Sitting on the shoreline, virtually invisible to the naked eye are our first arrivals of the season.
Circled in red, they are there, I promise!
6 little terns, very quiet, probably exhausted from their arduous journey, but hopefully here to stay and be the first of many to settle in Langstone harbour to breed. After such a great season last year we are, it has to be said, somewhat hesitant about getting too excited - mustn't peak too soon - but the winter was kind to the islands and, thanks to the hard work of site manager Wez Smith and a great team of volunteers, they are looking like the perfect 'des res' for any discerning seabird. Fingers crossed for another successful year.
TCV volunteers hard at it!
The sandwich terns are back in good numbers and we've been enjoying their courtship display's. The male's show off their fishing skills to the attentive ladies, although even with close scrutiny none of us were able to identify the bulgey eyed beastie in this one's beak. (Answers on a postcard please). We've seen more than 30 so far and they seem to be pairing off and settling down nicely.
Sandwich tern displaying
The black-headed gulls are in abundance, as well as a smattering of mediterranean gulls flying around alerting us to their presence with distinctive meow calls. The black-headed gulls are sitting on eggs though sadly we've already seen signs of predation (probably crows). The oyster catchers failed to raise a single fledgeling in 2014, so we hope they fare better this year. If you're looking for a long shot though could it be a first brood for the smattering of lapwings that use the harbour, or for the truly bizarre those handful of brent geese that seem to stay here all year round, could they? Watch this space ............
Portsmouth's distinctive skyline
It is a lovely spot here, who wouldn't stay. I did!