A dead 3-foot shark on the beach – A Smooth Hound, also known as Grumpy Shark and a Smut. Listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Sadly, fishing killed this fish. It was held in the water by 4 lead weights and 30 feet of broken fishing line.
Fishing line is a major hazard on our local beaches, especially to waders and Swans.
During the Victorian times, Little Egret feathers were highly valued for fashionable headgear. This led to a massive decline in the bird population. The demand for Egret feathers was immense. The birds were farmed and hunted extensively. The plumes were worth more than gold. This unsustainable trade ultimately spurred the creation of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
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.
Eider drake crab fishing. He would dive down get a crab, shake its legs off then eat it.
Another summer visitor spotted,
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.
Ended the week with a quiet early morning walk up the Hamble River from Warsash to Burseldon.
Cormorant.
Hamble River.
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.
Continued Reflections from my World. 