Hoot of the Coot.
birdwatching
Hiding in the reeds.
I quote the RSPB website “the water rail is a fairly common but highly secretive inhabitant of freshwater wetlands.” Look hard at my 1st picture; this is often the best view of this rail you get!
This afternoon I was lucky that the bird at Titchfield Haven broke cover and ran for the next clump of Reeds.
A colourful sky.
A flock of Shelduck brighten up the sky on the River Hamble.
Ice Heron.
Wordless Wednesday.
The slip in slow motion.
Winter Gulls.
Gulls are all in winter non-breeding colours at this time of year.
Common Gull.
The Common gull looks like a small, version of the herring gull I do not see them in great numbers in my local area however the odd ones I do see are always close or within flocks of Black-headed gulls
Black-headed gulls.
These noisy small gulls are the most abundant gull in my local area. They are always on the lookout for an easy meal. Humans are an easy touch for a meal.
City birdwatch.
More Southampton city centre Ring-necked parakeets.
Walking on thin ice.
With current low temperatures, all the lagoons at Tichfield Haven have frozen over. No snow but everywhere was just very cold.
A lone Canada Goose walks the line!
Island “I” is underwater today.
The Oystercatchers are resting where another island should be.
This Heron is using the small stream to look for fish due to the lack of open water because of the ice.
Chiffchaff on Bullrush.
Making a splash.
Sanderlings on the beach on Southampton Water. One of my favourite small waders and were in an area where I have only seen the odd bird in the past. Sanderlings were feeding as the tide went out and making a splash this morning.
Hamble Point Oystercatchers.
Some Oystercatchers on the beach at Hamble Point on Southampton Water. This film is worth watching with the sound on as it shows the birds antics off to their best.
A ringed Oystercatcher. – details reported.
Footnote. This bird was first ringed in 2007.
| FP45535 | N | O+R//RW | 31 Dec 2007 | Hamble Point, River Hamble, Warsash, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England |
| FP45535 | S | O+R//RW | 13 Oct 2008 | Hook-with-Warsash LNR, Fareham, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England |
| FP45535 | S | O+R//RW | 27 Oct 2008 | Hook-with-Warsash LNR, Fareham, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England |
| FP45535 | S | O+R//RW | 2 Jan 2009 | Hamble Point, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England |
| FP45535 | S | O+R//RW | 17 Sep 2010 | Hook Spit, River Hamble, Warsash, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England |
| FP45535 | S | O+R//RW | 28-Mar-12 | Hamble Point, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England |
| FP45535 | S | O+R//RW | 15 Apr 2012 | Hamble Common Foreshore, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England |
| FP45535 | S | O+R//RW | 4 Jan 2013 | River Hamble, Warsash, Fareham, Hampshire, S England |
| FP45535 | S | O+R//RW | 24 Aug 2014 | Chilling, Warsash, Hampshire, S England |
| FP45535 | S | O+R//RW | 9 Feb 2018 | Hamble Point, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England |
| FP45535 | S | O+R//RW | 14 Feb 2019 | Hamble Point, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England |
| FP45535 | S | O+R//RW | 21-Jan-20 | Hamble Point, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England |
| FP45535 | S | O+R//RW | 22-Jan-21 | Hook Spit, River Hamble, Warsash, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England |
| FP45535 | S | O+R//RW | 17-Jan-23 | Hamble Point, Southampton Water, Hampshire, S England |
Grebe.
Great Crested Grebe in toned down non-breading Winter plumage.
Then it was gone! Great Crested Grebes dive to feed and also to escape, preferring this to flying. On land, they are clumsy because their feet are placed so far back on their bodies.
Continued Reflections from my World. 