The bottom of the beak is a different colour for females. The male Kingfisher’s beak is entirely black. The female’s beak has a pinkish-orange tinge on the bottom.
To remember it is a female, many people say she is wearing lipstick.
Male Kingfisher.
Titchfield harbour & nature reserve.
Goosander.
These diving ducks are a member of the sawbill family, named for their serrated bills, that they use to catch fish. A largely freshwater bird, they first bred in the UK in 1871. It built up numbers in Scotland and, since 1970, it has spread across northern England into Wales, reaching south-west England. Its love of salmon and trout has brought it into conflict with fishermen. This bird seen today in Titchfield Habour is a female (the male has a green head).
Wingspan up to 6 1/2 feet!
Favourite spot.
At the Little Bridge at Titchfield Harbour where the River Meon reaches the sea, there is a favourite spot under the bushes where a Grey Heron likes to fish. Often people miss him! If you wait for a while he may come out into full view.
Dragons in the sky.
Yesterday we spent time at Titchfield Haven around one of the small ponds looking for Damselflies and Dragonflies.
With a warm morning, there were many to see.
Four-spotted chaser dragonflies out in large numbers.
Female blue form Emperor dragonfly “tail dipping” – egg laying.
Azure damselfly mating.
Tufted Duck
Smaller than a Mallard the Tufted Duck is a medium-sized diving duck the male is black on the head, neck, chest and back, and white on the sides. It has a small crest and a yellow eye. In winter, numbers increase because birds are moving to the UK from Iceland and northern Europe {The female is entirely chocolate-brown, with yellow eyes }.
A morning bird watching.
I decided to record my visit to Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve as a video.
At the end of the film is a Shelduck out at sea with her chicks – It is amazing watching these little birds journey in the choppy waters.
Long legs!
Tetragnatha Montana is a species of long-jawed orb weaver spiders commonly known as the silver stretch spider. These spiders have a habit of extending their front legs into a stick like shape
Now the sun is out.
Now the sun is out Dragonflies and Damselflies are starting to fly.
Four-Spotted Chaser.
Four-Spotted Chaser. This Dragonfly has emerged deformed and missing one wing.
The Chaser below is deformed and missing 1 wing.
Azure Damselfly pair mating.
Hairy Dragonfly.
Banded Demoiselle.
Reed Warbler.
Reed Warbler Titchfield Haven.
Continued Reflections from my World. 