Had another brief walk around Hook this evening. The wind had dropped compared to the last few days but as time progressed it seemed to get gloomier and gloomier. The highlight of the walk was three Whinchat in the Beam Cottage fields along with a single Wheatear and a few Stonechats. Along the front it was all Wheatear with around half a dozen birds seen along the links.

Whinchat, Hook with Warsash, 18 Sep 2009

Wheatear, Hook with Warsash, 18 Sep 2009

Southampton Water was very busy tonight. Unfortunately not with the Razorbill but with liners. Friday must be the key sailing night. I saw two of the P and O liners leave, one of which was the Artemis. They were followed out by the Queen Victoria and she in turn was followed out by the Saga Ruby. As she sailed out the Waverley; the last sea going paddle steamship headed in. Which would you choose…………….I’d go for all them ‘Glamorous Grannies’.  To cap it all I had a Billy Connolly look-alike   paddling out of the Hamble on a surfboard. All quite amusing. Why so much on Ships you ask. My workmate, Mick is a real ship fanatic so this should keep him sweet when I next need time off.

Queen Victoria, appearing out of the murk

Saga Ruby.......................Hello Ladies.

The Waverley, a stokers dream. Fawley Refinery providing a slendid backdrop.

Here's Billy

Off into the sunset.

Steve Copsey