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.
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.
#Wordless Wednesday
#Wordless Wednesday
New Forest Blue Tit.
I went for a walk in the New Forest this morning to look for some fungi but there were very few about I think that even though it is prohibited in the National Park that they had been “collected” – It has become an issue in recent years as commercial quantities are being taken and sold on.
However, not all was lost as I enjoyed watching this Nuthatch.
Length: 14 cm Wingspan: 22.5-27 cm Weight: 20-25 g UK breeding: 220.000. {facts from RSPB}
This Clouded Yellow is the first I have seen this year and in fact the first I have seen for several years. They are a medium-sized, butterfly. It is a migrant species that fly here from North Africa and southern Europe. They appear in small numbers most years, but occasionally turn up on mass.
Our local Little Egrets have found a new way of fishing I have been watching these beautiful Herons for several years on Meon Shore but only in recent weeks, have seen them on a slack tide standing on the wooden sea groin post fishing. Normally they wait until low tide to fish at the waters edge.
Sitting on the beach on Tuesday morning around Calsholt spit came the Paddle Steamer Waverly making speed towards the Isle of Wight. Every time I see this paddle steamer I think of the Section in H G Wells’ book The War of the Worlds when HMS Thunderchild a Royal Navy warship sacrifices herself by ramming two tripods in order to protect the evacuation fleet including a paddle-steamer off the Essex coast.
PS Waverley is the last seagoing passenger-carrying paddle steamer in the world. Built-in 1946, she sailed from Craigendoran on the Firth of Clyde to Arrochar on Loch Long until 1973. Bought by the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society and restored to her 1947 appearance and now operates passenger excursions around the British coast. I did a trip on her in 2015. {see link}
A Paddle Steam along the coast. | REFLECTIONS ON MY WORLD (wordpress.com)
She has been listed on the National Historic Fleet by National Historic Ships UK as “A vessel of importance”.
Wordless Wednesday.
Continued Reflections from my World. 