A Grey Wagtail on the Itchen Navigation near Eastleigh Hampshire
Grey wagtail.
Views from the South Down’s
The South Downs Way is one of 15 National Trails in England and Wales. It stretches from the once capital city of England and the cathedral city of Winchester in the West, nearly 100 miles to the city of Eastbourne in the East.
Further to my post yesterday focusing on Hares here are some further Hare photographs, views and other wildlife on the South Downs Way.
Roe Buck crossing the farmland.
More Brown Hare shots.
Red-legged partridge.
The Brown Hare.
Brown Hares are said to have been introduced into the UK in Roman times, they are now considered naturalised. They are found on open farmland, in grassland habitats and at woodland edges. They graze on vegetation and the bark of young trees and bushes. Brown hares do not dig burrows, but shelter in ‘forms’, which are shallow depressions in the ground or grass. When disturbed, they can be seen running across open land reaching the speed of 45mph – they are Britain’s fastest wild mammal. Brown hares are most visible in early spring when the breeding season encourages fighting or ‘boxing’. Females can produce three to four litters of two to four leverets {young} a year.
Today a visit to some open farmland on the edge of the South Downs National Park gave us some good views of this sacred and mystical animal. In folk law, they were believed to have connections to the “otherworld.” They were treated with great respect and never eaten.
Speeding off!
A very short film.
Passing through.
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.
Canada goose.
Canada goose wash and brush up.
Crab fishing.
Wordless Wednesday.
Water off a ducks back.
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.
Catch of the day.
Easter walk.
Easter Saturday walk from Gosport Life Boat Station to Gilkicker point past fort Gilkicker.
The lifeboat of the Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service is independent from RNLI. The lifeboat was being launched for an exercise as we arrived at the carpark.
Fort Gilkicker is a one of the historic Palmerston forts around Portsmouth Harbour. Gilkicker was started around 1853. Built at the eastern end of Stokes Bay, Gosport, Hampshire England to dominate the key anchorage of Spithead.
Some birdlife from Gilkicker Point.
Greenfinch.
Dartford Warbler.
Vocal Oystercatcher.
Continued Reflections from my World. 