After dropping Helen at the railway station I headed down tot Hayling Island. I was going to start at the Oyster beds and the high tide roost, but having seen reports from Sandy Point I decided to go all the way down for some sea watching.
As I walked to the best viewing spot there were Sandwich Terns fishing in the surf and several settled on the posts around the groynes.
As I set up two Black-throated Divers flew east and as I watched them I noticed a large dark bird on the sea. It was gull shaped but large and on a closer view it was possible to see that it was in fact a Great Skua or Bonxie as they are commonly known.
It was watched for quite a while but it was settled on the sea and drifted west. Another two Red-throated Divers this time flew east and there was a single Whimbrel and this group of six.
The other highlight was a group of six adult Kittiwake that came out of the mist and flew east. At one point it looked like they might join the feeding flock off the groynes but they turned back again and out to sea.
A Harbour Seal put in an appearance close to the beach.
A large flock of Sanderling flew around the rocks and beach. From the photograph I counted 142.
The last piece of action on the sea was a couple of adult Gannet flying west off the tip of the Isle of Wight.
As I was getting ready to leave a Sparrowhawk came over the reserve.
From Sandy Point I drove north on the island and stopped at the Oyster Beds. The tide was out and on the first lagoon there was a Whimbrel quite close in.
Here you can see clearly the stripes on the head that help distinguish it from the Curlew.
Its not often you cn get good views of Whimbrel to photograph.
Wnd to the main lagoon there were Mediterranean Gulls calling above, but the majority of gulls on the bund walls were Black-headed Gulls, there were though a few Common Terns and they were flying around carrying fish to present to their mates.
This couple displaying to each other.
Walking back to the car the Whimbrel was still present on the first lagoon.
Before heading home I stopped off at Langstone Mill Pond to see if the Cattle Egret were nesting. Walking around the pond I could see that there were Grey Heron, Little Egret and Cattle Egret nesting in the trees around the pond. It wasn't easy to see clearly and this will only get worse as the leaves emerge. I managed to get views of two Cattle Egret, both in there smare orange brown trim breeding plumage.
All sitting tight for now.
It was a good birding day, getting Great Skua was a plus, they are probably the hardest skua to see on the south coast. The views of Whimbrel was special too.
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