Short-eared Owl finally seen in 2023.

Saturday 28th October 2023.

If it wasn't for birding pal Emma Parkes, I probably would have simply gone on to Titchfield Haven instead of risking going to Farlington Marshes and probably got a good soaking for our efforts. She said that it was going to be dry between 9 and 12 am and so, as Geoff Farwell, Andy Fisher and myself made our way down the A3, I took a last second decision to go to Farlington Marshes and hopefully finally catch up with my first Short-eared Owl of the year. I owe Emma one.

Above, the Lake on Farlington Marshes where the water level was the highest I have seen it this year. But we got superb views of the Bearded Tits here this morning. 

Above and below, Sanderling on the beach at Hill Head with a few Turnstone thrown in with them. Beautiful birds in the bright sunshine.

Sadly, Andy’s moth box turned up no moths whatsoever, with just a few Gnats and Crane Flies to look at, but after a refreshing coffee, we headed off south from a very wet Cowplain. All this week, the reserve has been inundated with photographers, getting some superb photos of the very showy Owls and lucky for us, one of the birds performed superbly for us. But what dozy numpty had left both his Camera and Binoculars at home??? Yours truly. After our trip to the Marshes, I went back home to retrieve them both.

Above, some of the Sanderling on the shore at Hill Head and below, the water level in the small harbour was overlapping the main road at times.

Above, this female Stonechat was by the main entrance to the reserve.

Geoff explained that there was going to be an exceptionally high tide today and even a few hours before high tide, one could see in the harbour how high the tide was already, which held a good number of Brent Geese resting on the water as I gave the harbour a quick scan and picked up at least 4 Sandwich Tern sat on the buoys and a lone Great Crested Grebe on the water. The water level on the Lake was very high, but it still held a good number of mixed varieties of waders including Lapwing, around 50+ Knot, Black-tailed Godwit and Redshank. It was nice to see the Pintail in their winter dress for the first time this season, mingling in with the Mallard, Teal and Gadwall present. A Greenshank was heard and then seen flying over the harbour and then onto the reserve as did a small flock of three Common Snipe.

Above, good numbers of Common Snipe were in front of the Meonshore Hide and below, Shoveler were also showing well from here.

Above, a large contingent of Starlings were on the islands in front of the Meonshore Hide.

Andy said that the ‘feral’ White Goose was still among the Canada’s out in the fields and the resident Barnacle Goose normally accompanies it. He and many of the fellow ‘Lazee Birders’ have added this goose to their Hampshire year list and I suppose I had to follow suit. Though I could not locate the Barnacle Goose among the Geese, when we neared the Deeps area, I soon found the bird grazing with the other Geese and, of course, the 'feral' White Goose! On seeing the bird, a quick check over the Point Field and I then caught a glimpse of my first Short-eared Owl of the year. Happy days! Not only two more for my Hampshire year list, but the 200 species for Hampshire too (208 UK species for the year in total).

Above, the Common Snipe performed well in front of the Hide. It was interesting to watch some of the birds square up to one another as in this photo. Below, another photo of the Starlings flying over the south scrape.

The Short-eared Owl performed superbly in front of us and even perched on a post as if to taunt me! So, forgetting to bring my camera, the bird showed right in front of us and now with the sunshine bursting through the clouds, the bird flew over the fields and then landed on the ground out of view. A male Kestrel was also seen perched on a small bramble within the fields and a Common Buzzard was seen distantly perched on a fence post at the back of the reedbed. Skylarks and Meadow Pipits were noted and a female Stonechat was seen in brambles near the Point Field. Always plenty to look at here on this reserve. Even three Ravens got in on the act, with two birds seen flying over the Point Field and another bird seen flying off west over the fields. Geoff said that the Ravens here had taken most of the Lapwing chicks here during the breeding season.

Above, we found several Fly Agaric Toadstools along the footpath on the east side. Below, two drakes and a female Shoveler in front of the Meonshore Hide.

After our superb showing of the Owl, we made our way back to the Lake and from the Viewing Platform, we had a superb show of at least 10 Bearded Tits flying in a tight flock up over the reeds in front of us, calling in doing so and then returning back into the reed bed again. This they repeated several times and again, I was rueing in not having my camera with me. A Cetti’s Warbler was calling loudly near us and then seen flying across the gap between the two reedbeds nearby. Happy with our trip here, after retrieving my Binoculars and Camera, we headed off to Titchfield Haven.

Above, there was just the one Little Grebe seen today. This was also in front of the Meonshore Hide. Below are three immature Mute Swans flying east over the reserve.

The weather was most certainly looking a bit ‘iffy’ and so quickly getting our access tickets, we made our way on to the reserve. The water level from the small harbour was nearly level with the main road as we got our tickets and at least the Sanderling and Turnstone on the shore were showing very well in the small roost. Entering the reserve, a female Stonechat was perched on a bramble near the entrance as we made our way to the Meonshore Hide. As expected, the water level on the south Scrape was very high, but one of the smaller nearer islands was just above water level and that suited the 50 or so Common Snipe just nicely. In the sunshine, they showed superbly and among them, there were a few Redshank, Lapwing and a single Dunlin.

Above, a mixture of Common Snipe, Redshank, Dunlin, Teal and Shoveler all sharing one exposed small island. Below, both Starlings and Lapwing flying over the reserve.

Two large flocks of Oystercatchers were on the furthest islands, including the bird with the pale head that has been here for several seasons now. Shoveler and Teal showed well just in front of the Hide as the Hide echoed to the sound of camera shutters from other birders present within the Hide. And who could blame them. At times, the light was superb as I took full advantage and to be honest, though I don’t possess the big expensive cameras that were present today, I was really pleased with my efforts today. Another bird present here included a Little Grebe to the west of the Hide, which showed very well. 

Above, another photo of the many Common Snipe present. I think this is arguably the most of this species seen together this year. Below, we just got into the West Hide just before the rain hammered down. I don't think the poor Highland Cattle enjoyed it much. 

We made our way to first, the West Hide and then onto the Spurgin Hide and on the way there, I found our first Fly Agaric Toadstools of the year (earlier, Matt Parkes sent a photo of one he and his wife saw in the New Forest this morning). There were at least four of these Toadstools present. The rain was starting to come down heavy and so we hit the West Hide first for a bit of shelter. There wasn't a lot on show here, but the grazing Highland Cattle that were taking a good soaking, but this carpeted Hide had a lot of potential for something interesting, though we saw virtually bugger all there. The Spurgin Hide was disappointingly quiet too, with just a female Sparrowhawk flying east high over the reserve and both a Cetti’s Warbler and a Chiffchaff noted. On exiting the Hide, a Water Rail could be heard calling, but we never got a glimpse of the bird as we made our way back to the car. So, despite my ‘absent mindfulness’ early this morning, it turned out to be a very good day indeed.      

A flock of Common Snipe flying in front of the Spurgin Hide. There were no sightings of Jack Snipe in front of the Hide, unfortunately and in fact, it was rather quiet in front of the Hide today.

There was no sign of yesterday's immature Merlin around today, but we had a good time here and saw some superb birds and other nature here including several Migrant Hawker Dragonflies still on the wing. I treated myself to a new Britain's Butterflies book from the Reserve Shop and will make a good read tonight. Fellow ‘Lazee’ Pete Gammage found a Black Tern hawking for insects in the north-east corner of Langstone Harbour this afternoon; a good late record for this time of year.