Gosport

Bit more time out again from surveying.

Very confiding Ring-billed at Walpole boating lake

Direct comparison with Common showing the characteristic 'flat back' on water.

Was sat there doing nothing for a while when suddenly decided to do a real screechy 'long call' never seen one do that before

Ad Med also there

This Brant was in Stokes Bay, Gosport.

Was soon flushed from here and flew to HMS Sultan playing fields, nice neck collar

Rooks are tame in these parts, obviously not getting shot at here

Hatch Pond

Joined the ranks at Hatch today to try my luck at photographing the very popular Bitterns

This bird was tantalisingly close for a good hour but always just obscured.

Flushed by an old guy in a dingy (see below)

Looks like he's having fun

Fishbourne, W.Sussex

Lots of time in Hants and W.Sussex last couple of months with a survey contract. Managed to find a bit of time today to get record shots of a couple of finds, although all are with coolpix and scope

Spot the Black Brant, click to enlarge

Zoomed in

The bird on the left here looks very close to Pale-bellied but did actually have a dark vent area which can just be seen here, though nowhere near as extensive as the usual bird on the right.

Same birds again, the one with very little brown on the underparts has also paler flanks, features getting pretty close to Pale-bellied. This is either an extreme variant or perhaps a hybrid, they have been known to occur.

Not too good on flora and fungi, anyone know what this thing is

It'snow joke now

Still very unmediterranean weather at Shore Road

One of 4 Bewick's at East Holme

Swineham Gravel Pits

Record shot of Goosander stood on ice

Global warming

Looks like there should be a Polar bear somewhere

Shore road

Hatch Pond where there was a bit of open water

This Coot means business

Carrion Crow Shell Bay

Still a few Redwing on the move

Tufties also moving

Pintail flying to Brands Bay

Record shot of R.C Pochard at Little Sea, also a female around

Primrose Gardens

Some of the big movement of Thrushes ended up at the end of the road

Not really the weather for nesting

Ballard undercliff

Quick walk to the top of Ballard first. A few Song Thrush about but pretty quiet

Decided to do the undercliff from the Swanage end. Very pleasant indeed here in the sunshine and sheltered from the north wind.

At least 2 Black Redstarts wintering here.

Second bird

Surprised to see this Peacock flying up and down the beach in between settling on the pebbles

Passing Herring Gull wing

View from Middlebeach carpark