Despite not seeing White-rumped Sandpiper for 28 years and it being a Pulborough tick, it seemed fruitless to head over especially as others watched it almost totally inactive for hours yesterday. Maybe not a good sign but if it does survive maybe it will be available for Wednesday's duty day.
At Titchfield the sea was much calmer than of late and at a lower tide which made it easier to search for seaduck - only there weren't any, just a single male Red-breasted Merganser. A Great Northern Diver, which I've managed to avoid here so far, was just off Rainbow Bar where the rising tide was squeezing 80 or more small waders (an even split between Ringed Plover and Sanderling plus the odd Dunlin). Two Grey Plovers departed westwards and the rest decamped to the sailing club beach.
A walk along the canal path was only just possible in trainers (note to self: buy some wellies!). One or possibly two Firecrests were calling plus the odd Cettis. Caught up with DW and IC and walked further north until the path became impassable with two squealing Water Rails, a hunkered down Snipe and a close male Stonechat. Two, possibly three, Water Pipits along with ten or so M'ipits were in a field with cattle, being disturbed by one of the heifers before disappearing in the long grass. Returning along the path found IC/DW watching two more in the wet field near Hammond's Bridge.
No time for the reserve today so a quick lunch and back in to Pompey, parking up on the seafront to see HMS Queen Elizabeth being guided back in to port. A Shag was very close inshore and, despite the crowds of people and a high tide, seven Purple Sandpipers were roosting quite close although frequently disturbed by waves round their feet. Having watched these birds here for over 50 years I do wonder just how many individual birds I've seen and what sort of lifespan they may have.
