This Water Rail is making a dash from cover in the reeds. Although they are usually secretive, they are often heard but rarely seen. Today. I was lucky to see this bird break cover.
Water Rail.
Titchfield harbour & nature reserve.
Focus on Ringed Plovers
Over the past few weeks, the number of Ringed Plovers resting on the spit at Meon Shore has been increasing. This post is concentrating on this small wader.
Ringed plovers are described as small and dumpy wading birds with orange legs and a black and white head and breast pattern. They can be seen foraging for small invertebrates and crustaceans in a characteristic “stand and watch, run, peck” pattern.
UK numbers ; breeding birds 5,450+ pairs; wintering 42,500 birds
The birds group up beach and will fly together in small flocks.
Note in the last picture, a Dunlin has tagged on!
Glossy Ibis.
I have been seeing one or two Glossy Ibis at Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve for a couple of weeks. Today, I was able to get some pictures as they came closer to where I was watching from.
Looking at reports on the news and online, there has been a huge influx of Glossy Ibis across Britain and Ireland, with large flocks appearing across a wide area.
The arrival breaks all modern records for the species, which has been increasing across Western Europe in recent years. They bred in Britain for the first time in 2022.
In early September, a minimum of 605 Ibis were recorded across Britain and Ireland.
Hover.
Kestrel hunting over Titchfield Haven this morning.
Hide in a hide!
Heavy rain continues, and the forecast predicts ongoing showers most of the day, so the advantage at Titchfield Haven is that you can dodge the showers and keep dry in the bird hides.
Finally spotted a Kingfisher, although some 60 metres away, they have been avoiding me for the past couple of months.
Another first for me and a rare sighting in the UK. A very distant Grey Phalarope.
An Arctic-breeding wader that sometimes arrives on UK coasts after storms. Under 200 birds are seen each year.
I also saw a Ruff, one of two that are at the Haven at the moment, now in their winter plumage; they are still a good-looking wader.
Below is a post showing the Ruff in summer plumage.https://skylid.travel.blog/2025/06/17/ruff/
Ruff’s are a member of the sandpiper family – some Common Sandpiper were also at the Haven this morning.
From a Hide.
This morning, I made an early start with the aim of spotting some Kingfishers from one of the hides at Titchfield Haven. There are several well-placed posts which are often frequented by Kingfishers.
As nothing goes to plan, there was not a Kingfisher in sight. However, a Sparrowhawk decided to land on one post. Then, within a few minutes of the Hawk leaving, a Little Egret landed on another of the posts.
A Snipe.
Between showers today, this Snipe came out into the open for a few minutes during my morning walk . Also spotted a Water Vole, but he was too quick for me to get a photograph!
Still going 2025.
Spotted the Leucism Oystercatcher today at Titchfield Haven, see old blog – he has been around since 2017. So nice to spot him again.
Cattle Egret.
Occasionally, I see Cattle Egrets; numbers in the UK are rising. They often spend time close to livestock, such as cows, and they grab the insects and worms that their hooves disturb. Cattle Egrets have yellow or greyish legs and a yellow beak,
Some distant pictures of an alone Cattle Egret at Titchfield Haven yesterday.
Green.
Willow Emerald Damselfly and Southern Hawker Dragonfly at Titchfield Haven this morning.
Continued Reflections from my World. 