Thursday 2nd March 2023.
It was low tide within Langstone Harbour when I arrived by the spit at Eastney harbour entrance this afternoon. Plenty of waders out on the mudflats.
A much brighter day than yesterday, but still that nagging north-easterly wind blew, keeping the temperatures down, though not too bad if you were out of the wind. I took a drive down to the Hayling Ferry Terminal at Eastney this afternoon and knowing the tide was out within Langstone Harbour, I felt there might be a few waders for me to take some photos of and thankfully, there were a few around out on the mudflats and shoreline.
Above, this Starling was right by my foot when I got out of the car by the harbour entrance. Below, a single Med Gull flew east over the harbour. They are starting to be seen virtually daily now.
I parked the car near the Burger Van by the harbour entrance and was nearly mobbed by a large flock of Black-headed Gulls and Starlings as a couple of ladies were throwing bread down to the birds! I made my way to the spit opposite the Ferry Terminal and checked out the waders nearby that included Redshank, Oystercatchers, Turnstone and a few Curlew. A large contingent of Brent Geese were on the mudflats, while more birds flew high overhead heading east. This is the month when the vast majority of these birds will be on the move back to their breeding grounds up on the Arctic.
Above, a Redshank by the shoreline near the spit and below, an Oystercatcher settling on the mudflats after displaying to a possible female nearby.
A lone Mediterranean Gull flew over heading east as I fought the wind while trying to view the waders to the north. A large distant flock of Dunlin along the shoreline held several Knot among them, while Oystercatchers were dotted over the mudflats behind them. I couldn't find anything on the water of note, bar one lone Great Crested Grebe that was still in winter plumage (juvenile bird, perhaps?).
Above, several Shelduck were also out on the mudflats. Below, a good many Dunlin were joined by a few Knot along the shoreline looking north from the spit, with Oystercatchers in the background.
Needing to warm up, I made my way back slowly to the car, checking out the Starlings and House Sparrows on the roof of the RNLI Building, perched on the Solar Panels! A male Pied Wagtail ran around on the ground by the same Building before flying off south onto the shingle further along the car park. There was nothing at all on the water within the channel and seeing it was still sunny, I thought I might as well check the southern side of Fort Cumberland,
Above and below, Brent Geese flying east over the harbour.
Above, a Redshank feeding close to the shoreline near the spit. Below, the local Starlings take advantage of the Solar Panels to rest on.
Above, a pair of Starlings sharing the same roof space with a pair of male House Sparrows on the RNLI Building.
The tide was well out, but I was surprised to see a pair of Great Crested Grebes on the sea, both in summer plumage swimming and diving on the calm water. I gave the grotty buildings a good check for a possible Black Redstart, but, yet again, no sign of any; just the usual Feral Pigeons all over the place. Nearing the end of the concrete promenade, a pair of Mediterranean Gulls flew east and checking the sea for anything else of note, I concluded that all was quiet here. So I gave the holes within the walls of Fort Cumberland and fortunately for me, a lone Barn Owl was showing well in one of the holes. Nearby, a male Kestrel occupied another of the holes, which probably upset the local Stock Doves here!
Above, one of the two Great Crested Grebes on the sea at Eastney. Below, a male Kestrel residing in one of the holes on the south side of Fort Cumberland.
Pleased with the Barn Owl sighting, I made my way back to the car, but nothing else to report on the journey back. When I got home around 3.30pm, I happened to pick up the watering can to fill it up and a Bloxworth Snout moth flew out! This was my first moth of the month and probably gave me the encouragement to put the moth box on tonight. The moth quickly settled on one of our hanging baskets, which gave me enough time to grab my camera to get some nice shots of the moth.
Above, the Barn Owl enjoying its afternoon snooze in one of the holes at Fort Cumberland and below, a pristine adult Common Gull on the beach nearby.
More interesting news today involves a Rock Pipit I found at South Moors yesterday, by the car park. I noticed that the bird had a ring on both legs; a yellow one sporting the letters RAA on left leg and a silver ring on the right leg; though I could not get a good reading on what the letters were on this one, but I could see the numbers 69. I put it out there to fellow ‘Lazee Birder’, James Cutting (who also ‘rings’ birds) and he confirmed that it was a Scandinavian bird, from Norway in fact! See details below. Just goes to show how far these little birds migrate and always worth checking birds with rings on them.
Above, the Bloxworth Snout moth I found this afternoon in my garden. My second of the year after the one I found in January.
Above, the ring on the right leg of the Rock Pipit I found yesterday at South Moor (see photo of the actual bird on yesterdays blog entry). James Cutting kindly got the info from the ring (below) and I have emailed over the details of my sighting to the chaps who actually ringed the bird in Norway!
Below, I received an email back from Kjell Mork Soot, the chap who has the history of the Rock Pipit.
The Norwegian Rock Pipit-project,
c/o Kjell Mork Soot,
Hareidsvegen 234,
N-6060 Hareid,
Norway
Hareid, Norway 03.03.2023
Jeffrey Goodridge, email:jeffgoodridge@hotmail.com
Thank you very much for taking the time to report to us details of the sighting of a colour ringed Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus). Information about this bird and its movement is given below:
Ring no: Stavanger EP04759
Yellow colour ring RAA (Left tarsus metal ring. Right tarsus: yellow colour ring with 3 black letters RAA engraved). :LBM:RBYN(RAA)
Age/sex/biometric: M1K ( male, hatched 2022).Wing: 91 mm. Weight: 22,9 g.
Ringing date: 29.08.2022, 12 hrs.
Ringing place: Maletangen (62*58'11''N-007*03' 16''E) Fræna / Hustadvika , Møre & Romsdal, Norway. (Maletangen Ornithological Station).
Ringer: Øystein Wiik / Sunnmøre Ringing Group.
Finding date: 09.01.2023 - hrs
Observed: Southmoor (50*50'19''N-000*59'32''W), Hampshire, England / UK
Remarks:Observed by Olly Frampton, Email:olly.frampton@hotmail..co.uk
Distance: 1431 km SSW . Direction: 203 deg.Time : 0-4-11. (4 months 11 days after ringing).
Finding date: 19.01.2023 - hrs
Observed: Budds Farm (50*55'24''N-001*33'36W), Hampshire, England / UK
Remarks:Photographed by Nick Bond, Email: worthingbirding@gmail.com
Distance: 1434 km SSW . Direction: 203 deg.Time : 0-4-21. (4 months 21 days after ringing).
Finding date: 22.01.2023 - hrs
Observed: Southmoor (50*50'19''N-000*59'32''W), Hampshire, England / UK
Remarks: Photographed by RichardFord, Email:richf@digitalwildlife.co.uk
Distance: 1431 km SSW . Direction: 203 deg.Time : 0-4-24. (4 months 24 epdays after ringing).
Finding date: 25.01.2023 10:52 hrs
Observed: Langstone Harbour (50*49'34''N-001*01'27''W), Hampshire, England / UK
Remarks: Photographed byTracey Jolliffe . Email:traceyjjolliffe@gmail.com
Distance: 1434 km SSW . Direction: 203 deg.Time : 0-4-27. (4 months 27 days after ringing).
Finding date: 04.02 2023 10:40 hrs
Observed: Southmoor (50*50'19''N-000*59'32''W), Hampshire, England / UK
Remarks: Observed by Max Hellicar, email:maxhellicar@yahoo.co.uk
Distance: 1431 km SSW . Direction: 203 deg.Time : 0-5-6. (5 months 6 days after ringing).
Finding date: 05.02.2023 - hrs
Observed: Budds Farm (50*55'24''N-001*33'36W), Hampshire, England / UK
Remarks:Photographed by Steve Simnett. Email:steve.simnett@ntl.world.com
Distance: 1434 km SSW . Direction: 203 deg.Time : 0-5-7 (5 months- 7 days after ringing).
Finding date: 06.02 2023 15:40 hrs
Observed: Southmoor (50*50'19''N-000*59'32''W), Hampshire, England / UK
Remarks: Photographed by Bernie Dempsey, email:berni.dempsey@gmail.com
Distance: 1431 km SSW . Direction: 203 deg.Time : 0-5-8. (5 months 6 days after ringing).
Finding date: 01.03. 2023 -hrs
Observed: Southmoor (50*50'19''N-000*59'32''W), Hampshire, England / UK
Remarks: Photographed by Jeffrey Goodridge, email:jeffgoodridge@hotmail.com
Distance: 1431 km SSW . Direction: 203 deg. Time :0-6-1 (6 months-1 day after ringing).
Thank you very much for the information !
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