Heron again.

If you have seen enough Heron pictures go no further. This Heron speared a large fish and took it to the edge of the reeds shook it around to get it head first before eating it.

Titchfield Haven

Anyone who regularly looks at my blogs will have noticed that I spend a lot of time around Titchfield Haven in Hampshire overlooking the Solent. There are three clear habitats Wetlands, beach and sea.

Until the late 16^th century the river Meon was navigable as far Titchfield, which was a significant port. Silting up of the waterway restricted passage of ships. A small canal was constructed and opened in 1611.At the time the Titchfield Canal was only the second canal existing in Britain.

The canal also suffered from silting and the sea trade moved to nearby Southampton and Portsmouth. As part of the construction of the canal, the outfall of the River Meon to the sea was dammed, creating the wetlands in the floodplain of the river that now forms the nature reserve. The river today flows into the Solent near Hill Head where there is a small harbour.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g1902828-d3207830-r515890537-Titchfield_Haven_National_Nature_Reserve-Titchfield_Fareham_

Todays highlight watching a Kestrel.

Risk Assesment

I do not think I would fly in this. I am sure it is safe but looked like a flying smart car.

Sailing

Some times the view seems to stand still, some times it appears to go back in time. Sailing up the Solent 1912 style.

Birds on the shore

Misty and damp at Titchfield Haven, the tide was in and it was one of those odd quiet moody mornings when all is still.

Mr Heron fishing

Young Great Crested Grebe fishing

Turnstone pottering and sleeping

 

Nature around the house

Wild life in the home. Rather large sider in the bath this morning even with the poor lighting was able to capture on film (well SD card)

 

Flock

Starlings in flight

Ashlett Creek

A little backwater hamlet on Southampton Water Ashlett is sandwiched between the Fawley power station and the refinery buildings, it is dominated by the 19th century tidal mill (Grade II), and the hard provided a launching for small craft. Salt production was important in the area from Saxon times until the 19th century when corn milling became Ashlett’s main industry. The creek today is a mooring for small pleasure craft.

Colours of the seaside

A very British tradition Beach Huts Calsholt Hampshire.

Luttrell’s Tower.

Above the beach near Calshot is Luttrell’s Tower. Built in about 1780, Luttrell’s Tower. it is possibly the only surviving work of Thomas Sandby, who was the first Professor of Architecture at the Royal Academy. Today the building is managed by the Land Mark Trust and is a holiday house.