The Oysterbed wildlife site

PeterD-2009PeterD-2009 Registered Users Posts: 618 Major grins
edited October 18, 2010 in Wildlife
At the end of the breeding season, The Common Tern and the Little Tern gather together at the islands to roost in preparation for their migration flight to Africa.
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Click http://www.imageinuk.com/Landscapes/Nature-Reserves/The-Oysterbeds-North-Hayling/8125638/970212326_QsHax-XL.jpg for larger image.
This mixed flock were flying above the lagoon. The Little Tern can be recognised by the white 'forhead' and they are about 1/3 smaller than the Common Tern.

A pair of Oystercatcher were successful in breeding on the island.
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Click http://www.imageinuk.com/Landscapes/Nature-Reserves/The-Oysterbeds-North-Hayling/6243435DxO/916709306_SPQ4c-XL.jpg for larger image.
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Click http://www.imageinuk.com/Landscapes/Nature-Reserves/The-Oysterbeds-North-Hayling/6243440DxO/916724067_ysCtS-XL.jpg for larger image.

Black-headed Gulls
The fledglings and adults were using the adjacent mud flats as a nursery at low tide. They returned to the islands as the tide came in.
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Click http://www.imageinuk.com/Landscapes/Nature-Reserves/The-Oysterbeds-North-Hayling/7084118/929891768_NMs3K-XL.jpg for larger image.

Ringed Plover
Not a good year for these on the island. A couple of pairs made two attempts to nest but failed. They were successful elsewhere on the harbour islands. Here is one of the adults that tried to nest here.
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Click http://www.imageinuk.com/Birds/Waders/Ringed-Plover-Charadrius-1/P5271732-Editfiltered/880977329_TgQ3o-XL.jpg for larger image.

Common Tern
These had one of the best years for breeding on the site. A record number of fledglings was recorded.
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Click http://www.imageinuk.com/Landscapes/Nature-Reserves/The-Oysterbeds-North-Hayling/6031960/889033530_PPzvt-XL.jpg for larger image.

Little Tern
Although none successfully nested at the site, they used other islands in the harbour as nest sites. They were regular visitors to the lagoon to fish.

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Click http://www.imageinuk.com/Landscapes/Nature-Reserves/The-Oysterbeds-North-Hayling/6173090-Editfiltered/904747616_tJrbC-XL.jpg for larger image.


Some of you probably remember I posted a number of images taken at this site during the breeding season. I have now compiled a couple of story boards and brief history of the site on my website.
This style of site pages is new to me and I would appreciate any feedback as to whether the style works or not. I must apologise that some of the images have previously been posted here but, without them, the story boards would not be complete.
The link page to these pages is here > http://www.imageinuk.com/Landscapes/Nature-Reserves/The-Oysterbeds/14084085_2bd5Y

Comments are welcome. Thanks for viewing.

Comments

  • jackiejayjackiejay Registered Users Posts: 714 Major grins
    edited October 17, 2010
    youve captured some really nice shots they are beautiful birds:)
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited October 17, 2010
    Peter this is Boston right ?? It makes me think of Bolsa ,nice work using your shots for a story
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • PeterD-2009PeterD-2009 Registered Users Posts: 618 Major grins
    edited October 18, 2010
    jackiejay wrote: »
    youve captured some really nice shots they are beautiful birds:)

    Thank you for your comments. The Little Tern's alternative common name is Sea Swallow. When you see these in flight you can understand why some call them this.
    The sleek slender lines of these birds takes some beating. The thing that impresses me most though is the bravery of these birds when protecting their nesting site. Last year, a Perigrine Falcon flew towards the island. Instantly it was recognised and half a dozen Tern took off to intercept. The Perigrine Falcon is not unkown for its in-flight agility, you have to be so to catch birds in flight as they do. The Tern flew straight at the Perigrine pealed off in different directions and approached it from the rear. The last I saw of the Perigrine was flying off into the harbour, empty taloned and looking back at it's pursuers in disgust.
  • PeterD-2009PeterD-2009 Registered Users Posts: 618 Major grins
    edited October 18, 2010
    jwear wrote: »
    Peter this is Boston right ?? It makes me think of Bolsa ,nice work using your shots for a story

    Hi, thanks for replying. No its good old blighty:D.
    Thanks for your comment on the picture story boards tooclap.gif
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