Almost the St valentine's Disaster - if not Massacre!

Monday 14 February

Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima in poor light

What a Valentine's Day! The forecast said more rain and strong winds but come the morning bright sunshine, little cloud and relatively calm as I decided to take the bus from Warsash to Southsea via a change at Fareham. All going well till somebody told me there was a direct route rather than changing at Portsmouth Harbour. What a disaster. The bus went all round the house and took and hour and a half to reach the destination and, having arrived, I discovered that the prom [path was sealed off because of building works near the castle. Was this all in vain, two and a half hours to record a few Black-headed and Herring Gulls along with a lonely Carrion Crow and small flock of Starlings? With the leg seeming more comfortable I found a way round to the far side of the castle and was able to look down on the rocks below and to my great delight was able to find a quintet of Purple Sandpipers, albeit in shadow as they frolicked around the sea's edge and the sun pointing straight into the camera lens. Now that put the smile back on my face!

The quintet of Purple Sandpipers Calidris maritima

Having seen the Purple Sandpipers birding took a change for the better. Heading back down to the park to make my way to the main road I encountered more Carrion Crows before coming across a handful of House Sparrows and a pair of Blackbirds. The next grassy area then produced ten Wood Pigeon, a couple of magpies and the expected resident Feral Pigeons.

Carrion Crow Corvus corone on the restriction fence

Now, if I play my cards right, per chance to call in at Titchfield Floods to check out the local Barn Owls and water birds on the flooded meadow following my afternoon dance session in the neighbouring Community Centre!

Distant views of the Purple sandpipers in poor light

Purple Sandpipers Calidris maritima

Birds seen:

Purple Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Blackbird, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow.

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