the Solent & Southampton Water,

A town park.

/ Andy Finnegan / 4 Comments

A few hours in Mayflower Park Southampton this morning.

Mayflower Park is a waterfront park, in the old part of the City with views over the River Test. It is on reclaimed land near where the Mayflower left Southampton 400 years ago, Pilgrims embarked on their historic transatlantic voyage on August 15 1620. They were on two ships – the iconic Mayflower and the lesser-known Speedwell. The park is the only city centre waterside park with views across the River Test.

Feeding Gulls in the park.

There are always some shipping movements near the park.

An interesting lifeboat launch system on the bulk car transporter.

Herring Gulls, All different ages.

There were a few Oystercatchers on the grass of the park as the tide was high. One was ringed. So I sent off the details and I hope I will get some information on this bird. I will update my blog if I get any feedback.

CVN-78.

/ Andy Finnegan / Leave a comment

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is the lead ship of the United States Navy aircraft carrier class. She is the world’s largest warship. She is anchored in Stokes Bay off the Isle of Wight for a few days and is quite a crowd-puller!

Length: 337 m

Launched: 11 October 2013

Construction started: 13 November 2009

Winter arrivals.

/ Andy Finnegan / 6 Comments

Sanderling numbers have started to increase on our coast as we move to the colder months. Over 60 were resting at high tide today. I always find them a joy to watch so I sit on the shingle they continue their routine and slowly come very close.

For me, these little birds’ arrival from their summer breeding grounds on the far Arctic tundra is a signal that we are moving into our winter. The terns have gone south but the Sanderlings have arrived.

Wigeon.

/ Andy Finnegan / 2 Comments

In recent weeks, small groups of Wigeon have arrived here on the south coast. They are medium-sized ducks that appear quite plump. The head and neck of the male are chestnut, with a yellow forehead, pink breasts and a grey body. In flight, birds show white bellies and males have a large white wing patch.

Wigeons breed in the north in central and northern Scotland and some in northern England. Their numbers increase in the UK in winter as birds from Iceland, Scandinavia and Russia arrive. The number of wintering birds increases to some 450,000 birds from the small breeding numbers of only 200 pairs.

The birds on the Hamble were quite comical talking to each other with quiet whistles and giving each other some odd looks!