An indifferent forecast today, a bright start to the morning, but then cloud and by late morning light rain. The tide though was good, with an early low tide, meaning there would be terns on the beach first thing when the weather was a little better. As a result I decided to go, arriving just after 9.00am. There were terns on the beach so I made my way around the harbour. I stopped at the viewing point where there were Common Terns on Duck Lake.
With the tide low the mud was exposed and there were Redshank, Lapwing and Moorhen feeding on the mud. There wasn't any sign of the hoped for Water Rail.
I walked out onto the beach spit behind the sailing club, from where it was good to view the terns that were sitting on the shingle on the beach. Mostly Common Terns on the beach I was hoping to find something a little rarer, there have been Roseate, Arctic and Black seen. Scanning through them constantly is essential as they move in and out frequently, plus they also seemed quite jumpy, going up every other minute.
Eventually a juvenile Arctic Tern appeared at the back of the group.
A slightly smaller tern than the accompanying Common Terns, the bill of the Arctic Tern is dark, with no hint of pink at the base. It also appears whiter on the breast and greyer compared with a juvenile Common Tern that comes over a little brown. Here a chance to compare both alongside each other. The Arctic on the right.
The legs almost black and very short.
Another feature is the more rounded head, again here comparison with a Common Tern.
Finally in flight the primaries and secondaries are a translucent triangle which is not seen in the Common Tern.
It took off and flew around with the Common Terns, but would return, but gradually the terns dispersed and only a handful of Common Terns left.
Off shore Common Terns were still carrying fish into the reserve.
Also on the beach two Mediterranean Gulls.
Lots of Great Black-backed and Herring Gulls on the water, but this Lesser Black-backed Gull preferred the beach.
With the tide coming in the terns and gulls were moving offshore, so I walked around to Duck Lake to see if there was anything of interest. There was nothing at the edge of the reeds and only one Black-tailed Godwit feeding in the bay.
A flock of about 200 Starlings had been moving between the beach and the sailing club. Here they were gathered on the beach behind the sailing club.
I stopped at the viewing point and watched the Common Terns. Still paired up they were flying around calling and chasing each other.
The Common Tern is a very elegant tern.
Low across the water in front of the reeds.
A scan of the base of the reeds finally found me a Water Rail.
It made its way along the edge of the mud that was exposed with the low tide.
Then an encounter with a Redshank.
The Redshank was happy with the Rail coming into its area, but the Rail wasn't spooked and just walked by.
Back to the Common Terns, and after a fly and chase they were still displaying to each other.
The rain was coming and the Meon Shore Hide was still closed, so I made my way back to the car and an end to the day's birding. Walking past the harbour the Goosander was still present, and the feather growth did not seem to have improved.
It is back to warm weather for the next few days so we will have to see what this brings
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