Thunderstorms, but great birding.

Thursday 24th August 2023.

The view from the Meonshore Hide overlooking the South Scrape.

It was another day out with the boys today, Mssrs. Farwell and Fisher and this time, we made our way to the Hides of Titchfield Haven knowing full well that heavy rain was on its way and what better than do some comfortable birding from the Hides with these two Herberts! Yes, the rain did come and DID it come, with a bit of thunder thrown in too, which actually made the Meonshore Hide floor rattle! Of late, both Garganey and Little Stint had been present over the past few days at this site, two species I have yet to see this year. Better still, Andy was up for driving down to this superb reserve.

Above, the immigrant micro moth, Rush Veneer and below, the dark form of Orange Swift moth.

But first, of course, the moths! I got a little surprise tonight when I started checking my moth photos on my mobile phone. One of the Grass-veneer micro moths turned out to be a ‘Lifer’, a Hook-tipped Grass-veneer (Platytes alpinella) and a smart little individual too. Another two more ‘year-ticks’ were added to my ever expanding year list: a dark form of Orange Swift and the immigrant micro moth, Rush Veneer. The latter is a relatively common immigrant moth and can turn up in large numbers. Yet again, I have to say that Andy’s garden comes up with the goods. I have not put my moth box on this week as the outside power point got soaked and tripped the electrics in my house. Luckily, I know a good electrician who will be fixing it over the weekend. Phew! The moths present by Andy’s moth box this morning included the following: 

• 1 Orange Swift (NFY)
• 1 Vine’s Rustic
• 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character
• 2 Large Yellow Underwing
• 6 Willow Beauty
• 1 Small Dusty Wave
• 1 Pale Mottled Willow
• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye
• 2 Square-spot Rustic
• 1 Garden Carpet
• 1 Hook-tipped Grass-veneer (LIFER)
• 1 Common Grass-veneer
• 1 Rush Veneer (NFY)

My third Bush Cricket of the week, an Oak Bush-cricket on the back of Andy's back door. Below, a new moth for my life list, Hook-tipped Grass-veneer.

Andy was driving his car again this morning and parking on Cliff Road at Hill Head at around 9.45am, we grabbed our gear and then took a walk down to the Sailing Club car park, where we checked out the shore for anything of note. The tide was well out, but there was a flock of Common Terns to sift through, though no surprises among them. A few Ringed Plover, Turnstone and a small flock of Black-tailed Godwit that flew along the beach heading west were all the waders we could see. The sea was dead calm, with possibly two very distant Great Crested Grebes swimming on the water, but it was looking very dark over the Isle of Wight and it was heading this way.

Above, from the Sailing club car park, we found a flock of Common Terns resting on the receding tide. Below, one of four Common Sandpipers in front of the Meonshore Hide.

We purchased our £6.50 entrance fee tickets, discussed what was going on with the running of the reserve with the lovely lady behind the counter, had a good chat with the lady behind the counter and then made our way to the Meonshore Hide. On the way there, a Kingfisher flew off over the River Meon by the Bridge as we strolled along the roadside and some attractive Turnstone that were still in summer plumage scurried around the small harbour to the south. 

Above, one of two juvenile Little Ringed Plovers that was in front of the Hide and below, the young Common Tern waiting to be fed, with a juvenile Moorhen close by.

 

The Hide was empty of people when we arrived, but in front of the Hide, the South Scrape was very busy with birds. Our trip here got off to a great start as It didn't take long for Geoff to pick out the juvenile Little Stint, which was right in front of the Hide (a second bird was seen later by us in the afternoon and a third bird was found after we had left) and joined by two juvenile Little Ringed Plovers. Along with four Common Sandpipers, our two visits to this particular Hide produced a good variety of waders. This included a healthy flock of Oystercatchers that included one individual sporting a nearly all white plumage, save for a few black feathers on the head! Lapwing were abundant, while other waders included a couple of Dunlin, three Avocets (including a juvenile bird), four Common Snipe and as the rain came bucketing down, four Green Sandpipers dropped onto the South Scrape. At the far end of the Scrape, at least a dozen or so Black-tailed Godwits could be seen and a Spotted Redshank in winter plumage was over on the east side of the Scrape along with a few Redshank nearby.

Above and below, one of the juvenile Little Stints on the reserve.

Above, the juvenile Little Stint, juvenile Little Ringed Plover and two Common Sandpipers gathered together in front of the Hide. Below, two of the Common Sandpipers about to settle down on one of the islands.

Wildfowl on the South Scrape included Teal, Shoveler, Mallard and our first Wigeon of the Autumn, when four birds dropped in and settled on the North Scrape. Eventually, the Garganey, which was my second ‘year-tick’ of the day, eventually gave itself up as Geoff picked it up at the northern end of the Scrape feeding out of the water sifting through the soft mud. I dipped earlier this year on the three birds at Posbrook Floods in the Spring and so was relieved in catching up with this bird.

Away from birds, there were some other interesting wildlife around including (above) a Comma butterfly seen and below, good numbers of Common Darters around the footpaths.

Above, Geoff pointed out these small Teasel plants in flower and below, this Speckled Wood butterfly was just outside the Spurgen Hide with many more along the footpath.

Other birds noted during our time in the Meonshore Hide included a female Marsh Harrier flying west over the reeds and a pair of Common Terns coming in to feed its youngster on one of the islands on the Scrape. Pleased with what we had seen, we then took a slow walk to the Spurgen Hide. A Bittern was seen here earlier this week and there was always a chance that it could reappear. I had read earlier on the Noticeboard within the Information Centre that a ‘ringing’ session had taken place yesterday and up to 25 Grasshopper Warblers had been caught, but sadly, to Andy’s dismay, we did not see any of the birds today.

The Kingfisher that was showing distantly, but well, in front of the Spurgin Hide.

Leaving the Hide, Andy found a male Redstart in a tree by the footpath, though it was too quick for me to grab a photo of the bird. A few Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and a Common Whitethroat were also seen along the footpath before we reached the Spurgin Hide, along with good numbers of both Migrant Hawker and Common Darter dragonflies. Even a few butterflies were on the wing here including Speckled Wood and a few Comma’s.

Above, a pair of Avocets were alongside a juvenile bird on the South Scrape and below, good numbers of Lapwing were present including this bird in front of the Meonshore Hide.

From the Spurgin Hide (we were told the Pumphrett Hide was closed for repairs), a fishing Kingfisher entertained us by hovering over the water a few times and regularly perched on a branch poking out of the water. Occasionally, a Cetti’s Warbler would fly over the reeds and quickly disappear into them. A few Med Gulls flew south over the reserve, but despite a good search around the reedbeds, there was no sign of the Bittern for us today and so we finished off in the Meonshore Hide to see if we could find the elusive Garganey of which we were successful. Our timing was impeccable on reaching the Meonshore Hide as the rain then began to first fall and then simply poured down and along with the thunder. 

Above, a Common Sandpiper in front of the Hide and below, a bemused Redshank in the heavy rain.

One of two Dunlins on the reserve.

Earlier today, when purchasing our ticket, I couldn't help overhearing a visitor saying that he had seen a photo of a Long-tailed Blue butterfly taken from a garden near where we parked this morning. We were hoping to find the butterfly, but the rain put paid to that and I got the message to get home to take our Isabelle swimming. A ‘lifer’ moth and two bird ‘year-ticks’ today. Great stuff.

The distant Garganey was feeding at the back of the South Scrape, but through the scope, we could clearly see the facial pattern on the duck to help clinch the ID.