Month: October 2022

Runway walk.

/ Andy Finnegan / Leave a comment

RAF Beaulieu was also known as USAAF Station AAF 408. It is located near the village of East Boldre, and about 2 miles west of the village of Beaulieu. The area had early links with flying. During the First World War, a Royal Flying Corps training airfield, RFC Beaulieu, at East Boldre was established this was closed in 1919. The World War 2 RAF Beaulieu was built on the opposite side of the road to the aerodrome it opened in 1942. During the war, it was used as a bomber and fighter airfield. After the war, it was used for experimental work before it was closed in 1959.

The area around the airfield is heath and made a good circular and flat walk this morning. Some areas of the runways remain but much has been removed.

Lots of Fungi were starting to show.

Kestrel. We later watched this bird catch a snake and fly off with it.

Ibis.

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Finally able to get some fairly close pictures of a Glossy Ibis in Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve.

These birds breed in parts of Southern and Southeast Europe and are only occasional visitors here. In recent years sightings here have become more common. This year I have seen up to 4 birds at one time in a couple of locations on the Hampshire coast.

Statistics

Length: 55-65cm
Wingspan: 88-105cm
Weight: 630g

Views from the bridge.

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The bridge over the entrance of the River Meon where it enters into the Solent via Tichfield Harbour is always a good place to spot some birds. Today with the high winds. there were a number of birds sheltering out from the wind below the bridge.

Our first view over the bridge gave us a view of 2 Little Egrets and a Grey Heron.

Later on, there was a Cormorant perching on the branch where the Egret was earlier.

On the other side of the bridge in the harbour was a Little Grebe.

Deer stalk

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Today we decided to go on a deer stalk but very soon decided it might not be such a good day for it as they were cutting the bracken where we were walking. Studies have shown that management of bracken stands should be reduced because the excessive build-up of bracken litter causes a decline in species diversity leading to a negative impact on the conservation interest of the bracken-dominated habitats.

However walking deeper across the heath and in to small pockets of mature woodland we soon spotted a number of Fallow Deer. (Bucks)

At first the herd moved away but settled down and watched us trying to blend in with our environment.

Further on after seeing this young bucks we spotted a small herd of hinds slipping away into deep woodland.