Sunday 24 December
A horrible, cloudy , dull ay with a hint of worse to come. Blow staying n the house so I headed off to Hayling Island to visit the furthest eastern point at Sandy Point overlooking the sea. Rough!! With the horrendous gale even the Black-headed Gulls and Carrion Crows were taking shelter on the grass on the land side of the sea wall. No chance at all of raising the scope to check the sea so immediately gave up and drove back to the car park at the southern end of the Oyster Beds adjacent to the "Billy Line" track.
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| Curlew Numenius arquata |
The tide now well on its way out revealing a number of Brent Geese, Oystercatchers, Carrion Crows and Black-headed Gulls. Checking with the bins, whilst try to seek some shelter from the very strong wind, I also added both Curlew and Redshank.
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| Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficllis |
Continuing on northwards to the main water I was pleased to once again find the long-staying female Long-tailed Duck. At the far, northern, end of this water a trio of Little Grebes before checking out the remaining emptying pools where I found 28 Shelduck along with more Brent Geese, Curlew and Redshank.
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| Shelduck Tadorna tadorna |
Finally, back on to the old railway track for the walk back to the car with some shelter from the wind which produced 7seven Woodpigeon and five Magpies. Almost a the end of the trail when a Blackbird crossed from one side to the other and was quickly followed by a half-dozen Goldfinches. Once back in the car and ready to depart, a final check on the exposed mud and not only more resting Black-headed Gulls near the water's edge but also a single Mediterranean Gull.
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| Redshank Tringa totanus |
Birds seen:
Brent Goose, Shelduck, Long-tailed Duck, Little Grebe, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Goldfinch.
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