Another good day's birding with more 'year-ticks'.

Saturday 8th February 2025.

At last the weekend. A Long-tailed Duck had  been present off Weston Shore for the past few days along with a few other scarce birds and I also fancied a trip to Fishlake Meadows to hopefully hear or possibly see, a Bittern that was reported earlier in the week. However, the weather was very poor in the afternoon and with low heavy overhead clouds throughout the day, therefore getting photography was hard work for anything distant. It was a very cold day (around 5 degrees centigrade all day) and the only saving grace was that there was hardly any wind.

Weston Shore, Southampton Water:

The Long-tailed Duck was always distant, but it did get a little nearer to the shoreline on Southampton Water.

Though there were no moths in Andy’s Moth Box this morning, Geoff and I were treated to a flock of around 15 Siskins flying over his garden! Not only was the second week running that Siskins flew over his garden, but both times, Andy was still indoors and still needed this species for his year list too! A Coal Tit, a small flock of Goldfinch and a male Chaffinch were also seen here while we enjoyed a hot drink.

Another poor photo of the distant Long-tailed Duck.

The thirty minute journey to the Weston Shore Car Park was a bit of a breeze and we soon got onto the 1st winter male Long-tailed Duck out on the water. A kind fellow birder came over to us and told us where to look for the bird and after picking it up through the scope, I quickly got the guys onto the bird. After around 20 minutes, the bird flew further north and landed not too far away and remained there up until we left.

One of several Brent Geese flying up channel along Southampton Water.

Checking the water for other birds, among the many Great Crested Grebes sitting on the calm water, I found the long staying Red-necked Grebe, though it was very distant and difficult to locate once it dived. That was the same for the Black-throated Diver also out on the water and as soon as you got onto the bird through the scope, the bird dived; but both Andy and Geoff managed to connect with the bird eventually. This was a ‘year-tick’ for Andy and cheered him up big time. Other birds seen included a few flocks of Brent Geese flying north over the water and several flocks of Curlew and Oystercatcher were seen flying low over the water. Visibility over towards Hythe was poor, which was going to be the theme of today. Next stop, Fishlake Meadows.

Fishlake Meadows, Romsey: 

Siskins by the Car Park at Fishlake Meadows.

By the time we got to the reserve, drizzle had started to fall. We had bought some hot food from a nearby Newsagent and enjoying this, I picked out a large flock of Siskins up in the trees and quickly got Andy onto the birds to add to his every growing year list. A good start. We made our way slowly north up the Canal Path where Andy was on a roll with more added to his year list that included Great White Egret, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Cetti’s Warbler and a fine Water Rail. Good numbers of Cetti’s Warblers were calling around the reserve, but it took one by the Canal to finally nail a sighting of the bird. The Great White Egret was a very distant bird, but no mistaking what species it was. A pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew over the main lake in the centre of the reserve and lucky for us, we heard a Water Rail calling from the Canal area and we just managed to view the bird through the brambles as it searched the muddy flood for food by upturning the fallen leaves. I was lucky enough to see a second bird as we walked along the footpath leading to the River Test; this individual swam across a stretch of water and promptly disappeared into the reeds before the guys could get on it.

Above, another photo of the Siskins by the Car Park and below, clumps of Mistletoe were growing in this tree near the main entrance.

Above, it was very gloomy looking distantly over the reserve, especially when the rain came in. Below, Freshwater Clams were scattered along a short area by the Canal. Did Otters cause this?

Above and below, this Cetti's Warbler showed well by the Canal.

Above, this Jay flew down and landed on the footpath and below, Andy was feeding this very tame Robin some Doritto crumbs!

Other notable birds seen in the gloom included a Great Spotted Woodpecker flying overhead and a Jay landed on the footpath as we made our way back to the car. A small flock of 4 Gadwall were seen on one of the pools and we accidentally flushed a Common Buzzard by the River Test as the bird soon settled in trees near the main road. The rain was now getting a bit harder as we made our way, at pace, back down the footpath to the car. Again, we had several large flocks of Siskins flying over and by the time we got back to the car, we then had lunch.

Canal Path, Titchfield Haven:

The three Glossy Ibis flying north up the reserve. 

Our final destination was to be the Canal Path at Titchfield Haven for another chance of finding the Glossy Ibis that has currently made the place their home. They have been virtually here all winter, but we failed to locate the birds last month; but second time lucky? The heavy rain while driving along the M27 had finally stopped when we reached the small car park near Titchfield Village and so we made our way to Posbrook Floods after some kind birders pointed us in the direction of the Ibis.

Above, a flock of Wigeon were out in the fields adjacent to the main footpath along with a Common Gull. Below, a lone Black-tailed Godwit with Wigeon near Posbrook Floods.

The Bridge Street Floods held a few wildfowl, notably Pintail, Mallard, Teal and a few Shelduck and close by, a small flock of around a dozen Lapwing were just north of the main pool. A fellow birder back in the car park said he had seen a Stonechat being accompanied by a Dartford Warbler. Sadly, there was no sign of those birds during our time here. Suddenly, while walking down the Canal Path, everything on the marshes to our left took off including a large flock of around 60+ Black-tailed Godwit and good numbers of Wigeon. Geoff then saw the Ibis flying away from us heading south, but at least we actually saw them, which was my second ‘year-tick’ of the day and Andy’s 8th year tick of the day!

Above, another photo of the Glossy Ibis and below, the female Kestrel overlooking the reserve.

We were hoping to see the birds on the floods, but there was no sign of the birds. By a small footpath just south of Posbrook Floods, we came across a small gathering of Chiffchaffs that were busy chasing flies. Also present was a Firecrest that was doing the same along the brambles and were all soon joined by a small flock of Long-tailed Tits. On the way back to the car, the Glossy Ibis once again were seen, but this time flying back down south over the reserve and out of view. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over our heads for the second time today and a showy male Kestrel perched on some exposed branches over the main footpath until flying off the reserve to round off a gloomy but enjoyable day's birding. 

And here is Andy doing his Morrissey impression at Fishlake Meadows.