The Curlew is one of my favourite waders. I never tire of watching these large waders, whether on our coast in winter or on the moors during their nesting season. Not only are they a pleasure to see, but their call over the mashes is also a joy to hear. Just one picture today, and a video – something I have not captured before, a Curlew catching a Ragworm.
A female Kingfisher at Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve. The female bird is identified by her orange lower beak. Despite the poor light, I was happy with today’s pictures.
A pair of Reed Buntings. The male bird sports a striking black head in the breeding season, but as we are now in winter, this has become duller. Females are brown, making them harder to distinguish from females or other brown birds. Note the female bird in my picture is ringed.
Spotted a few Grey Plovers on Keyhaven Marshes near Lymington, Hampshire yesterday. I also see them regularly on the mud on the River Hamble. I have only seen them in their winter plumage; usually, I find them fairly difficult to photograph decently due to how far off they are.
In summer, they have silver and black spotted upperparts, a black face, neck and belly. In winter, they lose the black feathers and take on a grey look.
Monday, we had our 1st snowfall of the year, just a few centimetres, but enough to blanket the road and countryside for a few hours. By Tuesday morning, the snow had gone, but we were left with freezing temperatures and a lot of ice.
Frozen lake at Eastleigh. Just one corner with open water.
Drake Mallard on the ice.
Great Crested Grebe. On open water.
1st light on the Hamble River Sunday morning.
Curlew and Spotted Redshank.
Hamble River bird films.
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.
Continued Reflections from my World. 