PHP and a turn back home

A few chores and then an amble around PHP on a gloriously blue, clear Autumn day. Greeted by lusty calling of Nuthatch and the usual four tit species. Despite lots of the usual dodgy wildfowl (now supplemented by two hideous Greylag hybrids) and BHGs, it felt a bit birdless now the hirundines have gone and the various patches of Ivy were now quiet insect wise.

A cracking ciabatta BLT and coffee whilst watching 14 Cormorants perched on the boats.

Later from the east side benches, several Common Darters and Red Admirals plus a few Eristalis spp. A Little Egret, the first I've seen here, was preening in the willow on the island, the Grey Heron on his railing and a single Little Grebe. Behind the bench a single Chiffchaff was still singing.

Biggest surprise whist watching gulls (including four Commons) and coots squabbling over food was a couple of red-headed Goosanders, one just yards off the 'beach' and an unexpected site tick. Shame no camera!

The local kiddies wildlife group had four Buzzards up together over the heath side.

Back home just this Cormorant and Shoveler and a Snickers bar relabelled 'Knackered' which seemed marginally more appropriate than one labelled 'Grumpy'!!

Hampshires newest bird..

Despite the extra hour in bed, still too knackered to get out early so ten o'clock start was the best I could manage. Not overly bothered about the Lesser Scaup so went straight to Tern Hide where nothing too exciting, a drake Pintail being the best. Luckily a couple occupying the left end window picked up the Water Pipit dropping in, sadly too distant for pictures.

At Ivy South 100+ Wigeon but no diving duck until the scaup did a fly past in company of a Tufted Duck, a clockwise loop and back to Spinnaker or thereabouts. About as dull a Blashford/Hampshire/UK tick as possible.
If it had stayed on Spinnaker I wouldn't have bothered.

A distant Raven and a heard only Kingfisher on the silt pond.

Back at Tern Hide for lunch and nil, the Water Pipit have flitted off somewhere.

BP

A quick circuit produced just 4 Shoveler and 60+ Tufted Duck ( a total both Pulborough and Arundel would be pleased to see!!). No tit flock today but a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker in the Horse Chestnut adjacent to the tennis courts was a surprise. Although they used to breed nearby this is the first I've had in ages.

First outing for a month

Drove to TH on a rapidly improving day to be greeted by a gloriously calm Solent with 250 Brent Geese just offshore and at least 70 roosting Turnstones.
Light egg on toast and coffee sadly just made me feel nauseous.

The Ivy flowers attracted dozens of Eristalis but no obvious Ivy Bees.

Meadow Hide produced 10 mostly distant Buzzards, one with a strikingly white belly, a single c/c Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, a male Stonechat and lots of single and mating Common Darters. Red Admirals were numerous plus one White spp. Beardies, Water Rails, Cettis and Kingfishers heard. At least 10 Siskin in amongst Goldfinches and half a dozen or more Lesser Redpolls overhead.

Brief chat with a half term family in Suffern Hide and more pinging Beardies.

From the road a dozen Bearded Tits were flying around, came close and gave cracking views; the 12x50s are perfect for this.

At MSH long chat with a volunteer as there were no birds due to a work party; north and south scrape had one Teal, one Shelduck and a few Oyks only!!
Two more male Stonechats were nearby.

A kerfuffle amongst the pigeons, crows and lapwings to the north was down to a Peregrine which slipped off westwards.

Finally, just as the volunteer left, three Beardies including two males landed in the reeds directly in front giving great views.

BP

A slow stroll as far as the tennis courts produced noticeably more Tufties than last time plus several drake Shoveler spooning in circles.
The south side had a mixed flock of Blue Tits, Great Tits, Goldcrests (4+) and a couple of Chiffchaffs. I suspect that more birds were moving through from beyond the tennis courts.No sound of any Cettis today.
Hoping to be well enough to get out further afield this week.