Black Terns off Hill Head.

Saturday 3rd June 2023.

From left to right: Graeme Loader, John Manley, Andy Friend, Geoff Farwell and Andy Fisher watching the Black Terns out in the Solent.

Today was kind of special as Andy and myself got to go birding with one of our old birding pals, Geoff Farwell. Geoff used to go birding or should I say, ‘twitching’ with us for many years and then eventually went his own way, yet always kept in touch. But today, we picked him up around 8.20am and headed first down to the beach at Fort Cumberland after there was a report of two Black Terns seen among a large Gull flock on the sea. It was just like old times as Fly, Pye and Baldy Be (our nicknames) went birding together for the first time in many a year.

Above, Geoff, Andy Fisher, Andy Friend and John at Hill Head this morning. Below, the flock of Common Scoter going through the Solent.

The weather was fine again with a clear blue sky, but the chilly easterly wind still persisted. Earlier, when picking up Andy, he had earlier told me that he put all his outside lights on to hopefully attract a moth or two; for I was returning his moth box I borrowed for last weekend's trip to Center Parcs. There was just the one moth present, a Willow Beauty, but one is always better than naff all!

Above, this Willow Beauty moth was the only moth in Andy's garden this morning and below, one of several Swallows at Charlton today. 

When Andy, Geoff and myself arrived down by the car park at Fort Cumberland and took the footpath to the beach. Thankfully, there were no Nudists present, so we didn't have to put up with those strange individuals and simply concentrated on the sea. Sadly, all we saw were a few Common and Sandwich Terns flying over the calm sea. There was a large flock of birds probably a good mile out to see, more over Hayling Island side, and with the poor light, there was no way in identifying a Black Tern among them. Fellow ‘Lazee’ Chris Geary joined up briefly and also dipped on the Black Terns. Geoff is very good with plant identification as we put names to the plants we came across on the way back to the car that included Sea Radish that was growing abundantly and clumps of Tall Rocket.

Above, a family group of Ravens flew overhead at Charlton as did large numbers of Mediterranean Gulls going through heading north.

Hill Head was our next destination in search for a Black Tern and despite a lot of searching over the Solent, we came up trumps with two individuals flying among a group of Gulls and Terns about half way across the Solent. We were earlier joined by fellow ‘Lazee’s’, Graeme Loader, Andy Friend, John Manley, Mark Francis and a few other birders as we also scored with several Gannets (another ‘year-tick’ for him) and a distant flock of around 20 Common Scoters flying low east over the sea (Andy’s third ‘year-tick’ in about five minutes!!!!). Yes, the Black Terns were my first for the year, though they were quite distant we were confident in their ID.

This Common Buzzard flew low over our heads heading north.

Behind us, over the Reserve behind us, a female Marsh Harrier was seen quartering over the reedbeds to the tune of both Reed and Sedge Warblers singing in the foreground. Swallows and Swifts were abundant around the reserve and I even spotted a Common Buzzard soaring over the reserve near the Canal. Common Terns flew overhead onto the reserve, showing superbly well in the bright sunshine, but too quick for me to get a good photo of them. Again, my Bridge Camera is not great in taking flight shots and has trouble focussing on a flying bird.

Above, Geoff and Andy overlooking the countryside at Charlton and below, a Thick-legged Flower Beetle (left) and an Orchid Beetle on Bulbous Buttercups.

We said our Goodbyes and headed off northbound for Charlton to hopefully get our Turtle Dove ‘year-tick’ and again, I will not disclose exactly where they are for their protection. Long story short, we did not see any of the Turtle Doves despite them being seen earlier this week, though I was sure I did hear one very briefly. But we did hear a Lesser Whitethroat 'rattling' nearby and so went after that instead. Again, we were not in luck as there was no further sight or sound of the Warbler, but we did have some nice sightings during our time here. A group of three Ravens flew low overhead as did a Common Buzzard and there was a constant stream of Mediterranean Gulls flying north over the countryside. Both Blackcap and Chiffchaff were seen singing and both Goldfinches and Linnets passed through. There were plenty of Swallows in the area and the occasional Swift went through as well. Other sightings included a male Kestrel hunting in the area and I caught my first sighting of a Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly near the railway line. A group of four Hares were seen distantly on a nearby hill.

Above, a Common Blue butterfly and below, a Dingy Skipper on the hill nearby.

On the nearby Downs, we took a stroll up the hill and came across a few butterflies that included Brimstone, Small White, Common Blue and a single Dingy Skipper, while Geoff with his far superior plant knowledge, was pointing out a variety of plants that were flowering including Horseshoe Vetch, a food plant for Chalkhill Blue butterflies. Also, Musk Thistle, Common Spotted Orchid, Common Milkwort, Salad-burnet and Cowslips were all seen within a swathe of Upright Brome grass. What a beautiful place and the view we got from the top of the hill was breathtaking. Later in the afternoon, Andy went back up to Charlton and saw the Turtle Dove almost immediately to notch up his 4th ‘year-tick’ of the day. Well done that man and now he is 7th in the Hampshire Year Listing league. 

Above, Horseshoe Vetch and below, Musk Thistle seen on the Hill nearby.

My first Common Spotted Orchid of the year also on the Hill.