Christmas day was spent on a reasonably quiet coast, sadly the weather was damp and dull but at least we had no rain.
The Great Black-backed Gull is the largest gull in the world they have a length: of 64-78cm with a wingspan:150-165cm {5ft} Weight:1-2kg
A powerful bird with a domineering attitude.
Many of our usual birds were resting on the beach.
Common Ringed Plovers.
Sanderling
Dunlin.
Single Dunlin with Sanderling.
A cold and frosty morning at the coast this morning at 10.30 am but most people appear to be at home!
Teal
Lapwing.
A cold bright morning Great Crested Grebe and a Shoveler Duck on calm water.
#Wordless Wednesday
Ringed Plovers and Sanderlings gathering at high tide rest out of the wind
Just a glimpse in the reeds this morning a bit of brightness on a dull day.
Originally moored at Calshot Spit, this lightship was a floating lighthouse at the entrance to Southampton Water. It guided flying boats into their terminals and warning ships of sandbanks at the Brambles.
Six crew lived in cramped conditions keeping the light and foghorn operating. It was replaced by a buoy in the mid-1960s.
#Wordless Wednesday
Further to my post last week regarding the ringed Oystercatcher I spotted at Mayflower Park I have had some feedback.
The bird was 1st ringed as an adult in January 2019 in Southampton Water all recordings have been in the local area and all in the winter sadly as yet no summer sighting. UK numbers of Oystercatchers increase in the winter when birds come south from Norway so this bird could be one of those wintering birds.
Many thanks for the sighting could you please send the photo as a jpg attachment so I can enlarge it to help work out the black/blue ring. However, I think it has to be the bird below with a black ring. It is a bird we ringed at Dibden Bay as an adult on 1st date below. All such sightings are most useful.
FP45007 N O+R//NB 25-Jan-19 Dibden Bay, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England
FP45007 S O+R//NB 15-Nov-19 Dibden Bay, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England
FP45007 S O+R//NB 09-Dec-19 Dibden Bay, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England
FP45007 S O+R//NB 09-Dec-19 Dibden Bay, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England
FP45007 S O+R//NB 22-Jan-20 Dibden Bay, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England
FP45007 S O+R//NB 22-Jan-20 Dibden Bay, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England
FP45007 S O+R//NB 13-Nov-20 Dibden Bay, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England
FP45007 S O+R//NB 13-Nov-20 Dibden Bay, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England
FP45007 S O+R//NB 13-Nov-20 Dibden Bay, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England
FP45007 S O+R//NB 11-Nov-21 Dibden Bay, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England
FP45007 S O+R//NB 11-Nov-21 Cracknore Hard, Marchwood, Southampton Water.
FP45007 S O+R//NB 15-Dec-21 Cracknore Hard, Marchwood, Southampton Water.
FP45007 S O+R//NB 30-Jan-22 Dibden Bay, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England
FP45007 S O+R//NB 23-Feb-22 Dibden Bay, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England
FP45007 S O+R//NB 06-Oct-22 Dibden Bay, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England
FP45007 S O+R//NB 06-Oct-22 Dibden Bay, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England
FP45007 S O+R//NB 06-Oct-22 Dibden Bay, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England
FP45007 S O+R//NB 03-Nov-22 Dibden Bay, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England
FP45007 S O+R//NB 24-Nov-22 Mayflower Park, Southampton, Hampshire, S England
Some further bird spots.
Dunlin in non-breeding plumage.
Northern shoveler ducks.
Shelduck.
A walk down the Hamble River. Pictorial post.
Continued Reflections from my World. 