Calshot - 2nd November

The weather was cold and sunny. A lovely walk with the highlight being Mediterranean Gull.
8 of us met in the car park at Calshot. It was low tide and on the sea shore there were many birds feeding on the exposed mud. Brent Geese, Redshank, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Black-headed Gulls, Little Egrets and some Shelduck further out. Further on there were a few Turnstone and Ringed Plover. Starlings and Pied Wagtails were seen as we started along the shingle.
We walked along the beach towards Calshot Castle. We kept an eye on the gulls as Mediterranean Gull had been seen here recently. All the ones on the shore were Black-headed, except a few Common Gulls and one or two Herring Gulls. Just as we were going to turn and look at the northern side of the road where more exposed mud was I had a quick look at some gulls on the shore. Standing on its own was a winter plumage Mediterranean Gull.
There was a small hovercraft rushing around the mud and scaring off the birds – great!! Gaye joined us just in time to see the Med. Gull before it was scared off by it.
On the north side of the road were more of the same waders with the addition of a small flock of Dunlin and lots of Black-tailed Godwit. We walked towards the Power Station seeing more waders and Brent Geese. A Kestrel hovered over the fields and some Wigeon were feeding on the edge of the muddy shore line.
We turned inland seeing Carrion Crow, Stonechats and Magpie in the fields before returning to the cars.
Simon Curson