A spot of birding around the harbour entrance.

Friday 29th December 2023.

A hazy sunshine over the harbour entrance at Eastney early this morning.

I wanted to go somewhere different this morning with my dogs and so took them over to Eastney Harbour entrance for a walk up to the Hayling Ferry Terminal. Though a breezy south-westerly was going across the harbour on a rising tide, a possible rain shower quickly petered out as we made our way north. A good scan in the harbour entrance produced a few Black-headed and Herring Gulls, but it wasn't till we neared the Ferry Terminal, that a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers flew in and settled on the water nearby. Nearby, another drake of this species was seen in Lock Lake. Overhead, a pair of Ravens flew over heading high east. If it wasn't for the fact that they called, I would have easily missed them.

Above, one of two Ravens heading high east over the harbour entrance. Below, a Black-headed Gull perched on a lamp post by the RNLI Building.

Above, a clump of Oxford Ragwort growing by the University Building. Below, a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers that flew in and landed near the Ferry Terminal.

Below, the female Merganser came in closer to the shoreline.

Apart from the usual Brent Geese, it was rather quiet looking north from the spit, but on the way back to the car, I spotted something interesting flying south through the harbour entrance and it was in fact a Razorbill. The bird eventually settled on the water within the harbour entrance, but it quickly dived and was never seen again. It simply disappeared! A few mixed flocks of both Dunlin and Sanderling also headed south through the harbour entrance. I did check out the same area from the Ferry Road Car Park, but I was put off from birding from here as there were some rather big dogs in the car park. So, instead, I took a drive down Ferry Road to view the harbour from here and pulling the car over, I found a Greenshank standing nearby on the foreshore with a juvenile Brent Goose. Nearby, a couple of Oystercatchers were feeding along with a Redshank also on the foreshore which rounded off a nice hour's birding. This particular area of Eastney I have never done any birding, but I most certainly will not rule it out in the future.  

Above, a pair of Black-headed Gulls on the beach with a drake Merganser swimming behind them. Below, a colour-ringed Greenshank and juvenile Brent Goose opposite Ferry Road, Eastney.

Above, a Redshank with Oystercatchers also opposite Ferry Road. Below, the juvenile Brent Goose flying away.

It  was all systems go for the ‘Lazee’s’ this morning as some Waxwings were recorded in the north of the County at a place called Bradley, near Basingstoke and another two reported at Easton, near Winchester. Hopefully, these birds will still be around tomorrow, fingers crossed.