No BTD, just RBG

Nice early light at Hayling but a three quarter tide and strong NE wind made finding things challenging but four Black-necked Grebes were found fairly quickly; a Great Northern Diver was in a similar area but sadly no sign of the Black-throated. Plenty of Great-crested Grebes and Red-breasted Mergansers plus 2-4 Rock Pipits. Social chit-chat with a couple of guys from Reading but not much else birdwise.

At Blashford just 50+ Siskin, heard Kingfisher and Water Rail, no sign of Bittern nor GWE.

On Ibsley Water three Goosanders followed by seven smart drakes (although well down on Bob's dusk count of 72!!), the ubiquitous post-perching Buzzard and 70+ Pintails.

By 1pm there were already good numbers of LBBGs (4100+ by dusk). The Ring-bill was in at 14:05 thanks to another birder. By 14:30 just a couple of YLGs and one Med Gull.

Back at Broadmarsh,just Bar-tailed Godwit and Greenshank plus the usual stuff. Low sunlight made it tough to find much else.

No photos.

Titchfield

A massive black, rain-filled cloud slid in from the west, mostly over the IOW but dropping a little rain over the coast; luckily ensconced in the tea-room with eggs on toast and coffee.
A little earlier the Common Scoter flock, numbering 25(ish) was distantly off Brownwich. The Velvet was reported but the flock was just too far away in choppy water. Didn't feel like schlepping out along the beach. Six Eiders, including four drakes, were distant but much easier to see.

Three Kingfishers  at Suffern, the 'tame' Red Fox at Meadow along with both Marsh Harriers (cream-crown and young male) plus three Chiffies in a tit flock.

Back on the sea the duck were a little closer but still too far.

The dozen or more Beardies in the ditch by the road had moved in to the reeds near the seed tray. Then trapped in Meon Shore for a fair while by a slow moving downpour  - just a dozen each of Shoveler and Golden Plover plus the usual suspects.

Mouth full of vole spp and watching a crow overhead

Blashford

Initally poor weather, improving, going downhill and finally brightening up for the drive back. In a very quiet Tern Hide a sudden whoosh of wings was an incredibly close Peregrine which eventually departed westwards.
About fifteen Pochards and a few Goldeneyes.
Four or five Kingfishers today on Ibsley, Ivy Lake, one or two along Dockens Water and finally one perched up briefly on reception pond, where a Firecrest was calling from within a tit flock.
Walter flew in from Rockford and was visible from the southern screen.
Just one worn Quaker in the trap and this November moth on the wall.

PDD

Peregrine white-on-black 84 was in the usual tree and performed a few sorties over the north brooks. Earlier the female-type Marsh Harrier was hunting the south brooks. No wild geese today and others had Merlin, Ring Ouzel and Firecrests. Large numbers of Lapwing and Wigeon. Fieldfares were probably into three figures.

On the way home the GGS was very brief and distant, beyond the footbridge.

Tea, catch up with Paul and Terry at WWT where just a few distant Snipe, one bathing Water Rail, two Kingfishers neither close enough for decent photographs. The new photo-perches at Ramsar will be ideal if the opportunity arises and other watchers can stay still and quiet.

A couple of flyover Lesser Redpolls and 75+ Common Gulls plus a close(ish) Kestrel but just too far and horribly backlit.

At Waltham a few Fieldfares, a distant perched Peregrine, a quartering cream-crown Marsh Harrier and later a very flappy Red Kite. Sadly the GGS wasn't anywhere on show, so maybe another go tomorrow.

Thin pickings on a still cloudy day.
Just these three sleepy Greenshanks the odd roosting Snipe ten or so Goldies and this usual rather distant Marsh Harrier.

Another stock winter bird...

Drove to Pulborough via Coldwaltham and parked up to look for the Great Grey Shrike. No sign from gate but heavy plant moving around so set off for waterworks and scanned from railway crossing. No sign and only Chiffchaff and Grey Wagtail. Returned and immediately found the bird looking from the railway bridge towards the canal bridge and then returned to the car to break out scope and tripod for better views.

Off to PB in deteriorating weather where just 10 or so Reed Buntings in hedge, nil from south brooks hides and two distant White-fronted Geese on north brooks. A few winter thrushes on the heathland and main reserve probably totalled 35 Fieldfare and less than half that for Redwing. Also appeared to be more Blackbirds than usual.

No pictures today

Winter snowflakes

The two Snow Buntings present since yesterday were still in the shade of the bandstand and quite approachable. Once a number of other local birders and togs arrived it became impossible to get any close ups. Luckily no walker/dog disturbance. These birds are always a joy as they are quite confiding probably never having encountered people. The light was nice for pictures.

Being low tide the five Purple Sandpipers, four pictured here, were as distant as they can be an into the sun.

Didn't put any effort in for yesterday's Shore Lark which wasn't reported again after yesterday's initial sighting.

Walter's got a friend!!

At Blashford the northerly wind meant that sitting in Tern Hide was very uncomfortable, especially minus thermals and gloves. Still lots of M'ipit action, others reporting Rock Pipit, single Grey Wagtail and a few Pied. Nothing of note on the water.

At Ivy South, Cetti's Warbler singing very close to path and showing briefly, a distant Water Rail calling, a Kingfisher heard a few times and then two Great White Egrets circling briefly between Ivy South and North hides, Walter plus a new unringed bird.

A Sparrowhawk rose up to intercept one of five Buzzards and a Peregrine stooped rapidly to the south.

Feeders mostly empty but Siskins calling up in trees.

Stopped very briefly at Piper's Wait but too cold and 'bird-silent' to stay; a nice sunlit Red Kite popped up just as I returned to the car. Brook road shut so long detour back to motorway via Blashford!!

Hayling and Budds

A quick visit before the rain set in produced a flyover Grey Wagtail, distant views of four Black-necked Grebes, the Long-tailed Duck (still distant to the south-west) and six female-type Common Scoters. From northern shoreline four Goldeneyes including a drake. In excess of 80 Great-crested Grebes and a handful of mergansers. No photos today

Titchfield

Started with breakfast and a chat with Mark ( always a much earlier arriver than me), who pointed me towards the Black Redstart. A Common Seal was just offshore on a very flat tide with a mullet and attracting the attention of gulls.

Stonechat, one of four or so on view, just wouldn't come quite close enough.

The Black Redstart posed on the chalet roofs but the Long-tailed Duck had done a bunk.

Three Kingfishers on view from Suffern Hide and the ubiquitous Marsh Harrier.

Water Rail again in evidence on west side plus the usual waders, tho no Golden Plover today. About ten or more Bearded Tits were performing in the vicinity of the grit tray.

A second visit to Meadow Hide produced point blank views of the vixen that I photographed a couple of weeks back. Kicked myself for leaving the camera in the car.

Still Red Admirals, Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers but no Ivy Bees today.

Gutted to get home and find I'd missed a Little Auk at Blashford!! Could hardly have been storm driven given the mild still weather.

Emsworth

A flat calm rising tide meant there was no activity around Nore Barn with the exception of two Rock Pipits. Within minutes the footpath was barely passable so I checked out the very active Ivy hedge by the coast path where a few hovers, abundant wasps and a single Ivy Bee. Still Red Admirals on the wing.