Cattle Egret numbers in the UK are rising. These small white herons are mostly found in southern England and Wales. They often spend time close to livestock like sheep and cows and grab the insects and worms their hooves disturb. While watching Highland Cows in Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve, true to their name, 4 of these birds flew in to feed.
Back into the New Forest after a 10-day gap due to the large wildfire, which closed the A31, the main road crossing the forest. Although other parts were accessible, we chose to stay away, as many of the smaller roads were gridlocked with diverted traffic.
Today’s walk.
about 4 miles through some fairly boggy ground. Some of which would be impassable if we had not had a drought.
Marsh frogs.
Spotted flycatcher.
A first for me today, a Goat Moth caterpillar.
)As an adult, the moth cannot feed. The caterpillars live inside the trunks of a variety of broad-leaved trees, feeding on the wood. They overwinter three or four times as larvae and a final time as pupae. The caterpillar can grow to 10 cm (about 4 inches), and the moth has a wingspan of up to 9.5cm (about 3 1/2 inches).
Stock image of a Goat Moth.
Up on the South Downs, west of Winchester, for an early morning walk.
Quite a few Hares on the corn stubble some distance off.
Flocks of Greenfinches also visit the stubble to feed on grains left after the harvest.
Kestrel sitting high on a pylon wire looking for mice in the stubble.
The harvest is over, but the end-of-season usefulness to support wildlife of what looks like barren fields is high.
A visit to the Solent Sky Museum, Southampton.
Southampton is the birthplace of the Supermarine Spitfire, the iconic fighter aircraft that played a pivotal role during World War II, symbolizing resilience and innovation in aviation design. Designed by R J Mitchell and 1st built at the Supermarine works at Woolston.
Southampton was also the home to the largest flying boat operation in the world, until the late 1950s, when long-haul jet flights started to replace flying boat services
The Schneider Trophy Air Race attracted the best pilots and engineers from around the globe. Racing seaplanes went to top speeds of over 400 mph. The route of this speed race took place over the Solent. On show is the Supermarine S6A from 1929, a testament to design excellence
The Common Scoter is a dark-coloured sea duck; the male is totally black with yellow on its bill. I have seen this duck a few times, normally far out at sea off our coast through a telescope.
These birds were at Arundel and were born in captivity there last year.
It was Dragonfly week at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre, with lots of kids’ activities around dragonflies – face painting etc.
Spotted a few dragonflies walking around their trails.
Migrant Hawker.
Also spotted a Willow Emerald damselfly.
The Dalmatian pelican, also known as the curly-headed pelican, is the largest member of the pelican family and among the heaviest flying birds in the world. With a wingspan ranging between 2.7 and 3.2 metres,
These birds are at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre.
Dalmatian pelicans were common in UK wetlands some 2000 years ago, but they became extinct due to habitat loss from farming and hunting.
Hottest day of the year yesterday (so far). I have been staying clear of the New Forest due to the major wildfires.
So spent the day at the coast visiting Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve.
I have been visiting the reserve since childhood, but I have never seen it so dry; the top 2 lagoons/scrapes have dried up completely; the lower scrape has water, but this is due to the effort of wardens who routed water by opening sluice gates on the river.
Common Terns
Juvenile Common Tern.
There are still a few Dragonflies about on the east side of the reserve.
Common Darters.
Southern Hawker(female). Egg laying under the duckboards.
Gosander.
Wood Pigeon.
Common Sandpiper.
An early morning walk up the Titchfield Canal.
A great Sunrise.
Roe deer.
A Herdwick sheep.
Continued Reflections from my World. 