













The Common Raven (Corvus corax) is a large all-black bird. It is massive – the biggest member of the crow family. This lone bird was using a dead tree as an observation post so hence I could not get very close across the open heathland.
These pictures are cropped in so much more grainy than I would have liked. Spotted New Forest.




Nice to see a Spoonbill at Titchfield Haven this morning perhaps one from the group of 12 I saw at Pennington Marshes a few weeks ago blown of course in last night’s storm.



A Magpie hiding acorns for harder times.




Frozen pond in the New Forest.










Wordless Wednesday.










Well, we did not go far today a couple of hours into the City. Not for the shops but for a walk around one of Southampton Parks.
Berlin Express leaving the container port. Wishing her a safe trouble free trip. This German-flagged containership is heading for Algeciras in Spain.


Some views of Southampton Water from Mayflower Park.



City Birdlife.







I always find on a winter morning when the sun is out it is good to watch small birds today was again good for Long-tailed Tits. Also, a few Duncocks were about and a well-puffed-up Blue Tit obviously feeling the cold!














There are many variations of the Magpie rhyme, but one of the most common versions is the version that I know :-
One for Sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver,
Six for gold,
Seven for a secret never to be told.
Eight for a wish,
Nine for a kiss,
Ten a surprise you should be careful not to miss.
Eleven for health,
Twelve for wealth,
Thirteen beware it’s the devil himself.




