.....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.
