Avocets at Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve.
As we move towards the end of March the Avocets numbers are increasing within the nature reserve.
Numbers :- UK breeding:1,500 pairs UK wintering:7,500 birds Europe:37-54,000 pairs.
A is for Avocet.
Titchfield harbour & nature reserve.
A duck’s life.
Not a nice side of a duck’s life. SENSITIVE CONTENT.
While theoretically monogamous, Mallard ducks will often engage in what used to be called “rape chases,” but are now known as “forced copulations.” This involves several males chasing a female and then forcefully mating with her – So brutal is the act it has resulted in the female’s death when she has been drowned by the males holding her head underwater.
In Titchfield Harbour 9 males Mallards pindown a single female.
She was able to get herself out of the water and onto the beach.
Finally, the brutal attack was over and she was able to get away.
Black-tailed Godwit.
Black-tailed godwits are a large wader. In winter they are rather dull and grey in colour. Now as we approach the summer they colour up their chests and bellies become a bright orangey-brown
They have distinctive long beaks and legs.
Wintering numbers in the UK are about 44,000 birds from the Icelandic population.
Black-tailed godwits breeding range stretching from Iceland to the far east of Russia.
A film of Godwits on the River Hamble. (filmed into the sun so not as good quality as I would have liked)
followed by stills taken from the film.
Avocets.
Avocets have started arriving at Titchfield Haven for the start of the breeding season. About 20 birds were spotted today in the rain! All a far way off but as more arrive, I am hoping for some close photographs.
After storm 3!
Another stormy night as the 3rd storm lashes the UK in as many days. Many trees are down on local roads and places closed. Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve remains closed since the end of last week as authorities need to check the trees are safe.
The Red Funnel Isle of Wight ferry was having a choppy crossing this morning. Some services were cancelled over the weekend.
A workforce was out repairing the seawall at Titchfield Harbour.
On the shore, Sanderlings were feeding at the water’s edge and out of the wind. Sitting down on the beach using one of the groynes as a windbreak I was able to take some pictures as the feed today clams seem to be on the menu.
The ringed bird is a regular bird that I see on Meon Shore.
Ducking around.
Gadwall were pairing up yesterday in force at Titchfield Haven lots of quacking and splashing. Over 25,000 birds are in the UK during the winter but only about 1,200 pairs remain in the summer.
Getting to know you.
Black-headed gulls have started to pair up – and hence the “noise” has returned To Titchfield Haven. The screech of their call extends all around the reserve and will dominate until nesting season ends at the end of the summer.
Some of the birds are starting to get the breeding colours – their heads are changing to dark brown -which at a quick glance appears black and where these birds get their name from.
The bird below with yellow bill and legs almost caught me out as to what it was but it is a Black-headed gull in first winter colours so probably one of the chicks from last year returning to its nest site.
Voyage to the bottom of the sea.
Some birds are as good underwater as they are in the air.
A Cormorant and a Little Grebe at Titchfield Haven Nation Nature reserve today.
Gadwall.
The Gadwall is a grey-coloured dabbling duck. They are a little smaller than the Mallard.
Very few nest in the UK (only 1200 pairs).
UK wintering: 25,000 birds.
The Teal
Teal are small dabbling ducks. There are about 2100 breeding pairs found in the UK but the wintering numbers increase to 210,000 birds many of these are continental birds from around the Baltic and Siberia.
Continued Reflections from my World. 