Jack Snipe
The 11 Acres bird showed on three out of five visits, on the last occasion giving the best and most extended scope filling views. Probably my best views ever of this species. Plenty of photos on social media but this footage from Helen Hays the best see Here . With just a 35-100 lens this is the best I could do!!
Common Snipe
Good numbers on each visit to TH between 50 and 82 with 40 on island A alone on one date
Goshawk
This nice bucolic view over the North Brooks was full of the usual suspects 21/12.
But the appearance of this juvenile Goshawk caused a stir for both the thousands of ducks and waders but also all of us watching from the hanger. I'm guessing a site tick for everyone there. Pictures courtesy of @stuartbirding and @ sussexwarblers.
Peregrine
Just one sighting in this period of a juvenile hunting Lapwing, unsuccessfully, over North Brooks 21/12.
Marsh Harrier
A smart adult male over the Haven and a cream-crown perched up below Burpham whilst watching the two Bewick's Swan's.
Sparrowhawk
Three circling together at QECP were nice to see. Locally one bird was chased into a big evergreen tree by crows and and it or another slipped across the garden just before dusk the following day, either to roost or on the lookout for a late supper.
Slavonian Grebe
Just a distant singleton a couple of times and always beyond the chalets.
Great Crested Grebe
At Hill Head a large count of 94, binoculars only, was smashed the next day by AR with 149.
Eider
The Hill Head flock present on most occasions between here and Southampton Water with a maximum of 52. Some days in close and giving great views.
Bearded Tit
Ten to fifteen were in close to the path on one vist and on another two (male and female) were feeding in close to the right hand side of MSH giving great scope views.
Jackdaw
Two birds still present locally with the bolder and noisier of the two coming to seeds and nuts brought by people for ducks and squirrels.
Brent Goose
A slow start to use of the refuge soon saw daily counts between 400 and 750 with birds absent on only two occasions, presumably over low tide.
Brambling
One or two birds with Chaffinches and tits in bushes above the 'drinking pond' were followed by a very busy flock of 100+ in the upper woods, nicely blending in with the colour tones of fallen leaves. The carpark at Whiteways was curiously locked and so deterred me from looking for the 40+ reported here by PH and others.
Redwing
200+ were in the lower park area and then again a few days later when even more were near the upper carpark, probably 500+ in total.
Fieldfare
Pretty much absent from my birding outings until a singleton with the above Redwings and 15 feeding in Upperton's Field whilst enjoying a mug of hot soup on the tea terrace on 21/12.
Chiffchaff and Siberian Chiffchaff
Locally, all the Chiffchaff were gone by the end of October but TH and WWT have had half a dozen on each visit until now. A ringed Siberian was calling and singing at times and showing well along Sally's Path. On the 21st Coldwaltham Water Works produced a Siberian amongst at least eight Commons and BFF's prompt messaging gave me the chance to pop in on the way home.
Red Kite
A roadside casualty was on the hard shoulder of the A3 southbound carriageway (not far from last year's Barn Owl corpse) whilst two others circled overhead.
Velvet Scoter
Six off Hill Head were always distant (for me!)
Mammals limited to Common Seal, Fallow Deer, a single Roe Deer, Red Fox and a nice Weasel at Titchfield which responded well to pishing.
