A very quiet seawatch off Gilkicker.

Saturday 7th December 2024.

A Herring Gull chasing a Carrion Crow over the beach hoping to snatch whatever the Crow might drop! Unfortunately, there was very little to take photos of today.

I had already made up my mind to go to the Gilkicker shelter last night and told both Andy & Geoff our destination and for Geoff to bring his scope along. Storm Darragh was in full force here in the Solent, but I understand the likes of the South-west of England and Wales were taking the brunt of the storm as we arrived at the Car Park to take part in what was one of the coldest and birdless sea-watches this year.

The Solent, Gilkicker Shelter, Gosport:

A pair of Brent Geese struggling against the wind as they headed west towards Hill Head.

Sensibly, both Emma & Matt Parkes decided not to come down here to join us as us guys took refuge on the east side of the Shelter to avoid the rain showers and the worse of the wind. I read somewhere that it is best to sea-watch after the worst of the wind has died down, but there was always the chance of something good like a Skua, Shearwater or Petrel in such conditions and as both Blashford Lakes and Titchfield Haven were closed today, that's why we took the gamble on GIlkicker.

Above and below, an adult Herring Gull bravely negotiates the wind along the beach.

Above, another Herring Gull chasing this poor Carrion Crow across the beach. and below, Geoff struggling to get his spare leggings on!

Arriving at 9am, we spent the next FIVE hours here, shivering and buffeted by the wind and mostly staring at an empty angry sea! Both Herring Gulls in various ages and a few Great Black-backed Gulls went through over the Solent, causing a brief bit of excitement until we checked what they were through our respective telescopes! However, it wasn't totally a waste of time as Andy found the bird of the day heading fast east. A Red-throated Diver hurried past close in as I quickly got the scope on it to verify the ID. Fellow ‘Lazee’ Gary Fennemore, had a number of Divers flying into Chichester Harbour earlier this morning, but this ‘Red-throat’ was the only Diver seen today. Two Great Crested Grebes were seen swimming on the sea and another single bird was seen flying west into the wind low over the sea. Up to 5 Brent Geese were seen during our five hours there and the only other bit of excitement was a Wood Pigeon trying to break the sea speed record heading east over the sea!

Storm Darragh over the Solent.

Sadly, that was virtually it when it came to the birds here today, but we did enjoy watching both the Isle of Wight Catamaran and Car Ferry make their way across the choppy Solent, NOT!!!