Tuesday 25 November 2014

Forest - System of a Down

To continue the journey into deepest, darkest Hampshire from Blashford lakes we set course for the
in the first hope of a Woodlark or two, but there were none to be found.
As 'second best' Redwing and Fieldfare were numerous as were
NEW FOREST PONIES
Passing the beautifully constructed and ideally placed
ROYAL OAK
at
there were, as is usual here, a number of
DONKEYS
The first stop was at
again in the hope of the 'SPECIALTY' here which are rarely absent
but can be missed.
A 10 minute scan with the binoculars brought no joy except what
for me were new residents here
c5 MUSCOVY DUCKS
(memories of South America)
On the tree covered island some distance away there was a hint of
the objects of our desire
so with a little barley scattered for the other Wildfowl
this induced the only pair of
MANDARIN
here today
to break cover.
Whether they had just paddled over to see what all the excitement
was about or not remains a mystery, but even though they closed to
Point Blank Range
neither the Male
nor the
Female touched any of the offered corn.
A great result, as these beauties are always worth seeing, but on the
down side not one single Tit was seen there during a 30 minute stay!
Is this a 'record'?
Continuing east the
SPINNAKER
sited on the Portsmouth Harbour Waterside
opened to view from a position at the
Gosport Ferry Terminal
on the opposite side of the harbour.
The final destination was
WALPOLE PARK, GOSPORT
to visit an American friend that has return to this very small watercourse
for who knows how many years now.
Leaving the car, was it to be the 'first' bird seen?
No, we ain't falling for that old trick, the confusion species being
COMMON GULL
However, the next to hit the lens looked far more credible and
noting the 'yellow iris', among other distinguishing feature,
we were now certainly looking at the
RING-BILLED GULL
Apart from my own 'Love of ALL Gulls' this is a fine specimen from
The Americas
which I have seen there many, many time but
appearances in Great Britain seem to be getting less and less?
Always most obliging, it was now time to take a look around to
see if anything else of interest was on hand.
Another extremely familiar 'face' in the distance the
Submarine Service Escape (Training) Tower
once part of the now defunct HMS Dolphin.
I qualified here back in the 60's when the requirement was to undertake 3 simulated escapes from 30 feet (free ascent), 2 (free ascents) from 40 feet followed by 1 (free) and 1 (suited) assents from 100 feet. Not quiet a scary as you might think travelling through 100 feet of water as everything followed strict control, quiet exhilarating in fact.
The only other Gulls on offer were
BLACK-HEADED GULL
and precious few of them
juvenile and adult
HERRING GULL
so time to break out the Warburtons
A few slices broken up and scattered about had not only the
Ring-billed Gull
take to the wing
but all others around it.
Despite the disparaging but lighthearted comments above I do
very much enjoy a 'jolly' into Hampshire now and again, the next
will have to include a visit to my dear 'wingers' Paul and Tess.
Take that as an Early Warning you two!
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