Windswept embankment

Choppy seas at Keyhaven

Reed beds with IOW background

October at Keyhaven

Doubtful of the early start and the distance - and the weather forecast - we were pleasantly surprised it did not take long to get to Keyhaven with sparse traffic conditions. Even the parking place was free. And although it was windy in unprotected areas, such as the embankments keeping the sea water from breaching the reed beds, it was relatively warm with sunny spells. We, all seven of us including ornithologist Mike enjoyed the walk which was a bit longer than usual and for some us on new territory. Birds there were a plenty with a record recording of birds numbering 51. Highlight of the day for emotional appeal was a rare aerobatics display of a pair of Merlin's working together to down a desperate kingfisher who after a frantic chase around the reed beds safely streaked away to live another day. You should have come.

Note from Mike Adams
A famous/infamous Scottish sportsman named Charles St. John who wrote in the 19th century of " the capture of a swallow by a pair of merlins. The hawks helped each other, one keeping above and the other below their prey, till at last, by some unlucky turn the swallow came into a favourable position for one of the merlins, and was immediately seized in the air and carried off." Our kingfisher did very well and earned his freedom!