16 Mar - A weather forecast of a fine sunny start, deteriorating for the afternoon. I arrived soon after sunrise at Savernake, and a good selection of woodland birds in the early morning stillness of the woodland - several Roe deer and a Muntjac testimony to the lack of disturbance. The main target, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, was heard drumming distantly but not seen - however 8 Great Spotteds heard/seen, together with 3 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Treecreepers, c15 Nuthatches, 2 Marsh Tits, 4 Jays, and a Raven.
A quick stop at Southsea Castle was successful in locating 7 roosting Purple Sandpipers on the rocks straight away, on of my favourite waders - I then progressed to the oyster beds at Hayling, where the Oyster beds hold the spectacle each spring of a pre-breeding gathering of Mediterranean Gulls - no less than 440 seen here last week! The sun was gradually filtered out by high cloud, a the breeze picked up, good conditions for the noisy gathering of Med Gulls in stunning breeding plumage mixed with the more numerous Black-headed Gulls.
A cacophany of displaying and squabbling birds, on the shingle and in the air. Plenty of photographic opportunities. Also a few waders seen - Oystercatcher, Curlew, Redshank and Godwits. Home lunchtime before the strong winds arrived.
No comments:
Post a Comment