Trip reports

OWN TRANSPORT TRIP TO HAYLING ISLAND AND FARLINGTON Saturday 12/07/08

Saturday, 12 July 2008

A first visit for the Group to Hayling Oyster Beds, ostensibly to see Mediterranean gulls and little terns. However, information from the voluntary warden revealed that the gulls had been encouraged not to breed on the reserve and had bred instead on Long Island in Langstone harbour, so that the terns could breed successfully. This they had done, producing 27 young from 35 pairs. Unfortunately all the young had been predated, with kestrel implicated as the main culprit. There were no Little Terns to be seen, but 15 members nevertheless enjoyed a new location which contained a thriving colony of common terns and black headed gulls. During our two hour walk, oystercatchers, a ringed plover, curlew, a common sandpiper and at least 5 whimbrel were seen, as were 10 mediterranean gulls!, one in situ, the others passing close overhead.

After an early lunch, a four hour saunter around a breezy Farlington added a number of extra species. Because of the low tide, the river section was visited first. Here were 25 black-tailed godwit, many in superb breeding plumage. Other early returning migrants included a greenshank, and 5 brent geese. The stars of the show however were 3 just fledged reed warblers, being fed by an adult, shortly followed by 5 junior sedge warblers chasing mum.

Great Crested Grebe (3), Little Grebe (2), Cormorant (4), Little Egret (many), Grey Heron (few), Mute Swan (pair with 5 young at Hayling, and 2 adults at Farlington), Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Gadwall, Teal (pair at Farlington), Tufted Duck (pair at Farlington), Kestrel, Peregrine (distant bird at Farlington seen only by TG), Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin (2 at Hayling), Curlew (many), Whimbrel (10+), Black tailed Godwit, Redshank, Greenshank (1), Common Sandpiper (2), Mediterranean Gull, Black headed Gull, Herring Gull (few), Great Black backed Gull (4), Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Swift, Green Woodpecker (juv at Hayling), Skylark, Sand Martin (2 at Farlington), Swallow( few at Farlington), Meadow pipit (at least 10 in song/display at Farlington), Wren (2 at Hayling), Robin (1 at Hayling), Blackbird, Mistle Thrush (juvs at Hayling), Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat (2 at Farlington), Blackcap (1 h at Farlington), Bearded Tit (up to 4 brief views), Great Tit (1 at Farlington), Starling (large flock at Farlington), Magpie, Crow, Greenfinch (in song at both locations), Goldfinch (2 at Farlington), Linnet - common, some juvs, Reed Bunting (2 males at Farlington). (56 species recorded)