Commonly known as sea hares, The clade Anaspidea are medium-sized to large opisthobranch gastropod molluscs with a soft internal shell made of protein. Sorting out some memory sticks I came across these pictures I took at Meon Shore Beach in the summer of 2019. I have only ever found 2 of these interesting creatures and have not seen one since this sighting.
This bird is a summer visitor to the UK from Africa, this small, warbler frequents hedgerow and scrubby areas and can be seen singing from the top of bushes. They are here from April to October this bird was on the coast near Portsmouth.
A picture post.
Longshore drift is a geological process that involves transporting sediments such as single and pebbles along a coast parallel to the shoreline. It is dependent on the angle of the incoming wave direction. Incoming wind squeezes water along the coast, which generates a water current which moves parallel to the coast. Longshore drift is the sediment moved by this longshore current. This current and sediment movement occurs within the surf zone.
Longshore drift has happened along Meon Shore over the years I have watched the shoreline change with shingle spits changing and growing and the beach make-up changes as the shingle size changes. Wooden groins slow the currents and help stop erosion. The small harbour at Titchfield Haven entrance gets blocked up as stones and sand get dropped in that area as the currents slow and can not hold their weight as they slow. This week the sailing club has been moving the shingle back from the harbour mount to fill in the area on the spit that is being eroded with it.
A day out is not complete without some nature watching.
When you see a Cormorant what colour bird do you see? To me, they always look black. Take a closer look to see the real bird.
Mute Swan in the choppy swell off Meon Beach Hampshire.
#Wordless Wednesday.
This diving duck is a member of the sawbill family, named for their serrated bills, that they use for catching fish. A largely freshwater bird, the Goosander first bred in the UK in 1871. This female was in the harbour at Titchfield Haven {the male has a green head and their body has more white}
A Pied Wagtail on Meon Shore Beach. Frantically wagging their long tail up and down is an easy way to ID these little birds. I regularly see Pied and Grey Wagtails and very occasionally Yellow Wagtails. Their favourite food is insects.
Still, the photographs below are stitched together and run fast to show tail wagging.
Cormorants are great divers for fish -although this one was unlucky while I watched the action.
Cormorant fishing is a traditional fishing technique that fishermen have used in China and Japan. They train the birds to catch fish. It was once a successful fishing method, today it serves the tourism industry. It is no longer used anywhere except in southwestern China.
To control the birds, the fishermen tie a loose rope near the base of the bird’s throat. The snare does not stop the bird from swallowing small fish but prevents the bird from swallowing larger fish, these are held temporarily in their gullet. When a cormorant has caught a fish in its throat, the fisherman brings the bird back to the boat to regurgitate the catch.
Continued Reflections from my World. 