Heavy freezing fog then bright sunshine at Sandy Point.

Saturday 3rd December 2023.

Freezing fog descended on the south coast throughout the morning, but it wasn't till after midday if finally cleared.

On a freezing foggy day, Andy Fisher, Geoff Farwell and myself took a drive down to Sandy Point, hoping to pick out a Diver or an Auk on the rising tide within the harbour entrance. However, our morning was scuppered by a thick blanket of freezing fog as temperatures were well below freezing throughout the morning. Andy had a text to say that visibility off Selsey Bill was nil as we were driving down to Sandy Point and once we reached the harbour entrance, it was nearly the same here. Nevertheless, we made our way to the RNLI Building and checked out the area despite the thick fog. While walking along the footpath leading to the harbour entrance, we heard a Firecrest calling deep within the Gorse, but there was no sighting of the bird.

I found a few of these Common Rustgill Toadstools by the footpath in Seafarers Walk.

Above, a Redshank flew around us by the RNLI Station at Sandy Point and below, one of several Sandwich Terns flying into the harbour in the gloom.

Yes, it was that cold! This Wood Pigeon was all fluffed up by the footpath on Seafarers Walk. Below, just of a couple of drake Tufted Duck of note on Sinah Gravel Pits.

I did pick up an Auk out in the channel, but though seen briefly twice, it disappeared into the fog. A few Sandwich Terns drifted past close in as did a Little Egret and a Redshank, but after a few hours, we decided to go and give Sinah Gravel Pits a try. The weather forecast said that the fog should lift around midday and so would come back later in the day to try again. On the way back to the car, we bumped into both Andy Friend and Pete Gammage (fellow Lazee's) for a chat and Mr Friend said Andy could ‘tick off’ the White-tailed Eagle we had seen earlier in the year and add it to Mr Fisher’s Hampshire year list. Andy then went off to do a Dunlin/Sanderling impression along the shoreline!

Above and below, Redshank and Dunlin feeding in the Kench, Hayling Island.

Above and below, a few Sandwich Terns flew into Langstone Harbour, with a Black-headed Gull photo-bombing the above photo.

Geoff enjoying a spot of lunch and below, a Starling perched on Andy's boot!

Sadly, there was not much to look at on the lake at Sinah Warren, with just a couple of drake Tufted Ducks and a few Moorhens on the water. Years ago, there used to be scores of both Tufted Duck and Pochard on here, but not anymore and this was the site of my very first Bittern sighting. Me and the guys had some good memories here from the past. We took a walk through the gorse and bramble bushes hoping to find some interesting passerines, but all we got for our efforts were a Jay and a female Goldcrest (though this bird was just a few feet away from us). We then made our way back to the car and decided to look at the harbour entrance from the Ferry Boat Inn area. From here, the fog was just as thick, but a few Sandwich Terns flew past and the odd fly-by Sanderling belted. Earlier, we had a quick look at the Kench area where there were good numbers of Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher and Redshank on the exposed mudflats.

Above, Andy feeding the local Starlings. Below, what looks like a 'Ghost Ship' coming into Langstone Harbour from the harbour entrance.

Above, Brent Geese flying through the fog at Sandy Point.

Above and below, the Razorbill always remained a bit distant in the harbour entrance at Sandy Point.

After having lunch by the Ferryboat Inn, we made our way back to Sandy Point again and from the RNLI Building, the fog had finally lifted and after a good scan in the channel, we found a Razorbill swimming up and down. Two species of Diver were seen that included a Red-throated Diver that flew into Chichester Harbour and after an hour or so, flew back out and landed on the sea and drifted back into the harbour over on the West Wittering side. A Great Northern Diver was seen distantly within the harbour, but always remained distant. A female Merganser was seen over the other side of the channel and at least two Great Crested Grebes were seen in the same area. Small numbers of Sanderling flew across the harbour entrance and a small flock of three Wigeon flew into the harbour. By now, my toes were nearly frozen and so I decided to call it a day around 2.45pm and made our way back to the car.