Yellow-browed Warbler

The second outing of this year was a bit of a tick collecting exercise, taking advantage of available scarcities that are currently in the region. First up was the easiest tick of them all, the Yellow-browed Warbler  at Eastleigh Sewage Works. We had visited this venue on the last day of the year and whilst the bird was most obliging, we still failed to get reasonable shots. So in some sunshine we hoped to do better - well just -  is the verdict.

Next up were the Penduline Tits at Titchfield Haven, unfortunately they were missing, so we visited most of the hides on the reserve capturing what was on offer. A Pochard feeding in the mouth of the river posed well and a Common Gull was  perched out offering a reasonable shot. On one of the foreshore groynes a juvenile Shag posed. On the western side of the reserve a Stonechat demanded to be snapped. In front of the Spurgin hide we counted at least 47 Common Snipe with the probability of many more hiding in the rushes, more than I have ever seen in one go and quite remarkable. Sadly not a Jack Snipe to be found - I live in hope.

A "wisp" of Snipe

Finally, the garden Sparrowhawk  managed to catch a Goldfinch for his Christmas Dinner - much to Liz's annoyance - but everyone has to eat.