It’s been a long time since I updated this blog and I have now decided to use it to waffle on about the wildlife, again mostly birds, at West Hayling Local Nature Reserve (aka Hayling Oysterbeds) where I am currently working as the Seasonal Warden. There might also be updates from Farlington Marshes and other sites around Langstone Harbour….
The Oysterbeds had a bit of a make over in April when the Wildlife Trust, working closely with Havant Borough Council and the RSPB, and with some money ‘left over’ from the Environment Agency-funded RSPB Langstone Harbour Little Tern project, made some habitat improvements. Work has taken place in two areas. At the oysterbeds lagoon we have recharged (augmented) with shingle and topped with ballast approximately 50% of the length of the southern island, while at the same time re-profiling the sides. At the northern end of the reserve we have made a completely new area of bare shingle habitat, using the same materials used at the lagoon, on the highest ‘finger island’ there.
OK, you’re now getting bored and want some news about wildlife. Here goes…
The late May bank holiday provided me with an opportunity for a thorough look around and a fair bit of bird watching on the reserve. As typically this time produces a late spring peak in the number of concurrent first nesting attempts by the ground nesting species this worked quite well for me in getting my notes up to date. Currently, we have 461 pairs of nesting Black-headed Gulls, a total arrived at by a one-off nest count undertaken by myself in fine weather on 24 May. On this day the first major hatching of eggs was taking place after the first had hatched the previous day, with a total of 35 broods (or partially hatched clutches) noted. Subsequently many more clutches have hatched and the islands are bristling with small gull chicks and attendant adults. The total of 461 compares with 450 nests counted on 21 May last year.
On bank holiday Monday I confirmed the presence of 65 pairs of Common Terns on nests, with at least four other pairs displaying and nest scraping. I am plotting all the locations of all nesting attempts by the Common Terns, helped partly by the placement of lettered posts along the length of both islands. The majority of them are on the new shingle recharge area on South Island (between markers A and E), with some up to posts F, and a further three on the south-western slope of North Island between markers N and O. There have also recently been interest by up to two pairs on the northwest embankment to the lagoon, c.10 metres northeast of the ‘south’ fence line, but they haven’t yet settled. The first eggs are due to hatch on South Island on about 07 June but the majority of the clutches were not laid until just after the last of the frosty nights in the third week of May. So, hopefully, it will become busy with tern chicks during the middle two weeks of the month.
Little Terns have again chosen not to nest on the lagoon islands. However, one pair has found the new shingle area at the north end of the reserve, joining the seven decoys which I expertly (some may say deceptively!) placed in a ‘colony’ towards the furthest end of the island. The real McCoy (not the decoys…sorry I couldn’t resist) is slightly closer to the landward path on the Oysterbeds (i.e. in front of the decoys) and can easily be found by looking from the big bramble bush next to the pile of large ‘reject’ stones. However expert or not I was in the placement of the decoys (which were provided by Chris Cockburn – thank you Chris) it has worked and one pair of Little Terns is a 100% increase on last year. They are just about to enter their third week of incubation. They typically take 21-22 days at the Oysterbeds to hatch. The stones under the decoys may take a bit longer….
Oystercatchers are having a bumpy ride again this year. Three pairs are nesting on the lagoon islands, one on the south and two on the north. The one on South Island, between markers C and D, is a relay after a previous nesting attempt failed on account of Black-headed Gulls taking over the nest scrape! As I carried out the gull nest count last week I confirmed that these gulls are still incubating Oystercatcher eggs!! Who knows what happens when (if) the eggs hatch. One of the two pairs on North Island has now failed twice, the first attempt was hijacked by gulls (who may well still be sitting on Oystercatcher eggs as well) and the second was washed away by high tides last week. The other pair on North Island is on a nest at marker Q, easily seen from the eastern path around the lagoon, and is (I think) a first attempt. The pairs at C/D and Q are due to hatch on about the 07 June and 18 June assuming a full incubation period of 27 days for each. Nine other pairs are scattered about the reserve, including several on the northwest embankment. Two of the pairs on the outer embankments at the north end of the reserve are currently on nests, but they take their chances with fisherman out there! The species can be extraordinarily uncanny in their choice of nest site however, and several years ago a pair nested and successfully raised one young to fledging on the shingle spit just south of the lagoon. It can be done but only without human disturbance.
Single pairs of Ringed Plovers have settled on both the northwest embankment of the lagoon (currently sitting on a nest, although difficult to see even through a telescope) and on the northern embankments/islands. The latter pair had previously tried to nest on the new shingle area but failed (nest robbed of eggs) but I think are trying again. At least one new male has been present this weekend but is constantly being chased around by the resident bird.
The spring migration of waders though the reserve has been very slow this last few weeks and I only really have tales of one evening this month which was worth the trouble of looking for migrants: on 26 May a nice mixed flock of 16 Ringed Plovers, 10 Sanderlings and four Dunlins were along the shoreline just south of the lagoon, and a late Greenshank was along one of the outer embankments. One or two Whimbrels, Grey Plovers and Turnstones continue to be seen throughout.
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