Recently, I took a trip to the Oysterbed reserve to put up some signage, informing visitors on the happenings (nesting, hatching etc.) of the Black-headed gulls for the next few weeks. After having chosen suitable areas for the signs and putting them in place, the site manager (Wez) and I decided to peruse over the islands with our binoculars and scopes to see what we could see.
One of the temporary interpretation signs now up at the Hayling Island Oysterbeds.
After just a few seconds of searching, three small, fluffy bundles filled up our field of view – the first of the 2016 Langstone Harbour Black-headed gull chicks. These little downy babies can be seen on either of the islands in the lagoon, and as more and more begin to hatch, they should become much easier to spot from the shore. Keep your eyes peeled!
Just across the water on the end of the island, some of the first Black-headed gull chicks.
And a video of the fluffy babies - excuse the shaky cam!
But it is not only the islands that are seeing some spring time action, as all around the reserve flora and fauna are gearing up for the busy season ahead. Small passerine birds can be seen flitting from tree to tree, whilst kestrels hover above the open grassland, hoping to catch a tasty treat. Flowers are coming into bloom, and butterflies are busying themselves by flying in amongst the vegetation.
One particular butterfly that I have noticed around the reserve recently is the Chalkhill blue. As the name suggests, this little beauty is restricted to chalk and limestone grassland due to the fact that this is where it’s associated flower horseshoe vetch can grow. This means that its distribution is limited to Southern England, where chalky mud was laid down approximately 90 million years ago during the cretaceous period, when much of Southern England was still underwater! Let’s hope we get to see this butterfly and many others hanging around for the spring and summer seasons.
A Chalkhill Blue butterfly photographed on the reserve on a bright, sunny day.
Also springing up from the ground we have some fabulous wildflowers, including the Common Speedwell, Dovesfoot Cranesbill and Common Vetch, so be sure to survey the grassland as well as the skies.
Until next time, lets hope for some more sunshine.
Chantelle.