Back for Xmas..

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.

Very windy Hill Head..

Another warm day but battered by a strong onshore wind which shook the scope and tripod too much to be of use; two nicely obvious drake Eiders flew west and earlier DH had a Great Northern Diver flying east.
Two Marsh Harriers including good scope views of the male which twice dived at two different post-perching Buzzards, a single drake Pintail, thirty or so Golden Plovers and maybe ten Snipe. Brief highlight was a flight view of a Bittern, my first this winter here (or indeed anywhere), dropping in to 11 Acres. Apparently the Water Pipits were still on the flooded area half wayup the canal path.
No photos today.

Another grey, dismal day but unseasonally warm and little breeze. Three Mistle Thrushes with one singing strongly and living up to its Stormcock name. Single Great Spotted Woodpecker overflying, probably four Nuthatches and yet again great views of Treecreeper just a few yards from the car. The area adjacent to the holly clump was being 'brush cut' so little here.

Just these fungi growing on dead wood.

A brief look off Broadmarsh boat ramp with just binoculars on a high tide produced Wigeon and Little Grebes, a few distant packs of mergs and a couple of Pied Wagtails skittering around the carpark.

With poor weather on the way the 75+ mile round trip to Pulborough seemed a little fruitless and a couple of hours at Titchfield was more appropriate.
From the tea-room over breakfast about thirty Sanderlings were hunkered down out of the wind. Sadly, the mid-morning high tide was a little too choppy for much seawatching; however two single Eider drakes flew westwards and plopped down and promptly vanished in the white horses; the lone female Common Scoter was close in to the chalets and more scanning produced 4-5 other distant scoter, one of which chose to rise up and wing flap showing white secondaries  - thank you!! Apparently yesterday's two Great Northern Divers were off Weston Sailing Club earlier feasting on crabs.

Little on the reserve although the/a male Sparrowhawk was flushing stuff, including a few Snipe, in between bouts of fence sitting.

Above, the view from Meon Shore and some arty-farty ferns taken with phone camera.

The car set off and decided to go west rather than east and so arrived at Blashford, after a relatively traffic free journey in pleasant and still conditions, after 45 minutes. Hopefully one day it will drive itself!

Tern Hide was rather full and in a short stay just a non-Walter White egret flew in briefly,  just long enough for this picture. Walter (resting and preening in a tree)and another GWE were at Ivy South, the latter fishing between a Grey Heron and a Little Egret: nothing else of note.

No winter finches on the feeders yet.

Back at Ibsley Water,  30+ Goosanders (although 118 by dusk last night), a decent gull roost but just three Yellow-legged by 3:15pm, a flyby Water Pipit and the still-distant Black-necked Grebe. A single calling Chiffchaff was adjacent to the hide. Session rounded out chatting to Steve, A.N.Other, Keith, Jim and Tracey.

A Sparrowhawk was south over the A31 on the way home.

Veganicity..

A 'nil day' with banking and chores and little in a quick, thankfully dry, tour of Heath Pond although a few (10+) Redwings were showing well in and around the west side Ivy-clad trees and Holly. Zero of interest on the pond.

At QECP this Winter Moth, photographed with phone+flash, was resting inside one of the toilet cubicles; not sure what other 'users' may have thought if there'd been any!!! Tomorrow's vegan special lunch (above) followed today's vegan breakfast. Just Kestrel over central reservation and a bunch of airborne Lapwings over north end of Eastern Road on return.

Locally a dozen Shovelers (8m/4f) and at least 40 Cormorants in to roost with three quarters of an hour daylight left so presumably a few more would have arrived.

Today a chore day with just an hour at Titchfield where two c/c Marsh Harriers, male Pintail, Buzzard and Kestrel but little else; south scrape had NO waders.

Yesterday just ten Shovelers (nine males) on the pond with one Grey Heron and a handful of Cormorants.

Friday was a 'catch up' day at Pulborough (CH, HK, DM, AB et al) with singles of Green Sandpiper, Kingfisher and Barn Owl, about 200 godwits and lots of wildfowl and Lapwings but no Shorties nor Marsh Harriers. Waiting out on the tea terrace until dark failed to produce any Woodcock.

Dusk at Pulborough

Another catch up with 'the gang' was unexpected, and finally a pre-Xmas curry with ex-colleagues. On the way back a Fox dashed across the road and through the hedge.