Four more species added to the year list.

Saturday 21st January 2022.

The view of Black Point at Hayling Island from Sparke's Marina.

Not a bad day's birding as both Andy and myself notched up FOUR more ‘year-ticks’ and a few quality birds among them too. The weather was kind to us though it was very cold throughout the day where temperatures only reached about 4 degrees at best and that was not counting the wind-chill from the north-east. However, it was bright and sunny, though very icy in places as we made our way down to Hayling Island to kick off with Sparke's Marina first of all.

Above, a Redshank from Sparke's Marina and below, a flock of Oystercatchers looking to settle over Black Point.

A female Long-tailed Duck had been reported several times by local birder Andy Johnson off Black Point, notably around the yellow buoys, but there was no sign of the bird, with just a few Great Crested Grebes and up to four Cormorants seen, plus at least four Sandwich Terns seen in the harbour. High tide was around 11am and we were hoping for a few waders around Black Point, but there were few and far between as a couple of ‘swimmers’ were so close to the roosting island that the island was near void of birds. After those idiots and a couple walking their dogs had departed, a flock of Oystercatchers and Sanderling eventually landed on the end of Black Point. Sadly, this area is prone to disturbance despite the warning signs around the area of Black Point.

Above, one of two Razorbills seen this morning in the harbour entrance. Below, Oystercatchers settling down among a flock of Sanderling on Black Point. 

Our next stop was to be Sandy Point where we would view from the Lifeboat Station. The pathway leading to the harbour entrance held a couple of Goldcrest and a few Wood Pigeons, but little else as we made our way to the Lifeboat Station for a good look of the harbour and also to take in a nice cup of hot drink from our respective flasks. Within a few minutes apart, we had our first ‘year-ticks’ in the bag when I spotted first a Red-throated Diver and then a Razorbill, with the latter bird joined by a second individual. The Diver was busy feeding and in search of prey below the surface, while both the Auks drifted southbound out into the harbour entrance. A Merganser flew out to sea as did a pair of Great Crested Grebes.

Above and below, the female type Black Redstart by the nature reserve at Sandy Point.

Well pleased with the two new birds added to our year list, I suggested checking the houses on the seafront at Eastoke for the Black Redstart that was seen there earlier in the week. Parking up, we made our way to the houses and walked eastbound up to the edge of Sandy Point Nature Reserve. Waiting patiently, we clocked a male Stonechat by the brambles and then I clocked an interesting passerine that flew from one of the houses and promptly landed in a bush. We were in luck as it  was the female Black Redstart, which showed well for us for the next ten minutes or so, busy searching for insects on the ground and shivering that superb crimson tail.  

Two more photos of the female type Black Redstart by the Housing estate.

Making our way back to the car, I quickly checked the flat sea and picked out a flock of 3 Red-throated Divers flying east high over the sea. I know that Selsey Bill had quite a few going through, so I wasn't really surprised that some were moving over the Solent. Our next stop was to be Southmoor for the Long-tailed Duck, that was seen this morning as well as the Sabine’s Gull.

The last two photos of the Black Redstart (promise), but it was a lovely bird and showed relatively well.

As expected, the car park at Southmoor was packed with many birders on their way to get a sighting of the showy Sabine’s Gull. I found out that a Firecrest had been seen yesterday while I was there and I remember seeing several guys checking out the Bushes and trees by the car park too. Now I know what they were looking at. Bugger! Never mind, we had a Long-tailed Duck to find and so setting up the scope, we joined several other birders also looking for the bird. To cut a long story short, so fella said that the bird had been seen near the boats to the west of where we were ten minutes before our arrival, but despite a lengthy search, all I could find were two pairs of Goldeneye, around 6 Great Crested Grebes and 8 Little Grebes. I was nearly going to give up after 30 minutes (though we did see a female Sparrowhawk dive into the nearby brambles, though whether it caught anything is anyone's guess. This was our second raptor of the day after seeing a Common Buzzard perched on a lamp post while driving south down through Hayling Island earlier this morning) until I spotted a small duck.

Up to 5 Avocets seen from Northney on the receding tide.

This got my attention as it was swimming among a group of Herring Gull and a pair of Goldeneye. Even three Great Crested Grebes came into the group so there was obviously fish below the surface to attract these birds. Then the small duck popped up again briefly, but there was no mistaking it as the Long-tailed Duck, which was our fourth ‘year-tick’ of the year. I quickly got Andy onto the bird as well as the nearby birders and I was pleased that everyone got onto the duck that was only up on the surface for a few seconds or so. I was more than happy with viewing the Sabine’s Gull yesterday and so took a walk around the Budds Farm area to see if the Firecrest would reappear, but no sign. 

This Greenshank was one of two seen from the bench at Northney.

Our last port of call today was Northney where we parked up in a lay by, just short of the Langstone Hotel, for a possible Golden Plover or Knot to add to our year list. Sadly, none of them were seen, but to sit on the bench overlooking the harbour looking north was so relaxing. The tide was ebbing and exposing the mudflats, which in turn attracted a lot of waders. A couple of Greenshanks showed extremely well and up to 5 Avocets were counted on the shoreline. Large numbers of Dunlin were busy feeding on the mud, intermingled with Redshank, Curlew and a few Grey Plover, while out in the harbour, several pairs of Red-breasted Mergansers were swimming on the water. 

Above, the Greenshank that was showing well near the bench and below, good numbers of Dunlin were busy feeding on the mudflats.

It was so relaxing sitting there enjoying the wader spectacle, I had to check my mobile to see what the time was and as it was nearing 2pm, I decided to call it a day, again reflecting on another good days birding. We had a good chat with Andy Johnson while at the Lifeboat Station, who was on his way to the Shetlands to live today! He did tell us that he was so disappointed in all the disturbance that was going on around Hayling Island and he was so looking forward to making the long trip north. Hope all goes well for you, Andy.