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My post to all (unusual for me, as I normally limit replies to only the person needing the info...) was to cover any who might want to row, but were unable/unwilling to read all the threads on the forum. Since that reply I've had an up to date report re the bird situation, and it reinforces what was said in that general email. I reproduce the report below -it will be interesting to see how much it is viewed.
<<The gull hatch is now in full swing at the Hayling Oysterbeds with plenty of black-headed gull chicks to see and, for the first time at this site, a few Mediterranean gull chicks are a feature. Given that there are many broods of two or three chicks, most of the gulls seem to have gotten into good breeding condition despite the unseasonal weather this spring.
Some common terns have finally managed to find nesting space on the lagoon islands, but they are mostly in close proximity to nesting gulls (not surprising, since there are 1149 black-headed gull nests!).
Little terns continue to show interest in the shingle recharge at the western end of the “North West Bund” and, hopefully, three or four pairs might nest there soon. Yesterday, a few lucky visitors were delighted to see a little tern fishing in the south east corner of the lagoon, just a few metres from the viewpoint by the bramble bush.
The nesting gulls have been readily successful in fending off the great and lesser black-backed gulls that have tried to grab chicks, but at least one Mediterranean adult gull is regularly eating small black-headed gull chicks (the black-headed gulls still do not recognise Meds as predators). Such behaviour by Med gulls does not bode well for good productivity for any nesting common or little terns.
As yet, none of the three pairs of ‘lagoon’ oystercatchers has started nesting.
The annual nest count on the harbour islands took place on 22 May, when 179 Mediterranean gull nests and c3350 black-headed gull nests were counted. It seems that the tern species are starting very late this year (only 6 Sandwich tern nests and singles of common and little tern nests). >>
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