nature spots

Birdwatching in the wet.

/ Andy Finnegan / Leave a comment

Some days when the weather is not good and rain prevails it is a real washout. Today was one of those days so I went for a short walk at a small local nature reserve not expecting to see much let alone take some photographs.

However, despite the rain, and fairly low light it was a successful nature walk.

On one of the small gravel pits were a number of Great-Crested Grebes which added a splash of welcome colour.

These grebes are well-known for their elaborate courtship dance, during which they rise out of the water and shakes their heads. During the breeding season, they have an impressive plume on their heads and orange ruff around their necks.

A number of Greylag geese were also in one of the pits. They are the largest and bulkiest of native wild geese found in the UK and Europe.

A Moorhen making a run for it back towards the water.

Coastal spring.

/ Andy Finnegan / 10 Comments

Down on the coast along Meon Shore and Titchfield Haven, spring is advancing. Birds are starting to pair up courtship is in the air. Soon the Brend Geese and the Sanderlings will be off to their breeding grounds. Other birds who breed on our shores will arrive Avocents have started to arrive and soon I expect to spot returning Common Terns.

Canada Geese are no native birds, having been introduced from North America some 300 years ago. After the Second World War, they spread across the UK. They are now found in large numbers. These birds do not migrate from the UK and in some areas are now considered a pest.

Cormorant and Little Greebe fishing.

Some regular birds on at the Haven.

Lapwing.

Godwit

Redshank.