Are 'Friends' Electric - Tubeway Army Part III

 A far better start to day 2 with our very own

RED KITE

directly over the house before setting off for

and the spot where my passion for Birding and all other Wildlife began. While refiting the

Ocean Salvage Tug Confiance 

in Portsmouth dockyard, a fellow shipmate disclosed that his ideals were also pointing in that direction, so off we went. Meeting the Warden later in the day he kindly took us to view a Long-eared Owl roost and also got us aquainted with Jack Snipe it was from there Game On!

Low Water
so surely the incoming tide would bring at least 'wading birds' closer to the shore strating with

CURLEW

catching a
RAGWORM

and soon joined by

a decent number of

AVOCET

while a

fair number of

LITTLE EGRET

stood sentinel in the margins

with others including

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT

along with deminishing numbers of

BRENT GEESE

bound for more northerly climbes and all overlooked by the

full size Radar Training Model of a Warship at
HMS DRYAD
high on Portsdown Hill - more tomorrow?

Are 'Friends' Electric - Tubeway Army II

 Well, seemingly due to the Cold Conditions the Wildlifing has come just about to a halt over here in HAMPSHIRE!

There were a few Moths but nothing to get excited about such as this

COMMON QUAKER

OAK BEAUTY
and

HEBREW CHARACTER
followed by a further look around the garden to the tune of a single

COAL TIT
and from where, at the start of a walk around our friend's patch, could again be seen in the distance

SPINNACKER TOWER

All else included masses of
VIOLETs

this eye catching
Country Cottage

and another passing
RED KITE

DUNNOCK
Maybe the BEST of a fairly Dull Bunch were the frisky

SUSSEX RED

(to be confirmed)

CATTLE

Evidence of the Recent

GALES
All else on this section of the wander incuded a few

SKYLARK

IDSWORTH MANOR

Even more Sussex Red's

in the manger and chewing the cud and finally here my friends

FIRST SWALLOW
Down on the coast things had become prohibitive with only a single

BLACKCAP

added to the Trip List!

Are 'Friends' Electric - Tubeway Army - Part I

 Another short break away this time to deepest Hampshire and a visit to my fellow Sea Captain friend and his lovely Lady, both mad about the Wild but not before potting a Moth on home turf. Quiet unexpected as an early show was this

BRIGHT-LINE BROWN-EYE

before prioritsing in their

garden soon after arrival - First Things First!

Something of a mini nature reserve in itself

a quick look at the
Tawny Owl
gifted to them some years ago.

Far more eye-catching indoors was the recently purchased
Ship's Bell
from the Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service Naval Armament Vessel

KINTERBURY

in which he served for many years, but we digress.....

A cold, windy and at times snowy day which took us to a number of Wildlife Reserves across the county with little,or no, luck with the less common birds. At

CHURCH NORTON

AVOCET

along with

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT

and further on

just

CURLEW

MARSH MARIGOLD
and the occassional

SHELDUCK

while arrival at

started on the wrong foot as finding this deceased

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL
a lone

REDSHANK

SHELL CRAFT
hanging from a tree,

a glimps of the
MANOR,

single male
POCHARD

and the

LAUGHING CAVALIER
The final stop across what is ostensibly the vast expance of
Portsmouth Harbour
was

where both Weather and Wildlife cotinued to disappoint.

The Winger and Wingette.

Male Wigeon

a rather scruffy
GREY HERON

with presumed 'partner' already incubating in this well known Heronry

and now also being colonised by

LITTLE EGRET
while qualifying as the best sight of the day a fine example of raural craftmanship by the

THATCHER