• Home
  • Browse
  • Search
  • Railway images
  • Church Fenton, North Yorkshire

PeterD-2009

  2. Landscapes
  3. Nature Reserves

The Oysterbeds, Image Archive

Imageinuk Home Page > The Oysterbeds Home > The Oysterbeds, Image Archive

This site was developed to povide nesting sites for the Little Tern which arrive each year, during the summer months, to breed in Langstone harbour. A deep lagoon surrounds two man-made gravel islands (North and South) which the Tern find attractive for nesting. The lagoon is refreshed each high tide through two weirs at the seaward side. These weirs additionally ensure the water level is retained at low tide.

The following links are thoroughly recommended .

Langstone Harbour Wildlife Blog. Blog by Jason Crook (Seasonal warden at the Oysterbed site.)

Activity Photo Diary 2010 season. These images, ordered by date and in diary form, with background information.

Read More
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta). Copyright 2009 Peter Drury
819 / 822

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta). Copyright 2009 Peter Drury

birdsnatureLittle Egret Egretta garzetta

  • Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). Copyright 2009 Peter Drury<br /> Just before I left, the adult babysitting the youngster in the previous photo gave a demonstration dive to catch a fish. The youngster behind looks on attentively.<br /> The old oysterbeds, North Hayling Island.
  • Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). Copyright 2009 Peter Drury<br /> The adult Tern immediately attacks the Black-headed Gull and drives it off. The chick meanwhile (to the centre right of the image) rushes to the safety of a rock and lies low.<br /> The old oysterbeds, North Hayling Island.
  • Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). Copyright 2009 Peter Drury<br /> This little chick has left an uneaten fish on the rock (above and slightly to the left of it). The adult Tern has spotted a hungry Black-headed Gull wanting to pick up and eat the fish.<br /> The old oysterbeds, North Hayling Island.
  • Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). Copyright 2009 Peter Drury<br /> With most birds at the colony having dispersed, the remaining chicks are no-longer remaining hidden within the vegetation. The adults being alert to the increased dangers from predators, stand guard over their chicks.<br /> The old oysterbeds, North Langstone Harbour.
  • Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus). Copyright 2009 Peter Drury<br /> A pair of Oystercatcher have successfully bred here and still treat it as home at high tide. Towards the top of the image is the weir leading from the lagoon to the sea.<br /> The old oysterbeds, North Hayling Island.
  • Little Egret (Egretta garzetta). Copyright 2009 Peter Drury<br /> Flying across the lagoon. The light was such that the outline of the birds wing bones can be seen in this image.<br /> The old oysterbeds, North Hayling Island.
  • Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). Copyright 2009 Peter Drury<br /> Adult with youngster below. Although the youngster here has now developed it's flight plumage, I do not think it had yet taken to the air. It spent the two hours I was on-site just sitting at the water's edge, watching.<br /> The old oysterbeds, North Hayling Island
  • Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). Copyright 2009 Peter Drury<br /> Another adult arrives with fish and waits for the chick to appear from the vegetation. The second adult to the right is keeping a look-out for the colony.<br /> The old oysterbeds, North Hayling Island
  • Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). Copyright 2009 Peter Drury<br /> A proud parent with its chick. The chick's tail feathers are just beginning to form.<br /> The old oysterbeds, North Hayling Island
  • Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). Copyright 2009 Peter Drury<br /> Just brought in a fish for its chick seen (just in front of the adult). The plumage makes very good camouflage and certainly helps to protect these chicks before they fledge.<br /> The old oysterbeds, North Hayling Island
  • Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). Copyright 2009 Peter Drury<br /> Just brought in a fish for its chick seen (just in front of the adult).<br /> The old oysterbeds, North Hayling Island
  • The Oysterbed Reserve, North Hayling<br /> Managed by the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.<br /> The island in front is the South Island and the one to the right is the North Island. The lagoon is fed with sea water via the weir just behind the North Island. The hill in the background is Portsdown Hill wich runs from Havant in the East to the outskirts of Fareham to the West and rises to a maximum of about 320 feet.
  • Common Turn re-cropped. Copyright 2009 Peter Drury<br /> Original image re-cropped to give space at the front for the birds to 'move' and upper wing cropped further to remove partial clip in the original and make it look more like a deliberate crop. I think I like this far more than the original.<br /> My thanks go to Dave (Benvendetta) on <a href="http://e-group.uk.net">http://e-group.uk.net</a>.<br /> The old oysterbeds, North Hayling Island
  • Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). Copyright 2009 Peter Drury<br /> Someone cannot read.<br /> The old oysterbeds, North Hayling Island
  • Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). Copyright 2009 Peter Drury<br /> The old oysterbeds, North Hayling Island
  • Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). Copyright 2009 Peter Drury<br /> The old oysterbeds, North Hayling Island
  • Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). Copyright 2009 Peter Drury<br /> Today's diet for the chicks is fish!!!<br /> The old oysterbeds, North Hayling Island
  • Peregrine attack. Copyright 2009 Peter Drury<br /> Life at the Tern colony was going on as normal until this Peregrine swooped in at high speed and low level hoping for a meal. Immediately, more than jalf a dozen Tern took off to buzz the Peregrine. These were joined by other Common Tern already in flight. This show of strength was enough for the Perigrine who flew away empty taloned.<br /> The old oysterbeds, North Hayling Island
  • Little Egret (Egretta garzetta). Copyright 2009 Peter Drury
  • Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). Copyright 2009 Peter Drury<br /> The old oysterbeds, North Hayling Island
  • No Comments
  • Photo Sharing
  • About SmugMug
  • Browse Photos
  • Prints & Gifts
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Owner Log In
© 2021 SmugMug, Inc.