Hamble Lifeboat was formed in 1968, as the Southampton Water Inshore Rescue Service by local residents in response to the number of casualties occurring in Southampton Water and the Rivers Hamble, Itchen and Test. The RNLI also has a Lifeboat based across Southampton Water at Calshot point.
Hamble Lifeboat call out to a lone kite-surfer causing concern off Hill Head 3rd January 2021.
Goodbye, 2021 and all that – let us hope things get better in 2022.
A lone Sanderling sitting on the shingle Meon Shore Southampton Water.
The last time I saw the price for Fort Gilkicker it was on the market for £5 to £5.5 million. With planning consent for 26 luxury flats- that was in 2019 and the estimate for conversion was £18 million. Today the site remains a ruin. Sadly this historic building decays further each year.
I spent a Christmas Eve outside on the beach enjoying the open air and nature that was around. The Sanderlings were doing what they do most of the time – sleeping on the shingle and then dodging the spray and waves bathing and feeding.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Stay safe
The common whelk is the largest sea snail found in the sea around the UK.
They lay their eggs in a spongy mass of up to 2000 eggs on the seabed. Once hatched, these balls of empty egg capsules often wash up on the shore.
The first whelks to hatch will eat their developing siblings to give themselves extra energy to help them survive.
This large mass of eggs shows most of the whelks have not yet hatched. Empty egg capsules dry and the lightweight balls blow up the beach, in the past, it has been said sailors used them like a sponge.
The drama unfolds on the shore often over food. Sanderlings feed on little invertebrates, worms and shrimps at low tide. The Black-headed gulls have worked out it is easier to steal a meal rather than catch their own.
A Sanderling weight is 50 -60 grams and a Black-headed gull’s weight is 200-400g so the gull is the bully but the Sanderling is extremely fast so they do not give up their meal that often.
On a dull day, a flash of orange brightens the day. Both Black-headed gulls and Redshank’s legs colours are bright and a standout.
A misty damp morning down on the coast this morning.
Shoveler duck passing a snipe.
Lots of Snipe about today also spotted 2 Bearded tits in the reeds a 1st I have seen in many years.
A very distant Bearded Tim deep in the reeds – sadly the best picture I could get!
Link to view a Bearded Tit.
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/bearded-tit/
The morning after Storm Barra hit the south coast.
An Oystercatcher gets an early morning feed on a lugworm.
On Tuesday (7th December 2021) afternoon and evening the high tide plus storm-force winds meant local flooding. The coastguard had to rescue a number of car occupants stuck in the floodwaters. By Wednesday morning the water had gone but there was damage to the wooden sleepers on the walkway at the back of Titchfield harbour, the council had been around and cordened off the footpath and swept the road of shingle and sand.
A few bird spots within the nature reserve.
A kingfisher in the reeds.
A Male House Sparrow.
And a male Stone Chat.
Continued Reflections from my World. 