It was my intention to visit the Oyster Beds this morning, but as I was about to leave the report came in of a Pallas's Warbler at Sandy Point at the south easterly tip of Hayling Island. Leaving home it was raining and misty so I wondered what the day was going to be like. I didn't make my final decision on where to go until I was crossing the Langstone Bridge, the tide was already high and the rain and mist had cleared. I carried on passing the Oyster Beds car park and headed for the coast.
I parked up and walked around the shore, the skies still looked bleak.
The warbler was present early morning in gardens at the back of the Lifeboat station. I reached the area and then into Seafayrers Lane, where I met quite a few birders, but there had not been any sign of the warbler.
Pallas's Warblers are a very rare Hampshire bird with only six being reported previously, interestingly three of those were found on Hayling and this was the fourth. So the pressure was on. It was a case of watching the trees and gardens.
There were several Chiffchaffs and plenty of Blue and Great Tits and then every so often a Goldcrest to raise the pulse. But no sign of Pallas's Warbler.
I walked around to the back of the copse where it was easier to view the undergrowth and the canopy.
The sun had come out and the hope was that this would bring out the insects and with them something to catch them, but it didn't happen. As has been the case over the last few days there were plenty of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests to look at and thousands of leaves! A Great Spotted Woodpecker added a little bit of interest.
After four hours I gave up, would it be seen again, in a way I hoped so, as there would be a chance I could be back. But today staring at leaves was more than enough for me. I walked back around the beach with the warm sun on my face and the sound of the waves crashing onto the beach and rocks.
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