In steady, heavy, rain this morning Jackie drove us to New Milton to collect my cleaning; to Ferndene Farm Shop for three bags of compost; and to Milford on Sea Pharmacy for a repeat prescription.
Now we were out, where could we visit next for a photoshoot but to Keyhaven in search of waterfowl?
Watched by a raindrop coated black-headed gull;
rapidly turning and darting, lifting heavily paddled feet in its stride, an egret was fishing for breakfast in the harbour.
Alongside the reed beds across the road a cormorant (?) would occasionally disappear beneath the surface, darting for its own sustenance.
Raindrops also glistened from mallards’ waterproofs.
Saltgrass Lane takes us from the harbour area to the salt flats beside Hurst spit. There is no speed limit on this road which is too narrow to permit parking at any time.
This is not a lane in which you would wish to meet an oncoming vehicle, such as this one which reversed some distance before reaching a passing space.
Active gulls and swans flapped, stretched, and flew across the flats;
another egret enjoyed successful fishing.
Fortunately, unusually, it was not raining in Manchester. I was therefore able to listen to the men’s Cricket World Cup match between England and Afghanistan at Old Trafford.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s Cumberland and caramelised onion sausages braised in red wine; creamy mashed medley of potato, swede and butternut squash; crunchy broccoli and cauliflower; and tender runner beans. I finished the Galodoro while the Culinary Queen drank Blue Moon.
Waterfowl are in their element, but cars on a narrow road in this kind of weather – quite dangerous, Derrick.
True, Dolly. Many thanks
Very welcome, Derrick
Egrets are common here, yet I’d never seen one before we moved to Florida. They’re among my favorites. And honestly, if Jackie ever wants to move in with me and take on the cooking duties, she is welcome to come. I’ll let her have the big bedroom with the walk in shower.
I’m chuckling away here. I’ll let her know 🙂 Thanks very much, Leslie
OOOO sounds wonderful, if Big D ever throws me out I will give you a shout!
You’d be welcome here! Of course So would Big D.
Phew 🙂
Oh so beautiful
I love birds, ducks, swan and geese. They are very fascinating beautiful creatures.
Thank you very much, Cinnamon
You’re welcome
I love the black and white photos and then the red feet! Eek…that lane is a little frightening, Derrick.
Many thanks, Jill. I wondered what you’d think of that one 🙂
another win.. Yay!
I am sorry I have been away again, Derrick and Jackie. I am pleased to see your world looks just as lush, green and full of life as when I last visited. I love your egret photo series!
Rain is becoming scare here now, although we are having quite reasonable temperatures this week with intermittent cloud cover.
Many thanks, Lavinia. I hope you get the rain you need – and not too much
Goodness, my sky is bluer than yours! Gorgeous shots of the bird life though. I still shudder at the memory of those lanes !
They are a bit scary – built for horse and carts. Thanks very much, Pauline.
What a nice collection of birds to see in one day. And goodness, another fabulous dinner!
Thanks very much, Lisa. We’ll have several more meals from that dish
Great weather for ducks…and other waterfowl.
Indeed. Thanks very much, Tootlepedal
Love the waterfowl photos! You make a rainy day into a gift. And Jackie’s Cumberland and caramelised onion sausages braised in red wine sounds amazing! Hugs to the Culinary Queen!
Very many thanks, Jan. A gift it was
So many birds! Wonderful! The gull is especially handsome.
Thanks very much, Laurie. It wasn’t until I bigified it that I saw the raindrops
The car makers should take inspiration from those waterproofed, winged creatures and equip the vehicles with suitable limbs for negotiating the narrowest of lanes. The birds look good, and so does the car (I have a weakness for shiny red ones!).
My first car was a red Hillman Imp. Thanks very much, Uma
Must be summer then in England, great, prizewinning photo’s of rain,
Thanks very much, Brian. Yep – all set to wash out Wimbledon
It might have been a foul weather day for some human-beans, but the waterfowl ARE in their element! Beautiful photos, Derrick!!! 🙂 I love watching all of those water birds! 🙂
Wow, that road is narrow! 😮
Your meals sounds delicious! My hat’s off to Chef Jackie!!! 😉
HUGS!!! 🙂
Very many thanks, Carolyn X
Your photographs drew me in I felt I was there with you on that tour. I had to smile at the narrow lane, we too have plenty of those but I wonder what prompted the council to paint the double yellows on that one, who in their right mind would even attempt to block the lane by parking there?
I’m glad it stayed fine in Manchester for the cricket, we also had a lovely sunny day here in Yorkshire, the first in quite a while. Today though, we are back to the rain once more! ☔️
Thanks very much, Sue. I suspect someone has actually parked there. Apparently the no speed limit signs are only changed if someone is killed on the road.
On a main road close by, the limit on one small section was changed to thirty following the death of a young girl.
My own lane is very narrow and bendy in places, the no limit was ridiculous it was take your life in your hands every time we attempted to go out, (no deaths) but after a campaign by residents and supported by the Parish Council it was eventually changed to thirty. It slows down some traffic but many using it as a shortcut still speed around the bends!
Lovely shots of the Egrets, and well done on catching the catcher catching his dinner, although i dare say he would be envious of yours – as am I! 🙂 The second one looks so very elegant with his fine head plumes and breeding feathers on full display.
Yup – definitely cormorants, possibly a ‘little black’? If the cormorants ‘dart’ for their dinner to darters ‘cormorant’ for theirs, I wonder?? 😉
Hopefully Summer will soon exert itself a little more and give you better weather and warmer conditions, preferably in time for Australia to do well in the final! 🙂
Liked your darter/cormorant wordplay, Bob. Australia are having a good run so far. Thanks very much.
The black and white photos are stunning, but then as I scrolled on, I also thought the color ones were wonderful, too–I like the swan stretching its neck and the big egret photo.
I laughed at the comments above about having Jackie move in to cook. I’ll pass on the sausages, but I’d happily eat the side dishes, along with your wine, Derrick. (Though not just now because I’m about to have breakfast.) 🙂
The rain and the feeding birds makes it look quite serene.
Thanks a lot, GP
Water birds always look perfectly at home in rainy conditions, and your photos capture them well. Most of our one-lane traffic is due to road construction. Your country lane is far more enticing, even if a little backing up is required from time to time.
Many thanks, Linda. There’s always a surprise around the corner.
I admire your ability to identify these large birds.. I know about mallards, and seagulls, that’s it! Your country does a good job protecting wildlife, I believe.
I’m learning, Diane. Until we moved here I couldn’t name much more than sparrows, swan, and gulls.
The birds all look totally happy to me, despite all that wet rain coming down. I think we humans are the only ones who ever complain about free water. We’re such an odd specie…
🙂
Those egrets let you come so close, Derrick. Amazing shots. Our egrets are very shy birds. I don’t have a single picture of an egret.
The Sigma 600mm lens helps, Inese. Thank you very much
Ah! 600mm sounds very impressive.
cindyknoke.com an excellent photographer, put me onto it
I love egrets. There were some in Nova Scotia, as well as other fine birds.
Thanks very much, Micheline