Foggy geese ticks at Farlington Marshes

Despite the increasing density of fog as the afternoon progressed, I managed to connect with 8 of the reported 15 white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons) and the single pink-footed goose (Anser brachyrhynchus) at Farlington Marshes [LNR] late afternoon.

The birds were just visible at the edge of the white out range making ID of the pink footed particularly difficult given the variation in both the white-fronts plumage and the added disadvantage of their white forehead blazes only standing out when a bird was face on, which happened rarely.

Anyhow two new Hampshire ticks and worth it for the effort of both weather conditions and ID challenge.

Skylark (Alauda arvensis L.); another Boxing Day garden tick

I had a completely unexpected new garden tick, when two skylark landed on the back garden fence, and hung around for a couple of minutes before heading off - direction unknown.

I had spotted one flying around just shortly before they landed, and couldn't get my head around what it was, because I was simply not thinking "skylark" in the middle of Southsea.

I noted on Going Birding Hampshire later that a count of 1100 skylark had been recorded at Brownich Cliffs near Titchfield mid afternoon. So may suspect that my two birds were part of a movement on the day?

A second garden tick of the day and both birds within half an hour of the blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla). Stunning!