Hengistbury Head
Yesterday saw a visit to Hengistbury Head on a lovely sunny winter day, a delightful change to the gales & heavy rain that have been the norm this winter. There was not a great deal close by on the pleasant stroll up to the end of the spit looking across to Mudeford quay, with the tide in and a lot of people around.
On arrival at the spit I found there to be a lot of Black-headed gulls (Larus ridibundus), whose main activity was to jump around catching flies. Although I did not get a shot of one catching a fly I did get this one jumping into the air.
I then spotted this cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) in the channel between the spit and the quay as the tide started to flow out. The reflections from the quay along with the sun back lighting added some extra colour to the surrounding water.
Next a Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) arrived with a fish that appeared to have been gutted.
which it swallowed whole
The two other visitors, whilst sitting on the boulders, were a Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
and a Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) wading along the shoreline.
For the walk back to the car park we decided to go along the beach around the Head, and in doing so came across some different bird species.
Firstly, this Carrion crow (Corvus corone), a bird I don’t normally seek to photo. The lighting & surroundings seemed to work well.
Then a female House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) who was in group looking to roost for the evening as the sun started to set.
The last group of birds were a mixture of Ringed Plovers (Charadrius hiaticula) & Dunlin (Calidris alpina).
who I also managed to catch in flight.
Once past the Head the walk along the beach provided for a great view of the sun set.
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