birdwatching

Turnstones on the shore.

/ Andy Finnegan / 1 Comment

These little waders like rocky shores as well as sandy and muddy coastal beaches. Here on Meon Shore, they feed between the rocks they look in the seaweed, and will feed by picking up food from under stones. They eat small insects, crustaceans and molluscs. These birds are known as just Turnstones here and in Europe but worldwide they are known as Ruddy Turnstones.

Runway walk.

/ Andy Finnegan / Leave a comment

RAF Beaulieu was also known as USAAF Station AAF 408. It is located near the village of East Boldre, and about 2 miles west of the village of Beaulieu. The area had early links with flying. During the First World War, a Royal Flying Corps training airfield, RFC Beaulieu, at East Boldre was established this was closed in 1919. The World War 2 RAF Beaulieu was built on the opposite side of the road to the aerodrome it opened in 1942. During the war, it was used as a bomber and fighter airfield. After the war, it was used for experimental work before it was closed in 1959.

The area around the airfield is heath and made a good circular and flat walk this morning. Some areas of the runways remain but much has been removed.

Lots of Fungi were starting to show.

Kestrel. We later watched this bird catch a snake and fly off with it.

Ibis.

/ Andy Finnegan / 3 Comments

Finally able to get some fairly close pictures of a Glossy Ibis in Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve.

These birds breed in parts of Southern and Southeast Europe and are only occasional visitors here. In recent years sightings here have become more common. This year I have seen up to 4 birds at one time in a couple of locations on the Hampshire coast.

Statistics

Length: 55-65cm
Wingspan: 88-105cm
Weight: 630g

Views from the bridge.

/ Andy Finnegan / 2 Comments

The bridge over the entrance of the River Meon where it enters into the Solent via Tichfield Harbour is always a good place to spot some birds. Today with the high winds. there were a number of birds sheltering out from the wind below the bridge.

Our first view over the bridge gave us a view of 2 Little Egrets and a Grey Heron.

Later on, there was a Cormorant perching on the branch where the Egret was earlier.

On the other side of the bridge in the harbour was a Little Grebe.

Out of luck.

/ Andy Finnegan / 4 Comments

I went for a walk in the New Forest this morning to look for some fungi but there were very few about I think that even though it is prohibited in the National Park that they had been “collected” – It has become an issue in recent years as commercial quantities are being taken and sold on.

However, not all was lost as I enjoyed watching this Nuthatch.

Length: 14 cm Wingspan: 22.5-27 cm Weight: 20-25 g UK breeding: 220.000. {facts from RSPB}