New Forest April visit.

April 4, 2022April 4, 2022 / Andy Finnegan / 2 Comments

Our first visit to the New Forest in April this year with a fair walk deep into the forest to collect camera footage from where we left our trail camera last week. Returning to the van we found another Badger’s sett – we now know where 3 setts are located – It is interesting that once you understand these mammals’ behaviour and how they build their setts you can spot clues in the landscape where to look. Below is the footage from my brother’s camera which got the best footage.

As always some Fallow deer sightings on our walk.

After the badger walk, we checked out a forest pond, where we saw our 1st ducklings of the year. This mum was being hassled by a group of drakes so she moved them away onto an island out of their reach.

Bird ID help.

April 2, 2022April 2, 2022 / Andy Finnegan / 4 Comments

Mediterranean Gull or Black-headed Gull (summer plumage).

For a long time, I tried to spot Mediterranean Gull among all the Black-headed gulls and was never quite sure I had seen one, last year I spotted a pair at Titchfield haven and when you see one it is clear they are different from the nearby Black-headed gulls. This year there are a lot more Mediterranean Gull although some distance away I made this film to show the differences.

Another pointer that is difficult to see in pictures or at a distance is the Black-headed Gull’s head black is in fact dark brown when you take a close look and the Mediterranean Gull has a jet black head colour.

Think Pink.

April 1, 2022April 1, 2022 / Andy Finnegan / 9 Comments

Another walk along the River Hamble today – yesterday we had a flurry of snow although it did not lay this morning’s walk was bitter with a biting wind blowing down the river.

The ferry on the Hamble between Warsash and Hamble-le-Rice today is an ‘on-demand’ passenger ferry service is summoned via mobile phones – when my boys were small you had to jump up and down until the ferryman spotted you. What has also changed is the waiting shelter on the riverbank and the ferry which are all today painted a bright pink were then blue.

Records show there has been a ferry on the site dating back to 1493 when the crossing was part of a pilgrim’s route. The ferry now provides a link for local, and national footpaths such as the Solent Way and the National Cycle Route 2.

A pair of Shelduck on the mud they are large ducks that are about the size of a small goose.