Tick, tick, tick

Not a broken watch, but a person yearlisting on a sunny Saturday in January.
The year lsiting is going well, One hundred and three different birds so far this month. Over half way to the #my200birdyear target.
It's going to get a lot harder - in fact I may not get to 200 at all, I havent underestimated that fact at all but we'll give it a damn good go. It's becoming addictive again.

But if this addiction takes me to the quiet parts of our countryside or coastline, I reckon I can live with that.

First up today was Chilling / Bronwich near Titchfield Haven. Target - Long Tailed Duck, Scaup and Common Scoter all listed out to sea for a few days at least.
Picking up Golden Plover on the walk from the car park to the coast (#104) we soon honed in on the flock of birds, bobbing on the waves. Hello Scaup and LT Duck (#105 / #106).  sadly no sign of the Scoter, or Eider that have also been listed, "Further up Southampton Water", one local birder told us.
(click on pics to enlarge).

Being so close to Titchfield and sunny day we thought a quick check on the Snow Bunting was in order. Try and get some better pics, using the tripod this time.

Although it was listed in the Visitors Centre, we didnt see it today. A Common Gull made it #107 for the year, a few pics of the Sanderling also taken - and a few Turnstone for good measure.

A few kite surfers were out on the water today. Including the guy from Mythbusters.

From Titchfield it was a busy traffic drive across (or actually around) to Southsea Castle. The Purple Sandpiper (#108) took some finding today. Easy to miss due to the sun and splashing waves, we actually only saw one today, but that's always enough.

A Rock Pipit (#109) had the decency to fly past as we looked out to sea. It landed close enough to snap. Herring Gull also added here (#110).

On to Farlington to see if the Short Eared Owls were out. I already have them (for the year list) but as Rach was with me we thought it a good place to go for a stroll.

No luck with the Owls. Saw a Marsh Harrier (already got), a pair of very showy Raven and also heard a Bearded Tit in the reeds. On checking, it appears I hadn't listed the Beardies from a fortnight ago, so that makes it #111 for the year list.

'Triffic'.

I can walk around Andover town and see no one I know. Today at Farlington I bumped in to 3!
Steve from Greenham (an old resident in my Wardens job) and Simon and Ann-marie from Andover. Funny old world, innit!

Simon and Ann-Marie enjoying the cold weather.