20th March - Farlington Marshes, Hampshire

I was in two minds as I headed down the A3 this morning, Farlington or the Hayling Oyster beds.  In the end I felt there was more chance of a migrant wheatear, or maybe a Garganey at Farlington.

After parking up I walked through the bushes towards the stream.  Plenty of gulls here, the yelping calls of the Mediterranean Gull standing out both from the water and overhead.  It was a cold start to the day and there wasn't much bird song early on.  This Greenfinch the exception.

There were still a few Brent Geese across the marsh but the numbers were much reduced.  In the fields there were feeding Meadow Pipits, but no sign of any Wheatear.  As I approached the Deeps the calls of the Mediterranean Gulls was everywhere with plenty of birds heading out into the harbour and from there to the Deeps.

The light was perfect at the Deeps and I settled down on a bench to enjoy these beautiful gulls, there is nothing better than Med Gulls in the sunshine and a blue sky.

I was particularly hoping to get some shots with the gulls calling.  I got lucky with this one flying towards me.  Showing off the red bill.

Plenty of gulls gathering on the shingle islands.

Flying around getting close to me.

This one ringed on the right leg with a yellow band and AKUK on it.  This bird was ringed as a chick in Germany in 2023.  it has been reported since from Northern France and Sussex since.

 Many paired up and displaying ion the shingle islands.

Some symmetry here.

I then concentrated on the gulls flying around me.

No open bill yet. But a chance to take in the pattern around the eye, the red eye ring and the red and yellow tipped bill.

Then at last the shot I had been hoping for, in flight calling with bill open.

And a close up for good measure.

The rest of the walk around the reserve was a little disappointing.  The tide was coming up, but there was hardly any waders on the Lake, a few Wigeon and Teal, but no Pintail, in fact I only saw one Pintail on the Deeps.

Just before I ended the walk I came across this male Linnet in the bramble bushes.

And then a male Reed Bunting.

No migrants then, once again a too nice a day here in Hampshire.  But I did enjoy some wonderful encounters with the Mediterranean Gulls.