Birds, estuaries & industry

The second backblip.

I know that not everyone will agree with me, but these sort of estuarine locations where ports, industry, people and wildlife come together do have a strange kind of beauty. Here we see the Test estuary downstream from the Princes Charles container port (which today was empty, two days later there were 3 large container ships). The channel markers point the way off the main channel to the small harbour of Eling. On the opposite shore is the coastal frontage of part of Southampton. Someone may know what is in the dome-shaped building, I would be interested to know. The cluster of birds on the shoreline are wigeon, our very own whistling ducks, which were very vocal. The smaller group, out of focus, are redshanks.

This was taken just after the briefest of brief appearances by the sun as it rose in the south-east. It was a frosty, slippery morning, and I didn't want to risk driving Dad's car out to Eling, so I walked it, not leaving enough time to get in position for the sunrise.

Otherwise we had a quiet day, going out for a pub lunch in Dad's favourite country pub, the Compasses at Cadnam. After that, well, I have to admit we watched the final of Strictly Coming Dancing.