Spotting a few House Martins in the New Forest today was nice. They spend a lot of their time on the wing collecting insects. These little birds build mud nests usually below the eaves of buildings like these I spotted today. They are summer migrants and spend their winters in Africa. Although numerous and widespread, recent declines in numbers earn them a place on the Red List.
A late brood. Mallard Ducklings.
Black Swans were first brought to the UK in 1791 from Australia they became popular in zoos and private collections. Some birds escaped into the wild and have bred successfully, though the population remains small. For years there have been small numbers on the River Itchen at St Deny’s Southampton. They are an easy spot between Cobdon Bridge and Wood Mill from Riverside Park.
A hours quite walk with nature.
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.
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.
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).
We went looking for deer in the New Forest today but were not very lucky only distant Fallow Deer. However, on a small pond, several dragonflies were buzzing overhead.
A female Stonechat.
Bee Hives are out in the Forest – As the Heather comes into flower Bee Hives are placed to take advantage of these nectar-rich flowers.
A lone Fallow Deer.
A juvenile Common Tern on Meon Beach.
Continued Reflections from my World. 