A picture {or afilm says a 1000 words!}
Why is a Turnstone called a Turnstone?
birds and birdwatch,
Female Stonechat.
Siskins.
These small, brightly coloured birds are said to be a common sight in UK woodland, although I rarely see them! I spotted this pair in the early evening in one of the New Forest car parks, where people regularly feed birds, but everyone had gone home, and some seeds were on one of the poles. The Blue Tits and Great Tits had also gone, so these Siskins came in.
Changes.
The Brent Geese have left and are heading north to their breeding grounds. Most of the Sanderlings have also left. With the shift in season, the return of Terns is due on our shores.
I did spot two Sandlings who may have decided to remain here this year.
Sparkle.
A lone Starling in the sun.
Turnstone.
A couple of hours watching Turnstone around the harbour at Titchfield,
Long-range Videos.
A couple of video films taken at Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve this morning. I wanted to capture some film of the Mediterranean Gulls, and due to their distance from the vantage point, I used an X2 converter on my Fuji 150mm to 600mm to reach the distance. Given the extreme distances, I felt the quality of the films was not too bad.
My second film is Black-tailed Godwits.
Skylark.
Dartford Warbler.
Dartford Warbler in the New Forest this morning.
On an English Hillside.
Another circular Sunday morning walk on the South Downs.
This time of year, Rooks are re-establishing their nest sites. Rookerys are known for high noise levels, territorial disputes, and intense activity during nesting season.
Goldfinch.
Yellowhamer.
Brown Hare,
On the route, there is a memorial to a WW2 accident where 33 were tragically killed.
In early 1944, numerous training exercises were being undertaken in preparation for the Allied invasion of D-Day.
On the 4th April 1944, 1 HGSU, Horsa 1 glider, LG999 towed by Stirling IV LJ-842 of 196 Squadron took part in a large-scale glider exercise code-named ‘Exercise Dreme’.The night exercise of various legs was to take 3.5 hours, and the gliders were to be released over Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. The glider occupants were two glider pilots and members of No. 3 Platoon, ‘A’ Company, 7th (Airborne) Division, King’s Own Scottish Borderers.
Low cloud was reported in the Lewis area and on the leg from Lewis to Winchester. As the towing Stirling descended through the clouds, it hit a tree. The glider released immediately and crashed in Warnford. All 27 men on board the Horsa LG999 were killed. The Stirling flew on for another 15 minutes when it stalled, and crashed at 21:00 hours one-mile south-west of Romsey, some 18 miles from the site of the glider crash, and all six crew members were killed.
Continued Reflections from my World. 