Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve

Only an hour away from my home in Guildford, is the wonderful national nature reserve, Titchfield Haven, run by Hampshire County Council.  

Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve

As their website states, "the Reserve covers 369 acres of the Meon Valley, encompassing a mosaic of natural habitats. River, fen, pools, reedbed and meadow are carefully managed, giving protection to a range of special wildlife".

Entry is only £4, and parking (on the edge of the Solent) is free.  There's an excellent cafe too.

I wasn't able to spend much time in any of the hides, but did try them all out.  Here's a few photos of what I was able to capture, either from a hide, between them, or outside the Visitor's Centre.

Common(?) Tern

Turnstone

Turnstones

Canada Goose

Buzzard

Oystercatchers

House Sparrow

Mute and Black Swans

Mute Swan

Gadwell

Black-headed Gull

Lapwing

Black-tailed Godwits?

Bar-tailed Godwit?

Avocet and Bar-tailed Godwit

Linnet

Finally, only a short drive away, and with a very hidden entrance is Titchfield Abbey, which is a free English Heritage site.

Titchfield Abbey