After storm 3!

/ Andy Finnegan / 4 Comments

Another stormy night as the 3rd storm lashes the UK in as many days. Many trees are down on local roads and places closed. Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve remains closed since the end of last week as authorities need to check the trees are safe.

The Red Funnel Isle of Wight ferry was having a choppy crossing this morning. Some services were cancelled over the weekend.

A workforce was out repairing the seawall at Titchfield Harbour.

On the shore, Sanderlings were feeding at the water’s edge and out of the wind. Sitting down on the beach using one of the groynes as a windbreak I was able to take some pictures as the feed today clams seem to be on the menu.

The ringed bird is a regular bird that I see on Meon Shore.

Storms.

/ Andy Finnegan / 7 Comments
The morning before we were due to be hit by Storm Dudley and Eunice. A red weather warning of 90mph winds in some parts has been forecast.

After a very windy night this morning (Saturday 19/02/22) it was time to come out from our cover following the passing of Storm Eunice through the south of the UK.

We did not come out unscathed a brick gate post had been forced over and a fence had broken off!

News reports are giving reports of many trees down with buildings and cars damaged. Early reports are saying 3 or 4 people have been killed.

With high tides and the wind still strong the seas remain rough.

A short trip to collect some trail cameras left in local woodland the cameras were safe despite the destruction in the woods.

Although it was late morning we spotted a Badger out in daylight – he was running across the field towards us he had not seen us until he was very close, once spotted he changed direction. I nearly did not bring a telephoto lens out with me today but I have been caught out before! This encounter brightened up the day.

Red.

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A flash of a red bill or a flash of white stripes on the flank. A Moorhen is on the move.

Moorhens are a common wetland bird in the UK found on rivers canals ponds lakes and near wet ditches.

Getting to know you.

/ Andy Finnegan / 3 Comments

Black-headed gulls have started to pair up – and hence the “noise” has returned To Titchfield Haven. The screech of their call extends all around the reserve and will dominate until nesting season ends at the end of the summer.

Some of the birds are starting to get the breeding colours – their heads are changing to dark brown -which at a quick glance appears black and where these birds get their name from.

The bird below with yellow bill and legs almost caught me out as to what it was but it is a Black-headed gull in first winter colours so probably one of the chicks from last year returning to its nest site.

Purple Haze!

/ Andy Finnegan / 7 Comments

Further views of Ring-necked Parakeet in a Southampton City park.

The urban myth claims that Jimi Hendrix released the first pair of parakeets, called Adam and Eve, as a symbol of peace when he was stoned in London’s Carnaby Street in 1968. Another rival theory maintains that the birds escaped from the UK set of The African Queen in 1951. However, birds were reported in Britain as far back as 1855 when one was seen in Norfolk. 

Classed as an invasive species with a growing population especially in London the Government is considering a cull of Ring-necked Parakeets however The RSPB is not in favour of a cull at this time they believe it is important that the spread of the ring-necked parakeet is monitored and it’s potential for negative impacts on our native bird species assessed.

The birds are a pair.

Male
Female

The RSPB state the UK population is now 8,600 pairs. I had seen them in the past in London but to see them close to home was a great treat.

Ashlett Creek.

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View towards Southampton Water.

Ashlett Creek is a tidal inlet on the New Forest side of Southampton Water near Fawley. The creek is only accessible at high tide. There has been a mill on the site dating back to medieval times. The mill is a Grade II listed building that was built in 1816 and milled corn until it closed around 1910. Ashlett mill was a tidal mill – a mill driven by tidal rise and fall. The tide comes in, it enters the mill pond through a one-way gate, and this gate closes automatically when the tide begins to fall. When the tide is low enough, the stored water can be released to turn the mill wheel. Flat bottomed sailing barges were used to load and unload grain, salt and other supplies. A Victorian Quay was built in 1887 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.

The Mill.
Mill pond.

The Jolly Sailor, a 160-year-old pub is an old smuggler’s inn near the mill.

Birds in the Mill pond.