The northern shoveler, known in Britain as the Shoveler. The UK has around 1,100 breeding pairs of this duck but wintering numbers increase to nearly 20,000 birds. Last week there were a few birds in Titchfield Haven nature reserve today the numbers have increased – I counted at least 30 birds.
In recent weeks, small groups of Wigeon have arrived here on the south coast. They are medium-sized ducks that appear quite plump. The head and neck of the male are chestnut, with a yellow forehead, pink breasts and a grey body. In flight, birds show white bellies and males have a large white wing patch.
Wigeons breed in the north in central and northern Scotland and some in northern England. Their numbers increase in the UK in winter as birds from Iceland, Scandinavia and Russia arrive. The number of wintering birds increases to some 450,000 birds from the small breeding numbers of only 200 pairs.
The birds on the Hamble were quite comical talking to each other with quiet whistles and giving each other some odd looks!
A mornings walk down the Hamble River from Bursledon to Warash – bird watching as the tide slowly comes in.
Little Egrets. There were at least 8 different birds on different bits of the river.
The curlew is the largest European wading bird. There were around 10 birds on the mudflats at the edge of the incoming tide catching small crabs at Lepe Beach on the edge of the New Forest. They also feed on worms, shellfish and shrimps. The UK breeding population is around 58,500 pairs and the wintering population increases to some 125,000 birds.
UK conservation status: Red.
Some views of a Grey Heron.
I thought this photograph gives a good chance to see the size of the Grey Heron with a Little Egret.
The Little Egret is a small, white heron. They feed on small fish and crustaceans. Once a very rare visitor from the Mediterranean but today they are a common bird in the UK. I often see more Little egrets than Grey Herons on a trip out.
The numbers of Snipe have started to increase as we approach winter. In winter, birds from northern Europe join our resident birds. The RSPB states there are around 80,000 breeding pairs of these birds in the UK this numbers increase to over 1 million birds.
Pied wagtail
UK breeding: 470,000 pairs
Grey Wagtail.
UK breeding: 38,000 pairs
Nuthatch feeding post in the New Forest.
It is worth watching the film with the sound on.
Continued Reflections from my World. 