With a harvest moon the night before, the spring tides were forecast to be high ones, so with Farlington a waste of time I decided to go to Hayling Island to watch the high tide roost at the Oyster Beds. Walking from the car park the Oystercatchers were already settling on the rocks on the wall of the old oyster beds close to the Billy Path.
A little further along there was a lone Curlew standing on the rocks covered with bladder wrack.
The tide was already rising but there were still gullies of mud in the old lagoons. This Greenshank contrasted with the algae on the mud.
And a Curlew appeared from within the gully.
In the big lagoon at the far west end Little Egret were hunting in the rising tide.
Grey Plover were out on the mud but also collecting on the chalk rocks on the side of the lagoon.
With a report of a Spotted Redshank at the lagoon by the Billy Path, I walked back and found it settled on the dried bladder wrack.
An interesting bird, appearing much more browner than you normally see in a Spotted Redshank.
I walked back to the lagoons on the west side and the tide had now covered the mud. I settled in to watch the waders as they sought space on the rapidly disappearing rocks. The Grey Plover were spooked by something and took off, flying around the lagoons.
A single Golden Plover was picked out amongst the flying Grey Plover, and once they settled on the rocks it was possible to pick out the lone bird amongst the Greys, it is in the middle of this shot.
Signs of autumn and winter now, first with a flock of Wigeon coming high over the lagoons.
And then Brent coming into the harbour. Two birds first.
In total there were seven birds flying through.
It was then a case of scanning the water and rocks. Two Peregrines were seen on North Binness Island, while on the water there were Great Crested Grebes. Two Common Sandpipers flew on to the rocks close to me as I watched the roost.
Calling Sandwich Terns flew past.
We were now nearing high tide.
Two roosting Whimbrel on the smallest of exposed land.
Looking west into the lagoon where the Long-tailed Duck was last winter.
Ringed Plover looking for some real Estate at the high point of the tide.
I don't recall seeing the tide so high here.
Grey Plover on the rocks with Dunlin and about fifteen Knot.
The Whimbrel's little bit of land was now very small.
And the Oystercatchers were struggling for space.
With the weather having been warm and sunny the last few days I decided to drive up to Portsdown Hill to see if the Long-tailed Blues were about. It was this time last year when they were seen. I parked up and then walked to the spot, but there was only Large and Small Whites on the wing and a single Migrant Hawker. I walked around the slopes but was only able to find these:
A Small White
A very tatty female Common Blue.
A Meadow Brown, looks like the outcome of a second brood.
And a Red Admiral
Not what I had hoped for but the views out across Portsmouth Harbour and Portsdown Hill were spectacular.
A lovely day once more in the autumn sunshine.
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