New Forest Birding

Blue Tit Parus caeruleus

Saturday 28 September

Beautiful sunny start to the day and all calm as I drove over top the New Forest with Blashford Lakes being my first point of call. Both Blackbird and Dunnock as I drove into the car park in front of the Tern Hide and a couple of Canada Geese flew over as I entered the building.  At first sight just a mass of Coot all over the water so time to use both bins and scope to see what else might be present.  A good number of gulls, mainly Black-headed but also both Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls, mainly towards the back left of the water.  Nineteen Mute Swans counted along with a score or more Egyptian Geese.  Difficult to find the quartet of Gadwall but not so both Mallard and Tufted Duck.  A handful of Great Crested Grebe and then the discovery of a Black-necked Grebe towards the back of the water.  Naturally, there were a number of resting Cormorant along with a single Woodpigeon atop a gate at the far left side at the water's edge.

Resting Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca with the Coots

Moving across to the main reserve immediately a few Robin and as I approached the Ivy North Hide joined by a few Chiffchaff.  Once inside more Coot and Cormorant along with a Moorhen in the channel immediately in front of the hide. Leaving the hide to to take the walk through the trees to the Woodland Hide I had a small family party of Long-tailed Tits along with a couple of Blue Tits before a Jay flew across the path in front of me.  A Nuthatch was feeding on the approach feeder and once inside the hide Greenfinch, Goldfinch and mainly Blue Tits but also a single Coal and a couple of Great Tits.  Dunnock and Blackbirds on the ground below the feeders and then the regular appearance of at least one Nuthatch.

Nuthatch Sitta europaea

Making my way on down to the South Ivy Hide I stopped to observe the distant Kingfisher resting on twigs to the back of the Silt Pond alongside a few Mallard. From the hide more Coot and Black-headed Gulls plus a couple of young Great Crested Grebes. Not so many Cormorants on this occasion.

Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo passing overhead

Calling in on the Woodland Hide on the way back to the car more Nuthatch appearances whist on the outside feeder a Great Spotted Woodpecker. The final walk took me to the holly trees on the other side of the entrance road where I finally found a couple of Firecrest.

Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus major

Moving over to Eyeworth Pond, Fritham on the way home I recorded Jackdaw and Collared Dove in the hamlet at the end of Blashford lakes and then, almost immediately, a Chaffinch atop a small tree as I took the narrow cross country road followed by a Carrion Crow.  Passing through Fritham hamlet a small flock of Jackdaw, Starling, Blackbird and Woodpigeon then on down to the pond itself.

Coal Tit Parus ater

Once parked up in front of the pond I was able to watch the feeding area from within the with at least three Nuthatch in attendance along with, mainly, Blue but also Marsh, Great and Coal Tits.  Many of the Mallards were out of the water and feeding on the spilt seed below the gate and were then joined by a pair of Moorhen.  Finally, a lone female Chaffinch put in an appearance and was later joined by an inquisitive Robin.

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

A little bonus on the drive back to "Warsash as crossing the Test flood plain on the M27 a couple of Little Egrets to my left and a circling Buzzard just above the car, so providing a total of 39 species for the morning.

Record shot of distant Kingfisher Aledo atthis

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch.

The very friendly Blue Tit Parus caeruleus

Dunnock Prunella moularis

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis

Marsh Tit Parus palustris

Robin Erithacus rubecula

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