I took a lot of photos at Mudeford Quay when we were there with our Dutch friends. It's an amazing place to visit on a lovely day - watching children 'crabbing' at the water's edge, anglers fishing and yachts and cruisers pass through the entrance to Christchurch Harbour.
A ferry leaves the Quay to take passengers across the narrow and dangerous channel to the 'spit' of Hengistbury Head where the nature reserve has similar wildlife to Stanpit (see below). Hengistbury Head, Stanpit and the waters of Christchurch Harbour abound with wildlife.
The noise made by some of the 'residents' at Mudeford is quite considerable - Great Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls wailing and a horde of Starlings screeching (sorry 'singing' ) from their perches on top of the Crab and Lobster pots!
It was only after I'd downloaded my photos that I saw something amongst the foam in one pic - a Common Dolphin rising from the waves! I sent my photo to someone in CHOG (Christchurch Harbour Ornithological Society) as some of their members were around that day, to be told that there was a group in the water at that point for most of the weekend, and that they are regularly seen at Mudeford!
- Just thought I'd let you know! (Hope, despite having to minimise the photo for the site, you can see the Dolphin in those last three pics - the second and third were cropped from the original.)
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