Titchfield harbour & nature reserve.

Siege.

/ Andy Finnegan / 4 Comments

I try and get out in the environment not only is it physical exercise it is mental exercise. I always take a camera with me I never know what I will see on my trips out. A couple of times a week I go to the coast on Southampton Water. There were 3 Grey Heron fishing together at the Haven this morning. The 1st 5 pictures are of an adult bird the other pictures show young immature birds probably born last year.

The collective noun for Herons is a ‘siege‘,

Heron eat, lots of fish and eels, but also small birds such as ducklings, small mammals like voles and amphibians.

The return of the terns.

/ Andy Finnegan / Leave a comment

Common Terns have returned to the Solent and Southampton Water in the past week – I always look forward to their arrival and their numbers are increasing daily as they reach our shores from Africa. My 1st pictures this year which I am very pleased with. I have until September to practise when they will again leave.

Passing through.

/ Andy Finnegan / 8 Comments

The Osprey became extinct in the British Isles in 1916 but recolonised in 1954. Scandinavian birds migrate through Britain on the way to their breeding sites.

The Ospreys’ main UK stronghold is now in Scotland. In 2001, they began breeding in England in Cumbria, at Rutland Water. {here they were introduced}.

UK breeding:240+ pairs.

Birds are seen in our area on migration – We spotted this bird with fish today at Titchfield Haven which I expect stopped off for lunch on passage North.

Far off so zoomed in. A rare spot for me in the UK.

Water off a ducks back.

/ Andy Finnegan / 2 Comments

The saying is said to originate in the 1800s. It comes from the literal characteristic that ducks feathers have for resisting water. If you have ever observed a duck, you may have noticed that no matter how often the duck dives under the water, it comes back up looking quite dry and water rolls off of them.

Male Mallard.

Northern shoveler. (male)

Northern shoveler. (female)

Shellduck.

The phrase “A nice day for ducks” is a pejorative expression used to describe a rainy day that can only be seen as being positive by those living things, like ducks, that enjoy a watery environment.