elf cap. At Walkway Pond, Soft rush and Lesser Bulrush were identified. We didn’t actually see the owls from Knights Bank but we were treated to a Marsh Harrier making frequent flights along the valley and occasional poses on the trees by the river bank. A lone Curlew was spotted and, at the same time, a large flock of Lapwing, with their broad wings and slow flap, flickered black and white in the air. Did you know that the collective noun for a group of lapwings is a deceit? This is because if they’re being watched by a predator they sometimes pretend to have a nest in a different area to where their actual nest is. Clever! Our best sighting from the hide however was a Cetti’s warbler which stayed for several minutes on a bush, close by, clear for all to see!
On our way back, we dropped into Meadow Hide for a short time. However, not much was added here to our sightings on iRecord. This now included - Pied wagtail, Magpie, Great tit, Long-tailed tit, Blue tit, Wood pigeon, Stonechat, Great-spotted woodpecker, Jay and House sparrow as well as Mallard, Black-headed gull, Coot, Shelduck, Teal, Great-crested grebe and Mute swan.
Before we settled in the warmth of the Reserve’s Information Centre with our picnic lunches, we set off to Meon Shore Hide, spotting Eider in the Solent as we passed the sea wall. There was an excellent view from this large hide and the following were added (or abundance amended) to our list - Shoveler, Redshank, Little grebe, Wigeon, Herring gull, Grey heron, Canada goose, Cormorant, Gadwall, Oyster catcher, Black-tailed godwit and Moorhen as well as Robin, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Carrion crow. The star here was Snipe. Initially, one was spotted on an island but the more one looked the more ‘appeared’! Watch out for the ‘Spot how many Snipe’ question at the Christmas Party! No more clues here!
Most of the group departed after lunch but two sturdy members ate by the sea where they saw Sanderling and then set off to the Pumfrett Hide where they spotted Avocets. Many thanks to all attendees, photographers and members with telescopes.
Gill Hance