the Solent & Southampton Water,

Living History.

/ Andy Finnegan / Leave a comment

Today we had an exciting fast boat trip from Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. On  High Speed Launch 102.

A calm sea and sunny weather added to the experience.

102 is the only survivor of the 100 class in the UK. She was launched in 1936. She was one of the first, fast offshore rescue boats in service with the Royal Air Force. She was one of the most technologically advanced production craft of the day, She saw active service in WW2. Off Calshot, she was damaged by a Messerschmitt 109 which also killed her radio operator. 1943, she transferred to the Royal Navy for target towing. She was sold off off in 1946. She became a houseboat. She was restored between 1993 and 1996 at Fawley. Now she is in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

Getting the worm!

/ Andy Finnegan / 2 Comments

Groups of Sanderlings feed on small worms at low times on Meon Shore Hill Head. Like little clockwork robots, they run up and down, dodging both Black-heading gulls trying to get a free lunch and the incoming tide. These are my favorite shore birds, and I spend many hours watching them.

Dunlin.

/ Andy Finnegan / 4 Comments

I’m up with the light today and taking a walk up the Hamble River. I have good views of Dunlin, a small wader similar to Sanderlings. The Sanderlings favour the sandy beach at Meonshore, whereas the Dunlin like the mud to feed in the tidal river.