Seventeen members of IWNHAS joined Dave Fairlamb of Natural Links for an Ornithology Group outing to Seaview and the Hersey Reserve on 2 February in very favourable sunny and still conditions, with 37 species of birds seen or heard in total.
Several small flocks of dark-bellied Brent Geese flew along the shore and amongst the gulls feeding on the strandline were a few Mediterranean Gulls, some starting to undergo their partial moult into breeding plumage and a Common Gull. A couple of distant Sandwich Terns were plunge-diving for fish and another distant bird on the water towards Puckpool Point was an immature male Eider. At least 3 Cormorants and 5 Great Crested Grebes were offshore along with 2 Slavonian Grebes and a Black-throated Diver, causing great excitement as the latter 2 species were new to several of the group.
Dark-bellied Brent Geese Sandwich Tern
The woodland at Hersey Reserve held quite a few Long-tailed Tits, entertaining us with their acrobatic feeding techniques, along with Blue Tits, Great Tits and Goldfinches. Other woodland species included Blackbirds, Jay and a distant Song Thrush in fine voice. At least 5 Little Grebes were on the water, along with Mute Swans, Coots, Tufted Ducks, Moorhens and Teal, with the feral Barnacle Goose flock seen feeding on the grass at the holiday park.
As we began to exit Hersey, 4 Oystercatchers flew over our heads, and both Water Rail and Cetti’s Warbler were heard. Back on the promenade at Seaview we were treated to close views of a flock of 46 Sanderlings feeding along the tideline with 10 Turnstones roosting making the rocks and posts.
Sanderlings Turnstone
Dave Fairlamb
2 February 2025
