Non birding post...

An earlier than expected Autoglass visit for a replacement windscreen left a larger gap before the final bank appointment with Ian than I had planned for and so a quick loop of PHP was followed by a visit to Chi. At the former no wild wildfowl and no Med Gulls but four Treecreepers including one very obliging bird, a single Redwing and singing Chiffchaff and Mistle Thrush.
At the latter a harassed Buzzard over the market carpark and, again, the Ravens calling quietly from the gardens.

Some street musicians here just before we all ducked for cover as the next shower came through.

Digiscoping at TH

A typically 'false spring' sort of day with just a little birdsong and the start of the raucous Black-headed Gull breeding season. The scrape water levels are now much reduced and there were 25 or so Avocets and 10-20 Med Gulls. The male harrier was distant and a Peregrine flashed low over north scrape before reappearing half an hour later flying west along the beach. At home the flower bees are up to three at least with the odd Buff-tail and Marmalade Fly.
The Reed Bunting was with the 32-100 and the rest with 12-32 held to handheld(!) scope resting on hide windowsill.

Zoo Quest..

A (pretty much) non-wildlife visit to Marwell, the first since taking 'The Chickenpox Kid' probably sixteen years back. A Grey Wagtail was a flyover on arrival and a small patch of seed left on a fence post by the info hut was drawing in two very confiding Nuthatches, at least one Marsh Tit, the usual suspects and a Wood Mouse. Strangely no sound of any Great Spot drumming although the weather was dull and wet; Goldcrests in the woods and loads of crows feeding in the various herbivore paddocks. Rained off by 13:30.

A few photos from the jaunt.

And a link to Pip McGarry, Artist in Residence

First Peacocks and Andrenas..

...and neither stopping to pose.

Yesterday, car-less due to a flat tyre ensured some on-site macro practice.
Here Episyrphus balteatus.

Today, duty day, saw little on South Brooks with electric fence installation causing disturbance - just distant Sprawk and Raven. Good to catch up with JD/DS and R+G for the first time in a couple of years; several non-stop Brimstones and Peacocks plus a single Red Admiral but still no Adders with deer fence work disturbing a large area.

Birdwise, Marsh Harrier, three Ruff and a couple of Dunlin, singing Treecreepers and Chiffchaffs. From the cafe terrace an adult Peregrine was stirring things up.

Later on the heath just a flyover Siskin and Carey's two Andrena spp investigating or excavating holes in the sandy base of an upturned tree stump.

And finally a brief catch up re Hants, KB and ringing demos with Julianne prior to heading off.

Hottest day of year (67f being shown in car) and down to t-shirt on the way back; and I'm guessing back to multi layers and waterproofs in the next few days!!

Primrose

A Buzzard over the A27 wasn't a surprise but a pair of displaying Sparrowhawks was a little more unusual. At PB chatted to Andy and Katherine whilst watching ten Snipe, two Raven and seven Buzzards but little else. By lunchtime many Brimstones were on the wing. At Hanger View a few more Buzzards and four each of Dunlin and Ruff whilst elsewhere a few singing Chiffchaffs; sadly no other insects.

At Arundel forty or more Snipe, 750 mixed gulls included eight Meds. The distant, newly ploughed estate fields were smothered with gulls. Yet more singing Chiffchaffs plus two or three Firecrests including the one below snapped with the slow M43 zoom at 100mm on autofocus. Definitely not @recordshotmyars material.

Bittern for the masses..

A Nuthatch zipped across the road  just beyond Brook. Three of four circling Gos (above), at times quite nice through the scope but too far for the 100-400 or indeed any lens. Just single Hawfinch powering south and a distant singing Woodlark. A full Birdtrack list for this site today.

The Bittern went for a stroll out in the open much to everyone's delight.
Sadly, still no Bramblings nor Lesser Redpolls but ten or more Reed Buntings and these two spp below on and around the feeders. Elsewhere ten Goldeneyes, fifteen Goosanders, singles of Med Gull, Peregrine and Red Kite, two Ravens, ten Buzzards and a few Brimstones in the scrubbier areas.
Back home the Flower Bee was inspecting all the Daffodil trumpets alongside a Marmalade Fly.

Cumberland sausage for tea; Cumberland Little Owl for breakfast

Yesterday's cold, foggy conditions were conducive to nothing bar coffees at TH with just 50+ Turnstones.

Today's much improved conditions saw a start at Fort Cumberland where one of the two Little Owls was perched in a nook in the old fort - a Portsea Island tick!! -  four of us peering through the fence attracted the attention of the security guard plus Rottweiler!! But sadly no sign of the Black Redstart. Two Meds on the way back to the car.

Home for the scope and tripod and off to Farlington on a rising tide.

Finally, some Beardies with a smart male close in and a couple of females further off. Just one Jack Snipe, still within ten yards or so of where I've seen it before, five Greenshanks and the Water Pipit still poking around at the base of the reeds. Scanning further off produced a Marsh Harrier and a female Peregrine. A Short-eared Owl in Point Field had gone to ground but sat quietly preening for a long time allowing passers-by to get a good look at it through my scope. Looking out into the harbour gave seven Harbour Seals hauled up on the rapidly disappearing mud bank where they frequently occur and, some way in front,  a Razorbill which was a nice surprise. Good numbers of the usual waders being pushed around by the rising water

Sat and watched the owl gradually disappear into the grass whilst chatting to Simon re New Forest Honey-buzzards and their watchers/ringers.

Back home, the pulmonaria (and late afternoon sunshine)  attacted Buff-tailed Bumblebee and, rather better, the first Hairy-footed Flower Bee of the year.
As the sun dropped away a very vocal Chiffchaff was calling from Andrew's  apple tree.