An early-for-me start to get to a meeting/presentation at PB was just as well as the traffic was cr*p, 20 minutes for 1st three miles, 25 minutes to get around Chichester and an arrival with just 10 minutes to spare. Sat with Patrick et al plus eight others whilst AA and ES went through a variety of reserve related info and later had a high level update from JE on the five year plan. This all ran to three and a half hours which can best be summarised in three words:-

Conservation is hard!

The nice start to the day deteriorated until, by end of session the rain had started. A quick loop in the hope of finding the two elusive White-fronted Geese was a damp birdless affair with a layer of ice ensuring no birds at all on the south brooks and just twenty or so Canadas elsewhere. Little Hanger provided shelter from one heavy bout of rain for a late lunch, yesterday's vegan wraps from the Blashford garage; sadly the local shops do nothing vegan and just the usual dull egg or cheese for veggies.

Luckily, on the way south to Arundel the wind eased and a gap in the rain gave a quiet hour and a half on site with only a handful of people away from the cafe and not many more inside. Swathes of water-level mist rolled around obscuring the view so the arrival of 25 ish noisy displaying Mandarins plus the ubiquitous Kingfishers provided some visual (and audible) relief from the monochrome scene. Around the reserve six Chiffchaffs, two good Water Rails, ten or more mostly distant Snipe, one Marsh Harrier just before closing time, a Peregrine perched up on a favourite tree and finally two softly spoken Ravens, close overhead and in to Arundel Park.

As always, a delight to get a few minutes with the ever-enthusiastic Sam for a chat about all things merganser, predatory mammal incursions and Stoat homing instincts!!

With so much mist it seemed fruitless to watch for inbound harriers from the pub carpark so back home and into typical rush hour jams with an accident on the last leg closing two of three lanes.

And finally the 10 year Puffin badge came home to roost after an extended stay ( since 2017!) in someone's desk; I'd forgotten all about it.

About time.. and goodbye old friend

The first good day of the year for Gos-ing, despite a very cold north-westerly, found me sharing roadside space with one other birder. A bit of banter kept us on site (in the absence of any bird spp) until I picked up a distant displaying Gos which stayed in view for a fair while and also encouraged a brief appearance from a second one. At the same time a third much closer bird gave great scope views before slipping away.
Shortly after, now on my own, it reappeared and rode an air current directly up in to the pure blue sky becoming invisible to the naked eye, before pulling its wings in and gliding off to the east at speed; a Hawfinch flashed by. And then back to the car to warm up.

At Blashford pretty much nothing on the south side with neither Bittern, Kingfisher, YBW, Brambling etc, just a single hunched up Great White.

On the north side it was goodbye to Tern hide, today being the last chance to scope the gull roost before tomorrow's demolition. Hopefully any white-wingers will rock up on the coast to avoid a cold vigil on the mound!! Two 1w Casps were present with one departing to the east early on while a second was found by PW et al in the main roost, along with three each of Yellow-legged and Med Gulls, all adults. Just Marsh Harrier, 14 Goosanders and a single Water Pipit with no sign of the Black-necked Grebe.

Ironically, having received four free replacement eyecup units from Swarovski soon after the new year, Bob was able to re-unite me with December's lost rubber portion - presumably some kind soul handed it in or it was picked up in hide sweeping.

Week's digest..

Sunday nil and Saturday just 25 Cormorants in roost plus a single Goldcrest in the very bare trees on the edge of the copse.

Friday.

After protracted viewing from east end of chalets just a single flyby Common Scoter (130) to add to four Eiders and a minimum of 105 Great Crested Grebes.
Probably 600 Brent with most being flushed off the yacht club foreshore by a drone!! No divers or better grebes despite MFs best efforts.

Along the (muddy and slippery) canal path the Barn Owl(131) was 'zzz'ing in its usual hollow but despite 45-ish pipits flushing up no Waters seen nor heard.
A Yaffle was poking about on the ground and a Curlew was feeding in an adjacent field; just one Stonechat and a couple of Goldcrests. These Roe Deer were part of a group of six out feeding in the field.

PS The following day a dozen Water Pipits were perched up before dropping into fields.

Thursday.

Non-birding day with just a local ringed Black-headed Gull of interest. With just a metal ring, no camera and the ring upside down no chance of any details.

Wednesday.

A slow, quiet and overcast day with a sharp northerly making the north brooks an eye-watering experience. At Westmead two Peregrines, one of which went on a spirited chase after a corvid which had been mobbing it; the crow was lucky to get away. Much closer in, a few Snipe and Black-tailed Godwits were giving great views along with a good number of the usual wildfowl. Nice to catch up with JAN and friends. A couple of Stonechats were distant but one along the new path was much closer; a handful of M'ipits were flushed up onto the fence wires.

A chat with new local birder RB whilst getting distant flight views of a single Ruff.

The heathland was birdless and if there were any Woodlarks in Upperton's Field they weren't showing.

With RS promptly posting Siberian Chiffchaff at Coldwaltham in his SDOS report it seemed worth dropping in on the way home. Luckily, some glorious late-afternoon sun had popped up under the clouds and made it easy to pick up one possible and one definite Sibe, the latter posing very close and well lit whilst it preened; as good as the Steyning bird from eight years back but sadly not vocal. Always the way when the camera is at home!! Also a nice Grey Wagtail.

Tuesday

A short visit to TH with high water levels on the scrapes in an attempt to clear the islands of vegetation prior to spring gull and Avocet breeding.
Male Marsh Harrier and two each of Stonechat and Raven.

Stormy Monday Blues...

...on 'Blue' Monday.

Allman Brothers - Stormy Monday Blues

Well it's Monday but actually rather cold and still rather than stormy. But it didn't stop the Stormcocks at PW from singing strongly, although nothing else stirred other than a single, silent Raven.

Earlier, the hoped-for 130th spp for the year, Lesser Scaup failed to materialise and no sight nor sound of the Yellow-browed Warbler despite people looking. A brief glimpse of Water Pipit, just one Goosander and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. Plenty of Chaffinches and Reed Buntings feeding on the ground but most Siskins were feeding quietly in Alders.

Brief outing..

.. to Sustainability Centre for a coffee with M where we were behind a queue of MAMILs and MAFILs - obviously the place to be mid-morning on a bright but chilly Sunday if you're a cyclist needing refreshment.

Plenty of typical winter bird sounds from noisy Nuthatches, Redwings, Great Spotted Woodpecker and various finches, but most pleasingly two calling Marsh Tits, the first this year. Shame there's no feeder station here.

Curiously for such a blue day, not a single raptor there or en route.

And some more Snow Bunting pictures from Goring.

A quiet week and a bunch of grabshots...

A nice looking day after yesterday's roof issues and the two previous dreary days with few birds led me on a year-ticking twitch to my old local patch of Goring Gap for the typically confiding Snow Bunting. Arrived to find myself bumper to bumper with NB who kindly pointed me in the right direction. With strong wind, low bright sun and a constant stream of four-legged disturbance it wasn't  an easy bird to photograph. Chatted to JK and RF and spent fifteen minutes looking out to sea where the windfarm (not here last time I visited!!) was surrounded by birds. In Hampshire a couple of Gannets constitutes a good seawatch so to be faced with hundreds of large gulls, good numbers of Gannets, a few Kittiwakes and a constant stream of auks was a real delight. Thirty-eight Cormorants went high to the west and probably another twenty were offshore where four Red-throated Divers together also went west. Sadly, I couldn't pick out any Guillemots for the year with most auks being distant and just the odd identifiable Razorbill. On the sea, well in excess of a hundred Great Crested Grebes and maybe half that of mergansers.

Back at the car the nearest crop field held 80 or so roosting  waders, mostly Dunlin, but nothing special in a very small gull roost; a tap on the shoulder whilst photographing some roadside Skylarks was GT and wife also out for a bunting twitch.

Coffee and breakfast at Sea Lane was nice, although too busy to get a seat indoors, and improved immeasurably by finding myself next to an ex work colleague (PG), probably only seen once in the last 15-20 years; much in the way of anecdotal stories and some real laugh-out-loud moments.

Dropped in to WWT on the way home where two Kingfishers and ten Snipe put on a good show. Twenty grazing Wigeon were uninterested in joining up with an overflying group 45 strong which eventually landed on the river briefly before deciding to head back north. This Chiffchaff was following a tit flock, the Buzzard flushed up the eighty or so Greylags, the Treecreeper was playing hard to get and a single Raven was best-of-the-rest.

And lastly on a non-birding related note it was good to catch up with HHinH who, like me, struggles a bit with January, being the month we both lost other-halves. Hopefully we'll get to catch up later in the year.

Earlier in the week, Wednesday's session at Pulborough saw us watching a post-perched Peregrine, single c/c Marsh Harrier and a flock of 25 Meadow Pipits and later, chatting to Chichester RSPB group, were able to  point out four Dunlin and five Ruff (a year tick) amongst the disturbed mass of Lapwings. Just a handful of Redwings and a couple of calling Reed Buntings represented winter passerines.

Tuesday's very brief visit to Titchfield was quiet with even MFs sharp eyes and determination unable to find anything; two sparring Marsh Harriers over the meadow were the best.

Inornate in every sense..

Kevin and co had enjoyed views of the Yellow-browed Warbler adjacent to Ivy South prior to my arrival but needless to say it wasn't showing. Luckily, someone refound it and it showed distantly on and off generally amongst the usual winter flock members, tits, Goldcrests and Treecreepers. Unlike the Titchfield bird it didn't utter a peep. Two Lesser Redpolls and three male Bullfinches were near the boardwalk. (Just over 40 years since the Titchfield 'in the hand' YBW; can't find any notes for the bird at Broadmarsh somewhen in the '90s).

Across the road this Water Pipit, the Linnet flock, a Grey Wagtail on the far shore(!!), a few Goosanders but no sign of much else. A good 300 Lapwing were up and about but just one each of Buzzard and Marsh Harrier.

Later at Piper's Wait pretty much nil until four incredibly tiny silhouettes way out on ?? hill had the feel of Crossbills and obliged a few minutes later by flying overhead 'chip-chipping' as they went eastwards.

Minor chores then a quick watch on a dropping tide at Farlington where the lake level is now too high for waders so no snipe spp. Another Marsh Harrier but little else and another blank on Barnacle Goose; the Avocet flock was visible from the car. However, a quick look at Baffins produced the missing goose  still in company of its dodgy white chum. And a long chat then ensued with MW about birds of Portsea, looking like two old geezers from Last of the Summer Wine to all the passing Mums and dog-walkers!!

Another flat day at Titchfield with just the four redhead Goosanders off the yacht club feeding in a few inches of water, 45 or so Great Crested Grebes and three distant Eiders. Eight Curlew on or over the meadow and the 'tame' Fox trotted by. Lots of dog disturbance on the beach.

Later at Farlington lots of birds with 50 or so Avocets, ten Snipe (but no Jacks), 200 Knot, 75 Pintail, three Greenshanks and two Stonechats plus the above Little Grebe in the south ditch. This lone Wigeon was grazing close-in just beyond the grebe

One hundred and twenty!!

Too flat and grey to warrant an outing today so just a brief 'non-birding'  stroll around Southsea Castle where eight Purple Sandpipers were roosting well up the wall, a Shag(120) successfully fishing not too far out and a single Rock Pipit.
Just east of the pier and just offshore were four redhead Goosanders from the car; worth stopping for and getting a better look  - possibly my first ever from Portsea Island. At the Coffee Cup just two Pied Wagtails foraging around the outside tables and a good mass of Brent adjacent to the Pitch and Putt.

How many roadworks ...

More M27 roadworks, scheduled to last for over two years, included a 50mph limit and 'average speed' cameras plus th J3 bridge work speed reduction.

An hour or more at the eagle layby was pretty unintersting although I was pleased to flush up a Dartford Warbler, the first in a while. Two Ravens were about it otherwise and I missed a Gos somehow.

Headed back and took the turnoff for Stoney Cross to the back road to Blashford but was stumped by a 3 month(!!) road closure adjacent to the Milham carpark through to Linwood. Rather too late for the long way round, despite the lure of Mark's YBW being around for its 3rd day, so stopped at Piper's for a late packed lunch but again had no Gos action, just four Ravens several Buzzards and a nice surprise in the form of a ringtail Hen Harrier drifting very high westwards, presumably to the Leadenhall roost. Finally, just prior to packing up, a Hawfinch powered over the tree tops.

A welcome cuppa...

Another monochrome day..

At Titchfield, leaden skies and a choppy, grey sea weren't conducive to finding much; no sign of a Black Red around the chalets and only ubiquitous Turnstone and Stonechat as year ticks.

Later at Farlington plenty of birds with Knots, thirty or so Golden Plovers, four Greenshanks flying down the stream and a quietly foraging Water Pipit at the back of the lake  (giving pretty reasonable scope views considering) were all NfY.

Waxless

Another grotty, grey day but still and half a dozen degrees warmer than yesterday. The Sussex Brewery Waxwings had done a bunk but the two Cattle Egrets (105) were in the usual field, close at first until flushed by a dog walker. Back to the pub for another look but still no 'Waxtion', chatted to Barry and Margaret, FrAW and John King and Richard. Off for a few chores, back to the pub and gave in to the lure of a sausage sandwich and a pint after getting a parking permit. Subsequently, chatted to one of the Titchfield snipe counters and latterly Mike and Karen G. and Gordon and Pat H. A distant Peregrine flew north.

Quick look (at low tide sadly) for the Nore Spot'shank and Greenshank but no joy; just geese and Wigeon.

More Waxwing dipping tomorrow maybe. Or should I year dip the eagle??

Over a ton...

.....104 to be precise, with a poor attempt at the Totton Waxwings i.e. couldn't find the right spot - shoulda bought a satnav!! Pipers Wait was pretty birdless with probably only ten birds of of six species, a close 'cronking' Raven overhead being the best.

At Harbridge the single Bewick's Swan gave decent scope views amongst lots of Mutes but MS (later at Blashford) had it fly in and land next to her in a roadside puddle!!

On the reserve a few new birds with brief views of a very late (16:20) Bittern to the right of the hide and the 1W Caspian Gull again. Missing Water Pipit, neither seen nor heard, was a surprise.

Probably the single highlight is the big flock of 80-90 Linnet - almost a throwback to the earlier years of birding - so unusual to see a decent flock of passerines other than Starlings.

In light of not seeing any Gos action in a clear (but it has to be said very cold) blue sky it was great to watch a distant Sparrowhawk displaying with extended 'slow-flying' and 'rollercoastering', the stoops being particularly dramatic before diving out of view below the treeline.

Finally, good to catch up with Tim and Jen for the first time in 3-4 years.

Locally, some nearer Waxwings and a couple of Cattle Egrets might provide targets for tomorrow.

David Lindo eat your heart out...

A few hours of 'urban' birding within a three mile radius (as the crow flies) of home, starting at Southsea, on to the harbour mouth at Eastney ending up with three quarters of an hour at the Farlington lake viewpoint.

Some decent birds with Great Northern Diver (2), Red-throated Diver, Purple Sandpiper (4), Eider (8), Avocet (46+), Pintail (80) and Jack Snipe plus various new-for-year common birds. Sadly no Shorties nor Beardies and, in fact, not a single raptor.

Above the Eastney Rock Pipit,  the nearest(!) GND and some of the Avocets with 'urban' background.
Sixteen NfYs today taking total to 83.

A mere sixty-seven..

...species to start the year. Poor, but with no coastal areas/downs etc and, of course, lack of effort (seven hours of which nearly two were in the car travelling and one on coffee, lunch and afternoon tea!!). In light of recent outings notable misses were Greenfinch, M'ipit, Skylark and Marsh Harrier.

At Pulborough two Peregrines perched up distantly for a while eventually tried to harrass a Buzzard which was polishing off the remains of their lunch.
Lots of 'kekking' and dive-bombing before giving up and going their separate ways. Chatted to TS for a while, Jean being away in London and caught up with CL for the first time since his op.

The light was poor so drove down to Arundel to try to add a few more species to the day-list - usual suspects - Kingfisher, Water Rail, Snipe(20), Cetti's, Red Kite, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Bullfinch, Tufted Duck, Pochard and eventually Firecrest. Jeremy and his wife were the only people I knew today.  No harriers here either and disinclined to wait until closing (or later) for roosting birds; this morning's Cattle Egret hadn't returned either.

Just about out of daylight on return so didn't stop at the FM carpark although I guess I could have added a few wader spp here.

PS Good to hear the eagle was seen mid-afternoon over Backley plain, the winter bird survey area I covered some years back. Maybe there will be another chance to see it before it eventually departs.

PPS Above Pintails were WWT captive birds. At least ten of the twenty Snipe were unseen until disturbed by the usual, deafening strimming noise outside the hide!!

End of one, start of another..

Sunday was a lunch-only outing to Pulborough (with M) to pick up the 2017 SOS Report, with just Great Spotted Woodpecker and Kestrel on the circular route, out via Chi and back via Petersfield.

Yesterday was a brief visit to Titchfield where the low-tide and millpond conditions were ideal - sadly little on show other than the Great Northern Diver off Rainbow Bar (pointed out by MF) and six very distant Eiders (5m) plus 40+ Great Crested Grebes and 750+ Brent off Brownwich. Five dozing Snipe was it for south scrape.

Today's first bird of the year was, unsurprisingly, pre-dawn, heard-only Herring Gull!!

PS Probably should have made an early trip to ASDA at Totton where yesterday's Waxwings had returned and increased to eleven.