Hayling Island and Farlington Marsh

Thursday 6 August 

The inland pool at the start of the trail with its Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa

Another very warm start to the day with mainly clear blue sky and very little cloud but a rather strong breeze as I arrived at the top car park on Hayling Island to walk the "Billy Trail" past the oyster beds at a almost 1030 o coincide with the low tide mark. Lots of people about and the car park full as I set off but very little to be seen.  A number of Black-headed Gulls at the water's edge in the harbour but once on the sea wall a good number on the same plus a few Herring Gulls on the shore line of the main Langstone Harbour.  Meanwhile, on the inner pool at the start of the Billy Line trail nineteen Black-tailed Godwits and looking back towards the car park I managed to also pick out a couple of Curlew and a single Little Egret.

lack-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

A Woodpigeon flew across as I made my way down the rail and then took the narrow path past the former oyster beds.  A pair of Oystercatchers were noted in the first, empty bed along with a handful of Black-headed Gulls and a single fishing Common Tern.  Making my way past the beds a large flock of Starlings rose from behind the bushes.

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

The penultimate bed produced a lone Heron and even a Carrion Crow flew across the path ahead of me.  Finally, arriving at the bay in front of the lower car park, the water's edge produced a group of seven resting Little Egrets but nothing else.  

However, when at the breeding colony all the Mediterranean Gulls had departed but there was still about a dozen Black-headed Gulls present and I counted a further six Common Terns.  It would appear that at least two pairs were still making use of the floating rafts.

Common Terns Sterna hirundo still using the nesting platform

I, therefore, took the higher path back towards the newly resurfaced trail and back to the car park but also recording both a single Blackbird and Magpie.  Once at the car park I noticed a pair of Mute Swans on the water below the road bridge so completing my visit.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Then followed the short drive back along the A27 to Farlington Marshes and a walk along the sea wall to the lake.  Making my way through the few trees I picked up a Woodpigeon and once on the sea wall three Carrion Crows plus scores of Black-headed and Herring Gulls out on the mud flats.  On the land side a Magpie flew away to the trees but nothing on the lake itself until I found the resting nineteen Shelduck on the far side.

Seven Canada Geese flew from the shore to the river behind me and scoping further down the river I found around 80 Canada Geese along with more gulls.  Deciding nothing more to see I decided to call it a day and as I turned to retrace my steps to the car park noticed the distant Little Egret out on the mud.

An empty oyster bed at low tide

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Little Egret, Heron, Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling.

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

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Weston Shore, Southampton

Monday 3 August 

Another war, sunny start to the day so a 9.10 morning visit to relatively nearby Weston Shore at the top of Southampton Water and next to the docks themselves.  No sooner parked in the southern, nearest, car park and a number of Rock Doves (Feral pigeons) resting on the fence in front and on the empty shore at low tide scores of resting Herring Gulls along with almost as many Carrion Crows. Lots more Carrion Crows on the higher shore to my left and in the neighbouring trees.

A few of the Herring Gulls Larus argentatus

Looking slightly to my right very many Black-headed Gulls as well and at the water's edge dozens of feeding Oystercatchers as well as gulls.  A Cormorant flew upstream towards the docks and out in mid-channel  pair of Great Crested Grebes.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta  (right) with Herring Gull (top centre) and 2 Black-headed Gulls

Moving on to the northern car park nearer the docks I had better views of the ten Little Egrets and then found eleven Curlew and a couple of Whimbrel.  In the trees on the other side of the road a couple of Woodpigeons.

Curlew Numenius arquata

Time to move home and travelling along the shore to the entrance to Netley's Victoria park I found resting Back-headed Gulls on the shingle shore along with a couple of Oystercatchers and a [air of Herring Gulls.  Across the road and a short visit to Sophie's Pond where there were resting Mallards and a trio of Moorhen.  Even a Magpie in the trees at the back. So, finally, a total of 15 species before heading back home.

Mallard Anas platyrhyynchos

Birds seen:

Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Whimbrel, Curlew, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Carrion Crow.

Carrion Crows Corvus corone with the Herring Gulls

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

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Mystery Tern

Sunday 2 August

On reflection and comments received, it would appear that the bird, as stated, is not a tern with those long legs but a gull.  Logic, therefore, suggests that the bird is actually a moulting adult Mediterranean Gull.  Hope you all agree.   Photo below is cropped from the original as also shown.

Moulting adult Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus

Black-headed Gulls to the left and 2 Sandwich Terns to the right

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Warsash and Solent shore

Sunday 2 August

Another very warm start to the day so left home at 9 o'clock to walk along the shore through Warsash and down to the Solent and back.  Only expected to be out for an hour or so but, in the ned, walked on down the Solent as far as the Meandering Pool and upon the return stopped at the a large expanse of uncovered mud just after low tide to try and decide what on earth was resting with the pair of Sandwich Terns amongst the large number of Black-headed Gulls.

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis

The outward journey produced a quartet of House Sparrows as I left the sailing club and then the usual Black-headed and Herring Gulls on the empty shore.  Moving past Strawberry Fields both a Woodpigeon and Blackbird noted and time to check the water line where I found a small number of Black-tailed Godwits.  At the top of the bare tree to my left a quartet of Starlings.

Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa

Once past the navigation pier I could take a longer look at the shoreline where I found a group of 13 Redshanks.  nearby the only Little Egret seen during the morning and resting on the end of the Spit three herons and a couple of Cormorant.  Behind me I was intrigued to watch a pair of Mallard walking down the road and a quick right turn to approach and enter the small pond.

Lunch time for this Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 

Then it was on towards the Spit itself and a stop to check the many resting Black-headed Gulls where I also found a single Sandwich Tern in their midst. In the lee of the spit a couple of Canada Geese, five Mallards and 14 Black-tailed Godwits.  Then it was all quiet as I continued on down to the Scrape where I found the lake completely dry but with a single resting Heron. The nearby bushes and amongst the gorse on further down found a total of eight Stonechat and on the return walk a single Whitethroat.

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos on way to pond

Back to the mud flats approaching the navigation pier and the single Sandwich Tern had now been joined by two others.  However, on using the bins to check I was amazed to discover that the nearest tern had a red beak, obviously not a Sandwich Tern but what could it be? No sooner seen than the bird was lying down with its head and beak tucked away out of sight for a well earned sleep.

Sandwich Terns Sterna sandvicensis (at rear)

Over five minutes waiting for the bird to show its head as the two Sandwich Terns started to rise and preen but time to confirm that the "stranger" was larger and not a single dark feather other than the moulting grey on its head. When the bird finally raised its head and even stood up it had a very short but blunt red beak and very long pinkish legs.  I could find no tern in the Collins Guide with such short legs nor did it seem to apply to any of the European gulls.  I now await some idea of identification from the Hampshire County Recorder or from friends and followers of the Facebook blog offering their thoughts.  We shall see.

The "mystery" tern now confirmed as a moulting Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus

We can now be sure that the "mystery" bird was indeed an adult Mediterranean Gull in moult.

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Mallard, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Sandwich Tern, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Stonechat, Blackbird, Whitethroat, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow.

Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa

Sandwich Terns Sterna sandvicensis at rear

Adult Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus

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Titchfield Haven and Workman's Lane, Warsash

Male Goosander Mergus merganser

Saturday 1 August

Another bright and clear start to the day with the temperature already up to 24C when I collected friend Richard Osman at 8.30 to drive over to Hill Head and visit the shore, harbour and lake within Titchfield Haven reserve.  Rock Dove, House Sparrow and Black-headed Gulls as we approached our chosen car park and visiting the viewing area over the lake soon added Cormorant, Heron, many Coot and Mallards along with Little Egret, Heron, Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank and Lapwings.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Moving along the road to the bridge over the Meon's outflow a few more Mallards along with a resting male Goosander and a Great Crested Grebe.

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus

Crossing the road back to the harbour its many more mallards along with 43 Turnstone and the breeding Mute Swans along with their two well-grown cygnets.

Mute Swan Cygnus olor with Turnstones Arenaria interpres in background

Our final stop was a little further along the sidewalk o the sailing club where checking the estuary not only many Black-headed but also a few Herring Gulls.  However, immediately below as a Common Gull and way out at the Solent shore itself, three Knot still showing much of their summer plumage.

Knot Caladris canutus

Time to move on and make our way back to Warsash to visit Workmans Lane and as we turned inland from the Solent shore three Barn Swallows on the wires and more feeding over the recently cropped field.  Passing through the top end of Titchfield both Jackdaw and Collared Dove and a quick diversion down Brownwich Lane also produced Blackbird and Goldfinch.

Approaching Hook we passed a Moorhen walking at the side of the road and then, taking the gravelled track, we were at the top of Workmans Lane by 10.35 and ready for out next walk. Both Dunnock and Robin as we arrived, but then on the wires as we walked down the lane a half-dozen Barn Swallows on the wires.

Walking along the southern end of the horse field at least a score of Rooks plus four Carrion Crows and a single Magpie.  A Stonechat put in a very brief appearance in the donkey paddock and at east four Woodpigeons were noted.  Across the back of the field  the far end a flock of about forty Starlings were seen.

Rook Corvus frugilegus

Moving on down the lane to reach the shore the tide was now almost in with only a very limited area of exposed beach upon which we found a dozen Black-headed and a single Common Gull along with nine Oystercatchers.

Common Gull Larus canus

But in front of us on the projecting concrete breakwater a collection of resting Black-headed Gulls.  But closer inspection discovered a single adult Sandwich Tern at the back and a juvenile at the front.  It was only when concentrating on the juvenile that I realised there was also another Common Gull  resting at the back.

Juvenile Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis with Common Gull behind

Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus with Sandwich Terns Sterna sandvicensis
 (back left and right front) along with Common Gull Larus canus (back right)

Birds seen:

Mute Swan, Mallard, Goosander, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, sMoorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Knot, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Goldfinch.

Male Goosander Mergus merganser

Common Gull Larus canus

Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Knot Calidris canutus

Redshank Tringa totanus

Black-headed Gulls with Sandwich Terns and Common Gull

Turnstones Arenaria interpres

Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus sheltering in the shade

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