Thursday 8 February 2018

Black and red.. actually grey and orange

A Chiffchaff flitting around the front gardens whilst loading the car headed off back to the pond where I presume it had come from.

 After seeing DR/AR's reports of three Black Redstarts at Hot Walls, Old Portsmouth, it seemed like too good an opportunity to miss not having seen one in 2018 and easier and closer than Andy Johnson's three on Hayling. This part of Old Portsmouth always seems quiet as most of the new Hot Wall shops seem to open late. Parked up and wandered up and down with no sign until one female type was seen perched up on Spinnaker Quays and Dore's Court roofs before sallying into the trees to feed where joined by the male and the other female. Birds came and went and were always active making for difficult photo subjects with twigs in the way and a horrible bright sky background with the inevitable +1ev. May try again tomorrow morning if it stays dry. Two each of Rock Pipit, Cormorant and Blue Tit.

 Usual fare later at Titchfield with three Avocets and a Firecrest plus 32 Pintail in deteriorating weather.