22nd November - Hill Head to Chilling, Hampshire

Helen wanted to get away from Four Marks so we decided on a walk from Hill Head along the beach, the tide would be low for most of the daylight hours so it was the perfect day to do this.  We set off early ass we were expecting the crowds to build up.  On arriving at the sea wall I took the first available parking place, looking out across the Solent the sea was calm and the clouds very atmospheric.  There was sun breaking through which added to the mystery surrounding the scene.  It was at this point I decided that this would be a good day to use black and white to increase the scene.  

Mid Solent there was a raft of ducks, closer inspection revealed them to be Eider, and even at the distance I could hear their "oooh ah" calls.

We walked up to the harbour bridge in hope of surprising a Kingfisher, but there were too many people about.  There was though a Little Grebe diving in the still water, surfacing with a slight ripple that spread out across the surface of the water.

Walking along sea wall as we made our way to the beach a Cormorant was diving close to the beach.

It came quite close.

Dropping down on to the beach the dogs were scattering the waders at the edge of the water, all that were left were a group of Oystercatchers.

A little further along there were groups of Brent Geese, but these too were nervous as the people and dogs came close, it the end the necks raised and then almost all together they took off.

A Little Egret hunted on the edge of the shoreline and as we walked we pushed it away from us but eventually it didn't want to keep moving up the shore and it turned and flew past me giving me the opportunity to capture the elegance both in flight and plumage as it passed us.

The sea would constantly change, sometimes dead calm and a monochromatic grey, then next a little rippled which would add a silvery effect and then a mixture of both with definite breaks in the patterns on the surface.

Here a Cormorant flies low across the silver dappled water with the darkness of the Isle of Wight in the background.

While here the Little Egret makes its way out into the Solent over rippled grey and silver water.

Oystercatcher were scattered by more dog walkers along the shore and they flew overhead announcing their presence with the loud piping calls.  Their black and white plumage standing out against the white overcast sky.

The clouds were very moody out over the Solent and around the Isle of Wight, at one point it looked like it might rain, but we stayed dry.

We reached the point on the beach where Solent Breezes Holiday park occupies the top of the cliffs.  Just before there is a gully that allows you to climb to the top of the cliff.  From here we made our way back along the cliff top footpath.  Before we left this dead tree trunk looked impressive with the silver water behind it.

The highlight along the cliff top was a Kestrel being chased by a group of crows, it finally managed to get away.  Back at the sea wall the number of people had increased even more, with people sitting on the beach and queuing for coffee and food.  A yacht out on the Solent caught my eye, again the silver grey of the water and the background of the Isle of Wight providing the perfect scene.

A lovely walk in some really atmospheric conditions, hopefully the black and white photographs have gone some way to capturing it.