A quick look by the harbour entrance.

Wednesday 18th January 2023.

A distant Sandwich Tern flying east over Langstone Harbour

Another very cold start to the day with a heavy frost on the car windscreen and a lot of ice around. I was up early this morning and quickly poured hot water on the Bird Baths and topped up some of the feeders before dawn. The large crescent moon looked quite impressive and there were still a lot of stars overhead, though at -4 degrees, I wasn't going to be standing outside for too long!

Above, an adult Black-headed Gull by the car park and below, the harbour entrance looking south.

I had to make a trip to the Garage this morning and pick up a few groceries, but afterwards, though it was ‘Bill-Oddie’ freezing, I took a drive down to Harbour entrance at Eastney to check out the area for anything good. I parked up overlooking the harbour entrance and Hayling Island to the east and quickly checked the water for anything of note. Apart from four Cormorants swimming together just south of the entrance, all was rather quiet, though I did spot a distant Sandwich Tern heading west high over the harbour (see photo). Another two more birds were seen later that morning.

Above, a Little Egret wading in Locks Lake and below, a drake Red-breasted Merganser flying north over Langstone Harbour.

All the usual Gulls, Starlings and House Sparrows were present; hoping for a tasty snack from the small Burger Van nearby. With my hood up to protect me from the sharp north-easterly breeze, I made my way to check the northern end of Langstone Harbour by the Hayling Ferry Terminal. Looking east, apart from a lone Turnstone along the shoreline, all was quiet in Lock Lake though there was a bit more activity looking north into Langstone Harbour where I found at least two pairs of Red-breasted Mergansers and four Great Crested Grebes swimming on the choppy water. The tide was racing out of the harbour hence why it was choppy within the harbour.

Above, looking east across the spit with Milton Lakes in the background and below, the sunken World War Two Bridge which makes a good home for resting waders etc. at high tide. Can you spot the immature Cormorant?

A Little Egret had flown over the entrance from the Hayling side and landed on the shoreline of Lock Lake, while several wader species were seen flying low across the harbour including Redshank, Curlew and Oystercatcher. By now, my hands were getting very cold and so made my way back to view from the car. Back looking east from the bus turning, at least 30+ Turnstone had now arrived and fed along the shoreline along with a single Oystercatcher. 

Above, a Great Crested Grebe was swimming by the harbour entrance and below, a good number of Turnstone were along the shoreline by Lock Lake.

Back by the car, there was just a few Cormorants down on the water within the Channel and a single Great Crested Grebe was swimming close to the Hayling side of the Channel. Happy with my 45 minutes or so here, I made my way back home. One of the ‘Lazee Birders’, Ollie Crabbe, found 3 Yellow-legged Gulls on the beach at Eastney. Andy J, over on Hayling Island, had a female Long-tailed Duck from Black Point and another was seen from Southmoor along with the adult Sabine’s Gull this morning. The Great Grey Shrike is yet again at Pig Bush, New Forest, this morning.

Above, a single Oystercatcher along with the Turnstone, below, were along the foreshore at Lock Lake.