On the South Devon coast is a small smugglers’ cove with a shingle beach nestled beneath Beer head. A small beach-launched fishing fleet operates and sells fresh fish in a small shop just above the high water mark.
Beer you do not drink.
weather
Forest stream.
Another hot weather walk in the New Forest this morning found us following a small stream on the flat which helped us keep cool. There were many Dragonflies – Emperor Dragonflies were “dipping”. An action where they lay their eggs.
Another Dragonfly that was about in good numbers was the Golden-ringed Dragonfly.
A few bird spots.
Nuthatch.
Blue Tit.
A lucky spot walking back to the van was a young Grass Snake.
G.A.F.I.R.S.
A few hour’s walk out to Gilkicker Fort on this wet morning and a stop to take a look at Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service.
Gosport Lifeboat Station is a volunteer-operated independent lifeboat station located near the Gilkicker peninsula at Gosport – it operates lifeboat services in the Solent from Portsmouth Harbour to Titchfield Haven. There are 235 Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat stations around the United Kingdom, and there are 65 lifeboat stations which are not owned or managed by the RNLI, GAFIRS is one of these. Like the RNLI, All Lifeboat services work with HM Coastguard their equipment, training, and procedures comply with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s Rescue Boat Code of Practice.
Hare today.
Gone tomorrow! We have the sun out this morning so up to the South Downs to see if the Hares are about. They did not let us down.
Erosion.
An example of coastal erosion at Baton on Sea on the edge of the New Forest.
Movements.
Longshore drift is a geological process that involves transporting sediments such as single and pebbles along a coast parallel to the shoreline. It is dependent on the angle of the incoming wave direction. Incoming wind squeezes water along the coast, which generates a water current which moves parallel to the coast. Longshore drift is the sediment moved by this longshore current. This current and sediment movement occurs within the surf zone.
Longshore drift has happened along Meon Shore over the years I have watched the shoreline change with shingle spits changing and growing and the beach make-up changes as the shingle size changes. Wooden groins slow the currents and help stop erosion. The small harbour at Titchfield Haven entrance gets blocked up as stones and sand get dropped in that area as the currents slow and can not hold their weight as they slow. This week the sailing club has been moving the shingle back from the harbour mount to fill in the area on the spit that is being eroded with it.
A day out is not complete without some nature watching.
Rainy Days.
Poor weather {again} with high seas and excessive rain here on the Solent and Southampton Water. This mornings bird watch was taking cover within one of the bird hides at Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve. Not many visitors today and as the weather deteriorated the reserve closed at lunchtime for safety reasons.
Northern Shoveler – the film catches these ducks using their large bills to filter water for their food.
Shovelers are surface-feeding ducks with huge spatula-shaped bills.
- UK breeding birds 1,100 pairs
- UK wintering 19,500 birds
Like many duck breeds the female is a fairly “brown” bird whereas the Drake is colourful with his dark green head white breasts and chestnut flanks making him very handsome.
Often missed.
Same bird at the same spot, - Funny how things turn out. I spotted this Dunock again today on the same log as last week but the weather was duller today just had to take some more pictures of this often underrated and overlooked sparrow.
How to make a hole?
In the sun of a Friday morning, the local Paraketts were very noisy and active – they seemed to be trying to make a hole in one of the trees. I looked last year for a nest site without luck, so I hope this may be a place to watch as we move into the nesting season in a few months.
Watched by the male bird the female spent some time pulling off bits of wood and dropping them.
It is cold out there.
Frozen pond in the New Forest.
Continued Reflections from my World. 