Month: April 2023

Walking the Downs.

/ Andy Finnegan / 2 Comments

Another walk on the South Downs, paths are well marked and marked where not to go!

The land is well-managed and farmed fairly intensively but there are wildlife strips and borders but not an area where you can wander off the paths.

Tank rides and driving are available for those that want to make a noise.

Dunock in the oilseed rape flowers.

Red-legged Partrages – The red-legged partridge is a gamebird a member of the pheasant family.  They were introduced to Britain in the 1600s by Charles II, and they are now relatively common and can be spotted in its favoured open scrub and farmland habitats. They often run rather than fly when disturbed.

This bird spotted something above.

A Red Kite. On the hunt.

The Red Kite feeds mainly on carrion and worms but is opportunistic and will occasionally take small mammals. Today the RSPB states there are an estimated 4,400 pairs in the UK. I recall 1st seeing these magnificent birds in South Wales in the 1980’s when there were only 25 pairs in the UK mainly in Wales.

This bird picked up something for lunch.

Good Hare country as earlier in the week.

Goldfinch.

Insects are starting to come out as the weather warms up. This Bee-fly landed on the path. At a glance, it’s easy to mistake one for a bee.

Views from the South Down’s

/ Andy Finnegan / 1 Comment

The South Downs Way is one of 15 National Trails in England and Wales. It stretches from the once capital city of England and the cathedral city of Winchester in the West, nearly 100 miles to the city of Eastbourne in the East.

Further to my post yesterday focusing on Hares here are some further Hare photographs, views and other wildlife on the South Downs Way.

Roe Buck crossing the farmland.

More Brown Hare shots.

Red-legged partridge.

The Brown Hare.

/ Andy Finnegan / 3 Comments

Brown Hares are said to have been introduced into the UK in Roman times, they are now considered naturalised. They are found on open farmland, in grassland habitats and at woodland edges. They graze on vegetation and the bark of young trees and bushes. Brown hares do not dig burrows, but shelter in ‘forms’, which are shallow depressions in the ground or grass. When disturbed, they can be seen running across open land reaching the speed of 45mph – they are Britain’s fastest wild mammal. Brown hares are most visible in early spring when the breeding season encourages fighting or ‘boxing’. Females can produce three to four litters of two to four leverets {young} a year.

Today a visit to some open farmland on the edge of the South Downs National Park gave us some good views of this sacred and mystical animal. In folk law, they were believed to have connections to the “otherworld.” They were treated with great respect and never eaten.

Speeding off!

A very short film.

Passing through.

/ Andy Finnegan / 8 Comments

The Osprey became extinct in the British Isles in 1916 but recolonised in 1954. Scandinavian birds migrate through Britain on the way to their breeding sites.

The Ospreys’ main UK stronghold is now in Scotland. In 2001, they began breeding in England in Cumbria, at Rutland Water. {here they were introduced}.

UK breeding:240+ pairs.

Birds are seen in our area on migration – We spotted this bird with fish today at Titchfield Haven which I expect stopped off for lunch on passage North.

Far off so zoomed in. A rare spot for me in the UK.

Water off a ducks back.

/ Andy Finnegan / 2 Comments

The saying is said to originate in the 1800s. It comes from the literal characteristic that ducks feathers have for resisting water. If you have ever observed a duck, you may have noticed that no matter how often the duck dives under the water, it comes back up looking quite dry and water rolls off of them.

Male Mallard.

Northern shoveler. (male)

Northern shoveler. (female)

Shellduck.

The phrase “A nice day for ducks” is a pejorative expression used to describe a rainy day that can only be seen as being positive by those living things, like ducks, that enjoy a watery environment.