#Wordless Wednesday.
On the wire.
Author: Andy Finnegan
Morning light.
1st light on the Hamble River Sunday morning.
Curlew and Spotted Redshank.
Winter.
Sunday morning walk up the Hamble River. With the arrival of the Brent Geese and large numbers of Wigeon, we can conclude winter has arrived. The Dunlin have lost their black chests and now sport their winter plumage.
BRENT GEESE.
WIGEON.
DUNLIN.
REDSHANK.
TURNSTONE.
CURLEW.
LITTLE GREBE.
Short fims.
Hamble River bird films.
Water Rail.
This Water Rail is making a dash from cover in the reeds. Although they are usually secretive, they are often heard but rarely seen. Today. I was lucky to see this bird break cover.
Happy Badgers.
Still photos taken from trail camera footage.
Some more Badger trail camera footage from The New Forest. This demonstrates good interaction between up to three animals. They seem to be playing; if the rolling around was in anger, I am sure that with their strong jaws and claws, there would be injuries. Our trail cameras are often knocked over, you can see how!
Badgers are the UK’s largest land predator and are one of the most well-known British species. They are famed for their black and white stripes and sturdy bodies, using their strong front paws to dig for food and to perfect their burrows, called ‘setts’.
Length: 75-100cm
Tail: 15cm
Weight: 8-12kg
Average lifespan: 5-8 years
Badgers are protected in the UK under the Protection of Badgers Act, 1992, and the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.
A different Starling.
“Leucism in birds is a genetic mutation that results in a total or partial reduction of colour in a bird’s plumage. This intriguing phenomenon occurs because pigments are deposited only in the feathers of birds, leading to a striking appearance that can vary widely among species. The affected feathers may appear white, pale, or mottled, depending on the extent of the gene’s influence. Interestingly, while the feathers show this alteration, other parts of the bird’s body, including the beak, legs, and skin, maintain their normal colouration.”
I spotted this white Starling while out for a walk on Calshot Spit
A long flight.
As winter approaches, the number of Sanderlings increase on Meon Shore. This is because the small number of resident birds increased with migratory birds from their breeding grounds in the Arctic Circle arriving.
This ringed bird
This ringed bird has been on the beach for a few weeks. Ringed as an adult bird on a nest in NE Greenland on nesting grounds in summer 2025. I am always amazed at how a bird weighing just 60 grams makes this journey each year, then returns to their breeding grounds in the spring.
Mr Badger.
In the book The Wind in the Willows, Mr Badger is one of Rat, Toad, and later Mole’s good friends. He’s a wealthy older gentleman who lives in the heart of the Wild Wood, in an extensive underground home. Our Badger sett is in the heart of the New Forest, with many entrances to their subterranean home.
Badgers are our largest land predator, feeding on small mammals, birds’ eggs, worms, fruit and plants.
Our trail cameras picked up some good footage of the Badger last week.
Wood Mouse.
Last week, with my brother, we placed trail cameras again at one of the Badger set we have been watching in the New Forest. Some night footage of a Wood Mouse.
Continued Reflections from my World. 