Cool Mallards
birdwatching
From above!
On the Solent, we have some large clams about the size of a clenched fist. They were introduced from North America where it is known as a Quahog clam into British waters several times since the middle of the nineteenth century. The first live specimen was found in 1864 in the Humber. It was successfully introduced from the USA into Southampton Water in 1925. These are long-lived species a clam dredged from Icelandic waters had lived for 400 years. Is this the longest-lived animal known to science.
An example of a clam from Southampton Water from a past blog to give an overview of their size.
It was about 10 years ago I first spotted Herring Gulls collecting bivalves such as cockles or mussels on the beach taking them to a height of about 30 feet into the air and dropping them, smashing open the shell to eat the prize inside.
Yesterday I watched a Herring Gull pull a Quahog clam from the beach and drop it to smash it. I think this could have been fatal if it had landed on someone’s head!
“Gull finds its clam”.
Once found it is time to pull it free of the beach.
Once it is extracted a second gull takes an interest in it – not wanting to give up his prize a scrap ensues.
Scrap over now it is time to get the clam into the air.
Once airborne the gull gains height and drops his “bomb”.
Smile you are on camera!
The Canada Geese goslings have grown up so much over the last few weeks. Three families despite the odds have raised all their little ones into “teenagers”.
I placed my small action camera {Olympus Tough} on a stool and let it capture the geese coming over for a feed. Video and stills from the film. Some of these portraits have got to make you smile.
Time on the shore.
A few hours bird watching on Meon Shore.
Groups of Turnstones – feeding – washing – and chilling at the edge of the sea.
Off shore.
A Common Tern fishing off the beach on the Solent. The meal of the day is small flat fish.
Reflections.
#Wordless Wednesday.
Swan.
Male Stonechat.
Male Stonechat on New Forest Gorse.
Summer Godwits.
The Black-tailed Godwit is a large, long-legged, long-billed shorebird. ( it is one of Europe’s larger wading birds). A number of these remain in the UK all year rather than migrate to their breeding grounds in Iceland. We are lucky to have a number of these birds all year round in Titchfield Haven
Sunbathing.
I spotted this male Blackbird sunbathing today. I had my camera in the van so was able to get a photograph. As a part of routine feather maintenance, the bird adopts a posture in which the body feathers are fluffed up the wings are held out from the body, with feathers spread.
It is thought that for the bird using the sun does two things – It helps preen oil to spread across the feathers and drives parasites out from their plumage.
Continued Reflections from my World. 