Last Thursday I had attempted to see the terns of the beach at Hill Head in sweltering temperatures. I returned this morning in completely contrasting conditions, our summer heatwave had broken, there had been thunderstorms overnight and it was now overcast and much cooler. I had some time before the reserve opened and walked to the beach where the tide was now rising. Unlike Thursday the beach was pretty much empty with no settled terns, however Common Terns were moving back and forwards across the beach to the sea and reserve.
I walked around to the sailing club with very little of interest to be seen. To be honest the most interesting and frustrating thing I found was the notice regarding the pending imposition of parking fees along the sea wall from August 1st. Charges will be applicable from 10:00 to 18:00 wit a maximum stay of six hours all year! The charge will be £1 per hour. It will be interesting to see how the residents feel about this, as cars look to park in the side roads. Another down side of the lockdown, the Fareham Council seeing an opportunity to make money.
With the hide finally open I made my way to the Meon Shore Hide, opening up a Common Sandpiper was the first bird I saw. A first for Hampshire this year although I saw plenty when I was in Mull.
I saw a dark smallish wader on the right hand side of the hide close up to the reeds. After getting the scope set up the wader disappeared, I then picked up one on the left side feeding on the mud, initially I thought it could be a Green Sandpiper, but getting a better look with the scope I could see a much defined supercillium beyond the eye, this doesn't happen on the Green Sandpiper and defined spots on the back, it was a Wood Sandpiper.
It was frustratingly just that little bit to far away to be anything but a record shot for the camera, but it was actively feeding and there was the chance that like the Common Sandpipers it may come closer.
The wood sandpiper is a medium-sized wading bird, with a
fine straight bill, yellowish legs and as I stated a conspicuous long white stripe from the
bill over the eye to the back of the neck. In flight, it shows no wing-stripes
and a square white rump. It is a passage
migrant in spring and autumn, breeding in Northern Europe and wintering in
Africa.
While resembling the Green Sandpiper, it is more closely related to the Redshank, and both of these are close to the Marsh Sandpiper.
With it being quite distant I set up to digi-scope using my phone and the scope, first a still.
Then some video as it fed around the shallow pool still staying frustratingly distant.
A Little Tern was seen flying around the back of the scrape, but then headed out towards the sea. A juvenile Black Tern was sitting on one of the wooden structures around on e of the islands at the back of the scrape, again frustratingly distant.
There were good numbers of Avocet at the north end of scrape and every so often they would take off and fly around the scrape before settling back in the same area.
The a birder on the left hand side of the hide pointed out a Little Gull that was feeding almost below the hide close to the reeds. Apparently it just appeared, not sure where it came from, but it gave some really close views as it fed picking off small insects from the surface of the water.
So to aging, most probably at least a second calendar bird, but maybe an adult having gone into winter plumage already. The black showing on the wing tips here makes me think that this maybe an adult bird in winter plumage, but I am always open to the more enlightened in the aging of gulls.
The Little Gull breeds across northern Europe and the Palearctic. It is migratory, wintering on coasts in western Europe,
the Mediterranean and (in small numbers) the northeast United States;
in recent years non-breeding birds have summered in western Europe in
increasing numbers and in 2016 they successfully nested for the first time
in Great Britain at the RSPB reserve at Loch of
Strathbeg in Aberdeenshire
They feed by picking insects off the surface of the water, or catching them in the air like a Black Tern.
It was great to be able to get so close to this dainty little gull. The white water background also helping to frame the gull.
Despite its size in relation to the many Black-headed Gulls about it was more than prepared to stand its ground if they came too close, here chasing one off with open bill.
Then as quick as it appeared it was gone. I didn't see it leave but others thought it drifted away into the corner south east corner, but as it never re-appeared I think it left for the river or sea.
Finally the Wood Sandpiper made it a little closer to the hide and I was able to get a much better photograph.
A pair of Redshank were at roost on the side of the island right in front of the hide.
But quite quickly two became one
The Black-headed Gulls were probably the noisiest and busiest of the birds on the scrape, with plenty of juvenile birds challenging some of the birders that were in the hide. I was here in the hope of seeing two tern species, one of those had shown up, albeit distantly, the Black Tern, but there was still know sign of the hoped for Roseate Tern. However the Common Terns were putting on a good display around the posts and platforms.
this bird appeared with a fish and seemed to be unsure what to do with it
Eventually it flew off with it.
Landed on one of the platforms where a juvenile Black-headed Gull appeared to think the fish was being offered to it.
The tern then decided the best course of action was to eat and then fly off.
Back to the waders on the scrape, a smart Lapwing.
One of up to five Common Sandpipers.
Smart brick red Black-tailed Godwits contrasting with the green reflected water in the south east corner of the scrape.
One disappointment on the day was the appearance of Green Sandpiper that flew on to the mud in front of the hide, called and immediately left never to seen again. I had been hearing the calls of Mediterranean Gulls all morning but hadn't been able to find the source, then one flew over, again the black hood beginning to fade away.
I turned my attention once again to the Common Terns, specifically as they flew up to and from the various posts they would use. The background emphasized the snow white plumage and the movement of the wings along with the splashes of the blood red of the bill and legs.
Here a selection of the comings and goings of the many Common Terns on the scrape, first the coming.....
Then the goings...
As well as the Common Terns there was also a few Sandwich Terns, definitely a pair.
Then heading out to sea at high tide
A sparrowhawk came through and scattered almost all the birds on the scrape, it was a male so most of the birds present would have been a challenge, but up they all went, the Wood Sandpiper relocating to the north end of the scrape, but the Avocet coming closer to the hide.
The Black Tern also returned, a juvenile it settled on one of the posts towards the north end of the scrape.
Distant again so I turned to the scope once again, not the best but shows the juvenile plumage well.
And then some more video
Then a little later it took off and flew around the scrape before dropping from sight behind the vegetation at the back of the furthest island.
A Common Sandpiper coming in to land on the closest island.
A pair of Avocet indulging in a bit of synchronised flying during one of the many Avocet "spooks"
The as the sun began to come out and the clouds banished butterflies appeared in front of the hide. A large orange and black butterfly zoomed past and I can only think it was a Dark Green Fritillary, while this Painted Lady settled on the plants behind the wire fence.
And my first Gatekeeper of the year nectaring on one of the flowering teasel heads
I had down five hours in the hide, it had been good to get back to the birds after a few weeks of just butterflies. The wader passage is starting to warm up and the terns were a great attraction. So despite the change in weather it had been a very good day, the only disappointment being the missing Roseate, so maybe third time lucky?
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