#spinnaker tower

22/02/20-Great afternoon of gulls at Hayling Island 

I say this nervously but with the weather finally looking a little more settled (or at least, the part of the day we used to get out and about today was dry!) I had hoped to come to the coast this weekend for a few days now after - as nice and wild as they are - a wet New Forest walk being our only real option for much of the last two weekends. It was Hayling Island we headed to today to have a look at the oyster beds where one of it’s star birds the Mediterranean Gull had been seen lately one I needed to see. I took the first, second and tenth pictures in this photoset of views there today and sixth of the sun trying to poke through. 

As we turned the corner to look over the main lagoon area I heard the dulcet tones of a Mediterranean Gull calling one of the most unique and charming sounds in nature I always think. As we scanned the lagoon with the binoculars I soon saw one too. And I did see a handful more flying and on the shingle beds during our full time around this area today with their striking red bills and varyingly black heads. This is a great bird to see, as a year tick today my 130th bird of the year. Seeing one here in 2018 in February made it my 130th bird of that year too and it was bird 125 of my 2019 here last February so it’s been a great milestone bird for me here in recent years. I always find it a big milestone too in that it’s a wonderful staging post in the journey from winter to spring as this traditional springtime bird always tells me it’s near especially at sites like this where they are here to nest. This felt great following lots of times I have seen sights of early spring like daffodils, snowdrops, blossom and the days getting slightly longer lately. 

Another bird I enjoyed seeing when I came here last February was a Common Gull. Unlike that visit I had yet to see one this year. But after walking out a little on the spit as we came back today I spotted one in the binoculars flying over the lagoon. I then snapped pictures of it as it flew closer and got to enjoy all its subtle characteristics that make it out from other gulls. We then saw another come and settle down on the water, I took the third picture in this photoset of this one. This is a bird I was so thrilled to see, it’s one I have a strong affinity with and find within my family I’ve been the best at identifying them over the years it’s one of my birds in a sense. It’s always such a crucial one to see in a year as you easily might not so I was very happy to see these two today and get such great views of them again here too. I had a moment with Greenshank here a few years ago where I said do you know what this is a place I can rely on to see this bird now which I didn’t really have for it before then. With a sighting of one before last year here too today I was thinking the same about Common Gull. 

It turned into an afternoon of gulls as we walked round the place and back as I enjoyed some great Black-headed Gulls views around the area they are coming to nest too which is great. I took the fourth picture in this photoset of one flying. I remarked how it’s never just the Med Gulls here that get me feeling spring like but the masses of Black-headed Gulls around them here to nest. I also saw Herring Gulls really close up and a Great Black Backed Gull flying by us as we were nearly back at the car. I took the ninth picture in this photoset of a bird I saw a lot of which I enjoyed today the Brent Geese on the way back too. 

When round by the billy line entrance bit by the bridge linking Hayling Island to the mainland, where I took the fifth and seventh pictures in this photoset of a lovely Curlew flying, the sky with the sun just trying to poke through and more daffodils, we heard more Mediterranean Gulls as well as watched lots of nice waders seeing the regular Greenshank here with many rings again. Then when walking back from here a number of Mediterranean Gulls noisily made their way over the lake and I was delighted to look up and see them fly right over us. I took the eighth picture in this photoset of one a picture I am very happy with. An exceptional wildlife moment one of my favourites this year I think. It was a fun walk out today with so much I was lucky to see and whilst it rained on the way back in the car something I could have predicted from the how the sky was starting to look it felt great to get back to the car and not be really wet for a change.