Blashford Lakes and Eyeworth Pond

Wednesday 16 August

No sooner had I finished watching the Women's Football World Cup Semi-final between England and Australia including four superb goals, three from the latter, than I was out of the house and on my way to the New Forest for an afternoon's birding.  First stop in lovely sunny weather Blashford Lakes then a short stop at Eyeworth Pond, Fritham on the return journey.

Arriving at Blashford Lakes it was straight to the Tern Hide overlooking Ibsey Water.  Apart from the scores of Coots not much to see, and even less without a scope!  However, I did fins almost a score of Great Crested Grebe at the back of the water along with a small number of Mallard, Pochard and Tufted Duck.  A pair of Shelduck came as a bit of a surprise but then, with the aid of an accompanying birder in the hide joining forces with our scopes, we did manage to find the visiting Scaup that had been recorded yesterday.

Distant Egyptian Geese, Herring Gulls and Cormorant

The back island held a good number of gulls, mainly Herring but also Lesser Black-backed and a couple of Black-headed Gulls.  Beyond the gulls were seven Mute Swans and also on the islands, apart from the Coots, was a handful of Cormorant. A lone Common Tern was resting on a post in mid-water and on the far left-hand bank behind the islands a good number of resting and feeding Egyptian Geese.

Distant Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca

Crossing to the main car park very little about until I reached the Woodland Hide.  A Nuthatch was feeding on the seed-hopper just before the hide and once inside regular sightings of both Blue and Great Tits along with regular appearances of both Greenfinch and Goldfinch but only two Chaffinches.  Both Robins and Chiffchaffs continued to put in short appearances as well as a single Dunnock and then down to the Ivy South Hide.  

Greenfinches Carduelis chloris

Other than a quintet of Mallard nothing to be seen until a Kingfisher dashed along the front of the trees to my left and came to rest on the furthermost bush.  Only when checking my quick, distant photograph did I discover that there was, presumably, a juvenile also present and waiting to be fed.  Finally time to move on and more than a dozen Jackdaws seen as I left the area.

Kingfisher Alcedo atthis with youngster?

A relatively short stay at Eyeworth Pond near Fritham but I did add both Carrion Crow and House Sparrows as I approached the water.  Once on site just a half-dozen Mallard on the water along with a single Moorhen.   Obviously, still some seed about and that was attracting a good number of Chaffinches along with many Blue and some Great Tits.  On the other hand, there was at least one Marsh Tit present.

One of many Blue Tits Parus caeruleus

Both Robin and Blackbird at the water's edge and as I made my departure I came across a line of Starlings and a single Barn Swallow on the wires above.

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Scaup, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Kingfisher, Barn Swallow, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Marsh Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch.

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