It's September, a month of change and probably my favourite time of year.
Summer is drawing to a close, days are shortening and colours are deepening.
Being my birthday month gives added kudos for me. It's a period when I take time out and time off to reflect on the past nine months after the frenetic blooming of the natural world and now it's subsequent withdrawal, until Spring sparks it into life once more.
Although, as I observe nature as it deals with the Autumn and Winter stasis, it is anything but, just another season in which it tries it's best to survive under different circumstances. Although not procreating and raising families, life for them is just a busy and just as challenging, sometimes even more so.
I am blessed to live, not only in a beautiful part of the UK but a part of the world where there is so much happening every day.
This island is the natural through route for many bird species and September is the prime month to witness their migration. Some are leaving, some are passing through while others in the next few weeks will call this place home, being more temperate than their breeding grounds.
I had arranged to meet my friend Chris on the harbour wall at Titchfield Haven, three miles from our front door for a wander around the area. Our hope was to catch a glimpse of some interesting things along the way. Either way, it was great to get out, watch the world go buy and have a giggle into the bargain. After a challenging month, I needed it.
The weather played right into our hands. Flat calm on the sea with a tide almost at it's lowest ebb. The sun beginning to colour a cloudless sky from the monochrome mist.
This is one of the best times of day. Few people, still conditions and nature at ease, getting on with living.
Earlier the better as the birds have woken from their slumber and begin feeding with gusto.
Several Sedge Warblers took advantage of the insects in the still weather along the reeds and scrub of the reserve boundary.
The path turns northwards towards the village. With the canal on the left, the reserve is on our right, open fields with long grass that can hide all manner of things. Every few yards there's a gate that allows long views across to the reserve where the Meon River snakes it's way through to the Solent.
At the first of the gates my eye was immediately drawn to a fox sat in the grass staring at us. This was in the exact same place as I had seen one previously and most probably the same fox. Quite bizarre.
The summer breeding migrants appeared again. The valley is a great through route for them with plenty of places to stop and feed. This female Redstart doing exactly as Redstarts do, sit in a low bush such as this hawthorn and drop down to feed on any unsuspecting insect below, whilst usually returning to the same perch.
These lovely little birds are from the same family as the Robin, they breed in the New Forest and in Spring the males are usually seen high in the treetops proclaiming their territory.
Their tails dip up and down very deliberately as they perch plus the red to their rear underside is a good indicator of their species.
Halfway up the path our eyes were sky gazing hoping for Flycatchers sat on exposed perches. Another species migrating south. No Flycatchers but a Great Spotted Woodpecker this time...
More warblers in the shape of a male Blackcap fed through the undergrowth.
Every time I reach the oak tunnel I have to take a shot...
Yellow Wagtails - another species feeding up on their push southwards. They can often be seen associating with horses or cattle. The animals disturb the ground for the Wagtails to pick up insects or around the faeces the animals drop, weaving in and around their legs
We had a couple perched on the fence line near to some cattle.
Opposite these on the other side of the canal, several Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers darted around the bushes picking out insects. More species heading to warmer climes for the coming seasons, although some Chiffchaffs are spending more and more time here as our winters become milder by the year.
They often mix with other species too. Blackcaps, Long Tailed, Blue and Great Tits are not uncommon in one loose flock. There's even a chance of something even rarer such as a Yellow Browed Warbler but sadly not on this day.
We turned and began our walk back to the Haven. We had booked a slot to enter to the reserve and see what was about on the scrapes. Another good chance to see birds dropping in to feed on their migration, most notably, all sorts of waders.
From this very poor shot it looks like it has a full crop so may have eaten recently. By it's markings it looked like a juvenile too.
Our trepidation of a barren scene was misplaced. Maybe it was so quick not many birds reacted before it was gone in a flash.
Although the breeding season is effectively over, with the movement of birds this place can become a small treasure trove of different species.
Waders can confuse people for several reasons when it comes to identification. Naturally the more you see them the easier it can become to identify. Most are obvious but many birds can look very similar. Coupled with plumage change relative to either age and season it can be a minefield. Generally the rule of thumb is, if you think you have a rare bird on your hands but aren't 100% positive, it's usually something common, but even experienced naturalists can be caught out. I don't claim to be an expert but my knowledge is pretty good, but I can, and have, been wrong on many occasions.
This time of year is always intriguing though. There's always a chance of something interesting to be seen if you time it right.
Over the last few days quite a few different species had been seen here, so we were hopeful they had stayed put.
First up as we looked out onto the shallow scrapes dotted with small islands was this Green Sandpiper huddled down against one of the them. Seen occasionally here in Autumn and Winter, then on the way back in Spring in small but scarce numbers. They don't breed in this country but spend the winter here.
A very common wader is the Redshank. They breed inland generally in the UK but can be seen all year round on the coast. Their numbers swell here in Autumn and Winter. It's not unusual to see them congregate in large numbers.
Now we get into more rarefied territory. Curlew Sandpipers breed in Northern Europe and are seen in small numbers as they migrate south. No more than 700 or so each year. Some years are better than others to see them. This year has been good so far. Several have been seen around the area.
Then there is the Common Sandpiper that breed in the north and west predominantly and spend their Winters on the coast here and around the UK.
They are distinguished from the Green by the white hook in the front of it's shoulder that the green lacks plus being slightly lighter in colour and just a bit smaller. Both feed with a tail bobbing motion.
I've put the Green below the Common for comparison.
These can be confused with the more ubiquitous Dunlin that overwinter here in their thousands but the Curlew Sandpiper lacks the markings on the breast, even in Winter plumage, plus sport a white rump the Dunlin lacks in flight. They are slightly larger too and seem more upright in feeding.
By now, the Green Sandpiper had woken up...
Now we come to probably the most uncommon bird of the day here. A Little Stint. Another that pass through in similar numbers to the Curlew Sandpiper but always seem more scarce and usually seen in single numbers.
Smaller than a Dunlin which is saying something. Another Northerly breeding bird with a pale breast and mottled plumage. Like the Curlew Sandpiper I haven't seen one for a while so it was great to catch up with them both here.
Common Sandpiper again, one of at least three.
If you visited North Norfolk in Winter to places such as The Wash, you can witness Knot in huge numbers, especially at their high tide roosts.
Here they can be seen in small numbers but never in groups that big. A much stockier, sturdier bird than the others with a thicker bill. They have a coppery orange summer plumage but much dowdier in their winter get up. As a large flock they can be seen to shimmer silver and white as they bank and turn however. It's quite a sight.
The feeding action was all around us with quite a lot of crossover for comparison of the different species.
Here a Redshank in the foreground against the Curlew Sand behind. The Redshank's legs just determined from the non muddy upper parts. This can easily be confused with a Wood Sandpiper that has pale yellow legs but of a similar build. One was reported in the past week. There's every chance it was a Redshank covered in mud !
One wader that can't be confused with anything else, the Lapwing or Peewit. So called from the sound of it's call
Knot once again...
Onto yet another different wader. We were blessed on this Saturday.
This is a Ruff and a female due to it's smaller size than a male. In Spring, the males grow impressive headdresses or 'Ruffs' and perform together in 'Leks' to gain the attention of the females and mate with them. They can be determined by the slight hump in the middle of their back. A medium sized wader with short bill and medium sized legs. Seen in Autumn and Winter here in small numbers.
Away from the wader action. Some Terns were still hanging around with juveniles to feed but they will soon disperse. This is a Common Tern
Three more Knot flew in but kept away from the one feeding before us.
To give a good size and plumage comparison, the Little Stint on the right sat with a Dunlin on the left on one of the islands..
All the while the Common Sandpiper kept feeding underneath the windows of the hide.
The height restriction as you enter the car park of Farlington Marshes is just enough for me to scrape the roof bars of my van under, quite literally, but once in it's an impressive place to walk.
Then lastly back on the Redshank.
We only visited the one hide but that was plenty with all that appeared before us.
We headed back to our vehicles and had a spot of lunch. Then decided on our next move.
Farlington Marshes to the east could be as good, if not better than Titchfield Haven so we decided on the short journey to go there.
Views of Langstone Harbour and Hayling Island to the east set against the more industrialised peninsular of Portsmouth to the west, Farlington Marsh is a little bit of natural heaven but quite exposed. We've been caught out halfway round the seawall in deluges before, some seemingly apocalyptic with little shelter. If in doubt, take appropriate clothing !
Fortunately today was fine with light winds and a bit of cloud cover interspersed with some sun.
We cut down the cycle path to the information hut. This time of year it's not unknown for a Wryneck to drop by. Now an extinct breeding bird in Britain it's part of the woodpecker family and quite secretive in it's habits. Two were seen here last year but my special views were of one a Titchfield Haven. A wonderful yet subtle bird in looks. None today however.
A male Reed Bunting did provide good views as we headed onto the seawall though.
This stunning male alighted on the ground for a few moments. Enough for us to capture his beauty.
In early Spring the earliest bird to arrive on these shores is usually the Wheatear. It's name formed from the white rump it shows in flight or 'White Arse!' These can be one of the last to leave in Autumn
They regularly perch on mounds and posts when hunting insects. Here we found a few around the seawall and on the fields just inland.
Although this looks like a levitating Wheatear it was in fact just in the process of flying off, I caught it just right !
Our hope of seeing the usual Osprey in the usual trees on one of the remote island in Langstone Harbour drew a blank. There are many flight routes the Ospreys' can take as they head over the South Coast. Either here, The Haven or Southampton but this year it seems wherever we are, they are not. I missed one at The Haven the previous week by half and hour. Just not our year it seems.
Still there was more great things to see as we neared the end of our day.
From the seawall the views over the reeds onto the lake at high tide can throw up some top sights. Waders in numbers after a long feeding session at low tide. These are mostly Black Tailed Godwit. A relatively common wader that hasn't featured until now.
On the opposite side of the lake Grey Plover congregated. Some 150 birds and some individuals still in their breeding attire which is pleasing to see. Come winter they will be living up to their name.
We decided on a last detour past the lake and towards the stream and back to the information hut where we came in.
Starling numbers are building. A decent couple of thousand semi murmurated back and forth over the brambles , feeding on the swelling blackberries.
The stream came good again in regards to more waders. Nine Curlew Sandpipers had flown in giving as good a view than that at the Haven.
The one in the front looks like an adult with the waning colour on it's breast, whereas the paler bird behind more like a juvenile.
As some took off, it was a good chance to notice the white rump that distinguishes it from the smaller Dunlin.
Great little waders and a pleasure to see again.
My feet where tired but my head and heart were fulfilled. We'd had one of the best days when it comes to watching waders and what is possible to see on general bird migration at this time of year. Some things on the wishlist that got away from us, but the temptation of what we didn't see drives us back for more.
The title of this post is a line taken from the track 'September' by Earth Wind and Fire.
