Merry Christmas and happy winter holidays everyone, I hope that despite the major weather events of the past week, you've still had a great time with those closest to you. As you couldn't have failed to miss, we've just come through the fifth serious atlantic windstorm of the winter so far. Luckily, for the most part, the damage to the reserves in Langstone harbour has simply been a series of signs being blown away. The shingle that was placed on South Binness island earlier in the year has held up very well to the storms so far. I'll be heading out to the islands early in the new year to assess just how much erosion has occurred and if any lessons can be learned from this before our major works begin in 2014. In contrast, at the Oysterbeds on west Hayling, around half of the shingle that was bought in this year has been moved significantly. Rather than working against the tide here, the 2014 works will aim to work with it to form seabird nesting habitat (expect more on this in the new year).
The most noticeable effects of the recent storms in the harbour though has been the depositing of motorboats and yachts along the nature reserves shoreline. The Christmas Eve storm was particularly bad from this perspective due to the wind direction. As gale force winds hit the coast from the south, the channel waters surged through the harbour mouth sweeping away several boats from their moorings. This isn't an unknown event, but to have three boats deposited in one night is rare and gives a good impression of just how violent the recent storms were.
The Calm after the storm. A washed up motorboat at the West Hayling Local Nature Reserve.
A Yacht grounded at the West Hayling Oysterbeds.
Aground: the channel created in the mud and shingle as it came ashore.
There are plenty of signs to go back up before the next breeding season.