300th Blip

Inevitably, to celebrate 300 successive days of posting Blipfotos I had to return to where it all started . . . the picturesque Testwood Lakes at Totton.
Truth be known, I return there regularly as there is always something new to photograph, and it is a favourite place to get much needed exercise simply by walking round the perimeter of the lake.
It's a haven for wildlife and there are many species of birds to be spotted.
In fact there are a series of three lakes, fringing the M27 southcoast motorway and managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, for Southern Water who constructed the lakes as reservoirs in 2002. One of the lakes holds 270 million litres of water and is fed from the nearby River Test.
There's also a fascinating history in that during construction, Wessex Archaeology discovered evidence of part of one of the earliest bridges known, believed to date from the middle bronze age of around 1500BC. The remains of part of a boat and short sword blade were also unearthed.
The lakes themselves support hundreds of wildfowl and waders and woodland areas are home to foxes, roe deer and many woodland birds. Specially built hides provide a great spot to watch the birds like grey heron, tufted duck and lapwings.
It is also home for local Sea Scouts.