Birding in black and white at Titchfield Haven

Over the course of the weekend I have made a couple of visits to the Haven, for no other reason than to enjoy the present spectacle of breeding gulls and waders. There is also the long-staying Greater Yellowlegs which is always worth a look if its showing, but I don't tend to seek it out if its not. As well as the breeding birds there are always plenty of other species on hand and this weekend there were Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Redshank and a couple of marauding Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Single Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint have also been seen this week and over the weekend, but I didn't manage to catch up with either.

Whilst walking around it was evident that the majority of the birds I was watching were mainly black and white, well at least it appeared like that, so I thought I would theme this post on them. My first species is Pied Avocet. This year is providing to be a good one for Avocets, with at least 14 nests on the south scrape. This species has to be a favourite of many a birder; they are elegant and very distinctive with their black and white markings. The upturned bill is perhaps the most distinctive feature, perfectly designed for sweeping from left to right as they feed. They are often feeding just in front of the hides giving excellent views and the first chicks of they year on the south scrape were a welcome sight, let's hope the evade the Lesser Black-backs.

Pied Avocet - There are at least 14 pairs on the scrape this year and truly black and white bird

Another Pied Avocet

The Black-headed Gull colony at the Haven is doing very well, I haven't bothered to count them but there are loads. Within the colony there are a couple of pairs of Mediterranean Gulls and it is this species that is my next black and white species. The hood on a Med gull is jet black and contrasts with the white neck and underparts, there is of course the light grey back/mantle, but I won't dwell on that. The image below clearly shows the brown hood of the Black-headed Gull in comparison with the black hood of the Med, somebody clearly got it wrong when they named Black-headed Gull.

Adult Mediterranean Gulls (one sitting on the nest behind the other). Its jet black hood contrasts with the white neck and underparts as opposed to the Black-headed Gulls with their brown hoods - who on earth came up with Black-headed for this species

A Northern Lapwing was feeding, whilst protecting its two chicks just in front of the hide on the north scrape. Another distinctive species with its dark olive green back but black bib, crown and face mask, so this is my next black and white species. Its crest is also black and curls up in the opposite direction to the Avocet and is longer on the male. 

Lapwing - ok not really black and white, but more dark olive green and white, but it does have black on it!

My next species was Greater Yellowlegs, not a black and white species at all really, more grey and white, but has showed so well this weekend that I just had to include some images. Now that it has come into some plumage there are some black centres to some of the feathers on the back, so I think I can just about get away with including it. The bird seems to have got into a bit of a pattern now, when the river is high it moves up to the Posbrook flood, but as more mud becomes exposed on the river it moves back down. Occasionally it visits the scrapes but those visits are more sporadic.

Greater Yellowlegs - Definitely not black and white, more grey and white, but is its summer plumage it does have black centres to feathers on the mantle

Greater Yellowlegs

As I left the reserve and headed back to my car I noticed the almost resident Black Swan in the harbour. An all black bird, except that is for the red bill, but when sat next to a Mute Swan there was a very black and white scene. There were two Black Swans when I was at the Haven the other day, I don't think anyone has any idea where they have come from but they are an interesting addition to the harbours avifauna.

Two Swans, one Black and one White (Black Swan and Mute Swan)

Hampshire Birding and a Colour-ringed Mute Swan - February 2014

Today I headed out to the west of Hampshire for a spot of local birding. I started at Lepe with a view to catching up with the long staying Lesser Yellowlegs, and decided to head on from there as news of other birds broke. I arrived at Lepe just as news came through that the Lesser legs was still there, which was a good start. As I arrived at the usual pool there was no sign of the bird, but a couple of redshank, five dunlin, a black-tailed godwit and a Mediterranean Gull kept me entertained for a while. I continued to scan and eventually found the Lesser legs at the back of the scrape, in amongst some dense vegetation. Spurred on by my success I next headed across the road in search of Firecrests. I had seen a couple of birds here back in the autumn when the Lesser legs had first turned up, but I had no luck today.

My next stop was Beaulieu Road Station, a regular site for wintering Great Grey Shrike. One had been reported yesterday, 1st February, in the area so I walked out to the railway bridge, as it was the highest point on the heath, and therefore the best place to scan from. Unfortunately, I did not find the shrike, but did get some good views of three Dartford Warblers, my first of the year.

Next stop was Hampshire and Isle of Wight Trusts Blashford Lakes reserve where a ‘redhead’ Smew had recently been reported. After a brief stop at Ibsley water I headed to Ivy Lake, where the bird had been seen earlier in the morning.  But rather than heading for the North Hide, which I suspected would be crammed with birders hopeful of a view of a Bittern, I headed to the west of the lake and the viewing screens. The northern screen was no good as the afternoon sun made silhouettes of the birds so I headed for the southern screen. The light was much better here and within a couple of minutes I had picked up the Smew, but sadly the recently reported Red-crested Pochard eluded me.

Mute Swans at the Avon Causeway

I decided to head home after Blashford, but on the way had a quick stop at the Avon causeway. The whole area was flooded and the water was still flowing over the road making it virtually impassible. I stopped and started to scan the area; a couple of Stonechats were new for the year and then I picked up a colour-ringed Mute Swan. The bird had an orange coloured ring on its left tarsus, with the black lettering ‘S2L’. Having recorded several colour-ringed swans in recent years I suspect that this bird was ringed by Dave Stone in Christchurch Harbour during the annual Mute Swan round up, but the question is how long ago....?

Adult Mute Swan with Colour Ring

Orange Colour Ring on Mute Swan

......I will keep you posted!

Some Recent Recoveries from BTO HQ

This week I received some good news in the form of five ringing recovery/control sheets back from the BTO. Two were of birds that I had ringed, and three were of colour ringed birds that I had see whilst out birding. 

With regard to the two recoveries, the two birds in questions were both reed buntings that I ringed in my garden on 11th March 2012. The birds appeared to be a pair and were feeding on some millet that I had scattered around under the feeders. I was aware of one of these birds being recaptured, since it was trapped by Barry Duffin at Titchfield Haven, in the Quinoa field. However I was surprised to see that he had also caught the second bird, at the same site, one month later.

Species: Reed Bunting          Scheme: GBT          Ring no: Y303175

Ringing details

Age: 5  Sex: male  Sex meth: -  P.ringed: -  P.alive: -  Condition: -

Colour marks added: -  Metal marks added: -  Act1: -  Act2: -

Ringing date: 11-Mar-2012

Finding details

Ring not verified  Age: 4  Sex: M  Sex meth: -

Colour marks added: -    Metal marks added: -    Act1: T  Act2: -

Finding date: 30-Oct-2012

Reg code: TFH  Place code: TFH  Site name: Titchfield Haven, Hill Head, Fareham, Hampshire

County code: GBHAM  Grid ref: SU5302   Co-ords: 50deg 49min N  1deg 15min W

Hab1: B7  Hab2: C7

Biometrics: Wing: 82 mm.   Weight: 18.6 g.   Time: 1030hrs

Finding condition: 8:20  Movement: --

Controlled    Intentionally Taken

Remarks:

Duration: 233 days    Distance: 7 km    Direction: 203deg (SSW)

Species: Reed Bunting          Scheme: GBT          Ring no: Y303176

Ringing details

Age: 4  Sex: female  Sex meth: -  P.ringed: -  P.alive: -  Condition: -

Colour marks added: -  Metal marks added: -  Act1: -  Act2: -

Ringing date: 11-Mar-2012

Finding details

Ring not verified  Age: 4  Sex: F  Sex meth: -

Colour marks added: -    Metal marks added: -    Act1: W  Act2: -

Finding date: 30-Nov-2012

Reg code: TFH  Place code: TFH  Site name: Titchfield Haven, Hill Head, Fareham, Hampshire

County code: GBHAM  Grid ref: SU5302   Co-ords: 50deg 49min N  1deg 15min W

Hab1: E3  Hab2: --

Biometrics: Wing: 76 mm.   Weight: 18.8 g.   Time: 1330hrs

Finding condition: 8:20  Movement: --

Controlled    Intentionally Taken

Remarks:

Admittedly a movement of seven kilometres, was not that noteworthy, but nonetheless it was a 100% recovery rate for reed buntings ringed in my garden in 2012.

The next bird was a colour-ringed redshank that I saw at Bunny Meadows on 6th October 2012. I think I may have speculated at the time that this bird was probably ringed at Hamble Point, since that is a regular ringing location on The Solent, and sure enough, that was the case.

Species: Redshank          Scheme: GBT          Ring no: DD51278

Ringing details

Age: 6  Sex: unknown  Sex meth: -  P.ringed: -  P.alive: -  Condition: -

Colour marks added: I  Metal marks added: -  Act1: -  Act2: -

Colour marks left below knee: W, right below knee: W,Y, left above knee: M, right above knee: W

Ringing date: 27-Mar-2011

Reg code: HAM  Place code: HAM  Site name: Hamble Point, Southampton Water, Hampshire

County code: GBHAM  Grid ref: SU4805   Co-ords: 50deg 50min N  1deg 19min W

Hab1: H3  Hab2: --

Biometrics: Wing: 177 mm.   Weight: 172 g.   Time: 1455hrs

Remarks:

Finding details

Ring not verified  Age: 4  Sex: -  Sex meth: -

Colour marks added: -    Metal marks added: -    Act1: -  Act2: -

Finding date: 06-Oct-2012

Reg code: ---  Place code: BUNMED  Site name: Bunny Meadows, Warsash, Hampshire

County code: GBHAM  Grid ref: SU4808   Co-ords: 50deg 52min N  1deg 19min W

Hab1: H3  Hab2: --

Biometrics: Wing: -- mm.   Weight: -- g.   Time: --hrs

Finding condition: 89:81  Movement: --

Sight record by a ringer    Identified by Colour Ring(s)

Remarks:

Duration: 559 days    Distance: 4 km    Direction: 0deg (N)

Again this bird doesn't break any records on the distance or longevity scale, having been ringed 599 days previously and only four kilometres away, but it highlights the value of colour ringing birds again. I will be looking out for this bird in the future.

Then next two birds were mute swans, both of which were seen at Weston Shore, near Southampton. The birds were both adult, and were part of a family party of five birds. Many mute swans are ringed on the south coast, with the majority ringed in Christchurch Harbour, Dorset by Dave Stone, during the annual swan round up. As it turned out, that is where these birds were ringed.

Species: Mute Swan          Scheme: GBT          Ring no: W22151

Ringing details

Age: 1  Sex: unknown  Sex meth: -  P.ringed: 4  P.alive: 4  Condition: -

Colour marks added: I  Metal marks added: -  Act1: -  Act2: -

Colour marks left below knee: ON(J5A)

Ringing date: 01-Oct-2006

Reg code: XCH  Place code: XCH  Site name: Christchurch, Dorset

County code: GBDOR  Grid ref: SZ1692   Co-ords: 50deg 44min N  1deg 46min W

Hab1: H3  Hab2: G7

Biometrics: Wing: -- mm.   Weight: -- g.   Time: --hrs

Remarks:

Finding details

Ring not verified  Age: 4  Sex: -  Sex meth: -

Colour marks added: -    Metal marks added: -    Act1: -  Act2: -

Finding date: 09-Dec-2012

Reg code: ---  Place code: WESTON  Site name: Weston Shore, Southampton, Hampshire

County code: GBHAM  Grid ref: SU4409   Co-ords: 50deg 53min N  1deg 22min W

Hab1: H1  Hab2: --

Biometrics: Wing: -- mm.   Weight: -- g.   Time: --hrs

Finding condition: 89:81  Movement: --

Sight record by a ringer    Identified by Colour Ring(s)

Remarks:

Duration: 2262 days    Distance: 33 km    Direction: 60deg (ENE)

As you can see this bird was ringed as a chick (age code 1) six years and 69 days previously. Again this is by no means a record, in fact the maximum recorded age for mute swan is 27 years, 6 months and 27 days, so it has a long way to go before being a recovery of note.

Species: Mute Swan          Scheme: GBT          Ring no: W26469

Ringing details

Age: 5  Sex: unknown  Sex meth: -  P.ringed: -  P.alive: -  Condition: -

Colour marks added: I  Metal marks added: -  Act1: -  Act2: -

Colour marks left below knee: ON(N7L)

Ringing date: 19-Sep-2009

Reg code: XCH  Place code: XCH  Site name: Christchurch, Dorset

County code: GBDOR  Grid ref: SZ1692   Co-ords: 50deg 44min N  1deg 46min W

Hab1: H3  Hab2: G7

Biometrics: Wing: -- mm.   Weight: -- g.   Time: --hrs

Remarks:

Finding details

Ring not verified  Age: 4  Sex: -  Sex meth: -

Colour marks added: -    Metal marks added: -    Act1: -  Act2: -

Finding date: 09-Dec-2012

Reg code: ---  Place code: WESTON  Site name: Weston Shore, Southampton, Hampshire

County code: GBHAM  Grid ref: SU4409   Co-ords: 50deg 53min N  1deg 22min W

Hab1: H1  Hab2: --

Biometrics: Wing: -- mm.   Weight: -- g.   Time: --hrs

Finding condition: 89:81  Movement: --

Sight record by a ringer    Identified by Colour Ring(s)

Remarks:

Duration: 1178 days    Distance: 33 km    Direction: 60deg (ENE)

W26469 was ringed as a second year bird (age code 5) three years and 81 days previously. When recording colour rings it is worth remembering to note the colour of the ring, the lettering, if present, the colour of the letters and the location of the ring on the swans leg, since there are so many colour combinations around at present.