3rd September - Calshot Spit, Hampshire

A juvenile White-winged Black Tern was reported from Calshot on Monday, not able to go then I waited on Tuesday morning to see if it was reported.  Just after 9.00 am it was so I set off to visit a location I had not been to before.  There was some concern, hightide was around midday and like most terns at this time of year it seemed to like to roost on the mud and shingle at lower tides.  Still I had to be optimistic.  When I arrived the tide was still low and there was a group of terns close to the parking area.  I just about had enough time to pick out two juvenile Black Terns before they all flew out across the water and settling on the end of the spit with quite a few more other terns.

The majority of the terns were on the spit and so I walked around, through the activity centre to a closer point where it was possible to view the terns on the end of the spit.  As always seems to be the case the terns were easily spooked taking off and flying around the spit.

I concentrated on the terns settled on the shingle spit.  The majority were Sandwich Terns, both adult and juveniles.  There was also a good number of Common Terns, again adults and juveniles.  There wasn't any sign of Black Terns, let alone White-winged Black Tern.  But I did manage to pick out this juvenile Arctic Tern.  With an all black bill and a black cap that was straight behind the eye and ear coverts I was happy with the identification of a bird that can be difficult.

Just after this all the terns went up once again and while some returned a significant number flew off to a distant island.  It would remain to be seen if this was covered later by the rising tide.

What terns were on the spit suddenly took to the air along with the gulls.  It then became clear as to why, a Peregrine came over our headed and toyed for a short while with the terns before heading off in the direction of the refinery.

The next event was the arrival of Oystercatcher.  At one point the sky was full of them and their calls, circling around above us I checked for any predator but it seems the reason for the movement was the rising tide.

Eventually they settled on to the spit and I wondered if this would prevent the terns from returning.

But as the tide rose and the island was covered the terns returned with again the majority Sandwich Terns, which duly all took off for no seen reason.

The Oystercatcher remained but were alert and in amongst them was a single Black-tailed Godwit.

Then, again for no reason all the Oystercatchers took off as well.

But returned.

I then decided to walk back to the car and drive it into the activity centre park and take my lunch to a bench that was even closer to the spit and where I joined others.

Scanning the spit once more there were Turnstones, and large flock of Ringed Plover with a few Dunlin.  The tern numbers were slowly building as the tide was reaching its high point and with them were good numbers of gulls.  The majority were Black-headed Gulls, but there were also Mediterranean Gulls and a couple of Common Gulls.

A surprise amongst the Sandwich and Common Terns was an immature Little Tern.

Then finally a Black Tern.  Unfortunately not the tern I was hoping for.  The photographs I have seen of the White-winged has an all white chest and side, the Black Tern here has a smusge around the neck and breast.

The Black Tern didn't stay too long, heading off across the open water to the south.  My attention then changed from the terns on the spit to starlings around the car park.  However this was a special Starling, and all white bird or leucistic as it is known.

Many assume a white bird is an albino, but there are key differences between the two conditions. Leucism is a condition of reduced pigmentation that is marked by overall pale colour or patches of reduced colouring and is caused by a genetic mutation which inhibits melanin and other pigments from being deposited in feathers.

Albinism is a genetic mutation where there is a total lack of the pigment melanin. Melanin produces most colours in feathers and can be black, brown, red or yellow. Albino birds can be identified by their red or pink eyes, where the lack of melanin in the eyes allows the blood to be visible. These striking eyes are also combined with white feather colour, pale legs and a pale beak.  Here the Starling has dark eyes but the legs are pale, there are alos signs of dark feathers, indicating this bird is leucistic.

There are theories that many ‘white’ birds are actually exhibiting something different – a condition known as progressive greying.  An individual starts life with normal pigmentation, then gradually loses the pigment-producing cells, so that with every moult, the amount of white feathers increases.

It was quite a striking bird and even more so in flight, easily being picked out as it flew around in a typical Starling flock.  Apparently the bird has been here for a few years and has successfully bred.  Looking at these hots you would think it would be an ideal target for a predator.

Back to the spit and unfortunately still no White-winged Black Tern, but another Arctic Tern, or maybe the same one in amongst the Common and Sandwich Terns.

My time was up and I had to leave.  Despite the fact I hadn't managed to see the tern I had a good day with five tern species on show and an interesting Starling.  It was also an interesting visit to a place I hadn't been to before, well worth a return visit sometime.