#Tichfield Haven Nature Reserve

Dragon Hunting.

/ Andy Finnegan / 5 Comments

Interesting watching a Little Egret catching dragonflies at Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve. A large dragonfly is more of a small fish. Something I have not observed before – I was able to capture some of the hunting on video which I filmed in slow motion.

Avocet action.

/ Andy Finnegan / 3 Comments

Avocets the action continues.

The parent Avocets (male and female) keep a close eye on their chicks – get too close and there is “trouble”. Yesterday’s post was about the clashes where Avocets getting too close. Today’s pictures were also taken yesterday show a juvenile black-headed gull overstepping the line!

Changing fortunes.

/ Andy Finnegan / 7 Comments

Bird flu (avian influenza) has devastated the Black-headed gull colony at Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve this year. My estimate is gull numbers are reduced by some 75%. The Common Terns failed to arrive in any numbers. Larger Gull – such as Herring Gulls, Great and Lesser Black-backed Gulls number are fewer. So this has given Avocets space to build their nests and without predators, the Avocet chicks get a head start.

A pair of Avocets mate.

Siege.

/ Andy Finnegan / 4 Comments

I try and get out in the environment not only is it physical exercise it is mental exercise. I always take a camera with me I never know what I will see on my trips out. A couple of times a week I go to the coast on Southampton Water. There were 3 Grey Heron fishing together at the Haven this morning. The 1st 5 pictures are of an adult bird the other pictures show young immature birds probably born last year.

The collective noun for Herons is a ‘siege‘,

Heron eat, lots of fish and eels, but also small birds such as ducklings, small mammals like voles and amphibians.