Red-necked Grebe off Black Point & some good moths.

Saturday 30th November 2024.

These roosting Dunlin and Ringed Plover were 'digiscoped' on Black Point. Can you find the Grey Plover among them?

This morning, there was a choice in going down to the soggy Farlington Marshes or the much more amiable Black Point in search for a Red-necked Grebe to add to our year list. Yesterday, a Red-necked Grebe was still present late afternoon and so I took the gamble in driving both Andy Fisher and Geoff Farwell down to Sandy Point and walking the couple of hundred yards north to view from the Hayling Island Sailing Club on Black Point. Unfortunately for us, the murky overcast conditions lingered well into midday, but as we left the island, the clouds had parted to reveal a blue sky and sunny conditions. However, it was very mild today and at least it was dry.

The Moth Box:

My first Feathered Thorn moth of the year.

I have not had my Moth Box on over the past couple of weeks as the weather has been either freezing cold or raining. Ok, we have had a few good days and I shall put it on over the coming weeks; but for now, Andy had his Moth Box overnight and up to four moths were present. Two of the moths were new for the year that included a Feathered Thorn and a Winter Moth. A probable November Moth was also present near the Moth Trap and a micro of which Obsidentify believed to be a 100% Azalea Leaf Miner! Still, to get any moths this time of year is a challenge, especially in my Southsea Moth Box; so I was more than pleased with Andy's haul.

Above, a probable November Moth and below, a Winter Moth. The latter was also my first of the year.

Chichester Harbour & Sandy Point, Hayling Island:

Sanderling by the shoreline in front of the Dunlin and Ringed Plovers at Black Point wader roost.

The walk to Black Point was pleasant enough and one could see it was high tide on arrival to the harbour entrance from Seafarer Walk. The footpath held a calling Goldcrest, but little else of note as we strolled merrily onto our quest. By the main road leading to the Sailing Club, a pair of Great Crested Grebes swam and fished in the calm water within the adjacent creek and then Andy saw a Kingfisher perched distantly on a railing by the edge of the creek. I later managed to get a few photos and even some film footage of this delightful bird, though it always remained distant. A Harbour Seal popped its head up briefly in the harbour entrance.

Above, Oystercatchers resting on the island at Black Point and below, the Kingfisher by the creek.

On reaching Black Point, we kept our distance due to the large wader roost present on the soft sand. Another birder was present along with his well behaved dog, who told us he was a fellow ‘Lazee Birder’ by the name of Andy Scarborough. Here, we encountered at least around 800+ Dunlin and 150+ Ringed Plover; with smaller numbers of Sanderling (100+), Grey Plover (30+) and Knot (10+) and provided spectacular views of them swirling around over the sandy point only to settle down again. A scan over Chichester Harbour to the north, I picked up at least 4 Sandwich Terns fishing or resting on distant buoys. A few Great Crested Grebes were swimming in the harbour, but it wasn't till we carefully climbed the sandbank, slowly so as to not disturb the waders and search the other side of the harbour.

Above, Andy walking down the footpath leading to the harbour entrance and below, a Kingfisher seen distantly in the creek, which was well found by Andy.

Above, one of the Great Crested Grebes in the Creek and below, waders gather in the roost at Black Point.

From here, I scanned the harbour thoroughly, though with a large number of sailing craft on the water, it was going to be a challenge. But the challenge paid off when I found the Red-necked Grebe fishing distantly north-east in the harbour. Quickly getting the guys onto the bird (Andy Scarborough now joined us), I was in no doubt it was the bird we were looking for, but at first, it proved to be very difficult to locate while it was fishing. Eventually, the bird caught a fish as we watched it devour it and then went about preening and giving good views to nail the ID once and for all.

Above, one of the Great Crested Grebes in the Creek and below, Sanderlings along the shoreline at Black Point.

Above and below, waders at Black Point.

Behind the bird, a Great Northern Diver was seen briefly, but we got good views of the bird later on from the RNLI Station and concluded it was a juvenile bird, judging on how pale the bird was. A further four more Great Northern Divers were seen in the harbour on the ebbing tide later in the afternoon. Happy with our sightings, we slowly made our way back to the RNLI station briefly for a coffee and then back to the car. On our way back, a surprise sighting of a pair of calling Ring-necked Parakeets were seen as they circled high overhead and then flew off north-east. Local birder Andy Johnson had a flock of 7 birds here recently and more seen earlier in the year. Could they be breeding on the island? To round off our day here, we heard a Water Rail calling on the reserve adjacent to where I parked.

Above, the sound of calling waders is something to enjoy while being by their roost and below, Andy doing his best Sanderling impression!

Above, a pair of Ring-necked Parakeets flew over our heads at Sandy Point.

I had to get back to my wife early today and so I dropped the guys off at their respective homes and made my way back to sunny Southsea. Both Geoff and Andy met up again later in the afternoon at Farlington Marshes in hope of seeing a Short-eared Owl, but they had no luck there. Instead, Geoff recorded the following sightings there: 20 Avocets, 29 Grey Lag Geese, Stonechat, 2 Common Buzzards and a Marsh Harrier. Sadly, the whole reedbed now looks doomed due to the incompetence of the Sluice Gates from earlier this year; though on a positive side, the work is starting soon to mend the Gates. Finally! 

Above, the waders at Black Point and below, the Kingfisher by the adjacent Creek.