Purple Sandpipers

Today turned into ticking off locations rather than extending the year list. First stop - Eastney, at the Hayling Ferry to be precise. In the channel a close Red-breasted Merganser and then we located our prime target, a Shag. Unfortunately it didn't hang around for long but, believing that it had relocated to the other side of the ferry pontoon, we followed hotfoot, cameras in hand. All to no avail as the bird had done a Houdini and disappeared. Second on the site list was Southsea Castle for the Purple Sandpipers, really obliging but distant in the rapidly decreasing light, never mind, another year tick.

Some record shots of the Purplies, probably not as good as my birding companion's.

Third location - Baffins Pond, primarily to photograph the very obliging Shovelers that reside here. Unfortunately they were tucked up tight on the island and as the pond was partially frozen they declined to venture out, not even for the tasty morsels on offer from the little old lady feeding the rest of the inhabitants. Next stop - the Brent Goose Refuge further along Tangier Road - guess what - not a single goose to be seen. Heading out on to the Eastern Road, past the golf course, we left Portsea Island for a visit to Hayling Island, Stopping at the car parks either side of the bridge gave us Grey Plover and Ringed Plover plus all the usual suspects.

Onward, forever onward, to the Nore Stream south of Emsworth, neither the Spotted Redshank or Greenshank were at home so after a short scan of the mud we headed off for our seventh location - Thorney Island - the east side down Thornham Lane, just for a quick recce. Then a much longer visit to Fishbourne Creek on the rising tide, again all the usuals, but we did manage a fleeting glimpse of the Kingfisher in the stream below the sewage works. No Yellowhammers at the stables just a few Chaffinches on the manure heap. Back at the church car park two Bullfinches departed rapidly as we approached the car.

Next venue Drayton House Lake on the Bognor Road where we located a Little Grebe and several Gadwall.  Finally we washed up at the North Wall at Pagham where we discovered Knot, Golden Plover and Mediterranean Gulls amongst others. Rock and Meadow Pipits were about and finally, in the gathering gloom, the highlight of the day,  a Short-eared Owl.

At the end of the day, ten venues, 61 species and a few more year ticks.