Brambling and all three Woodpeckers!

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor

Thursday 27 February 

Having stayed in for three days since returning from our Baltic cruise with a heavy cold, it was good to once more be out in the fresh air.  A beautiful calm, sunny start to the day with clear blue skies so off to the New Forest with a first stop at Acres Down to try and succeed for the first time this year in my search for the resident Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.  The hour turned out to be most eventful as, for only the second time, I managed to record all three British woodpecker species on the same visit.

A Blackbird as I parked the car and as soon as out on the track down the hill to the favoured site a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the tree on the opposite side. Whilst I could hear a drumming Lesser Spotted Woodpecker before arriving at the "usual" tree, I also noted Chaffinch, Great Tit and a Song Thrush.  A quartet of Robins were foraging around me and then, whist the Lesser spotted Woodpecker started drumming again immediately in front of me but without revealing itself, a Green Woodpecker was also "yaffling" nearby.  First a Stock Dove atop the special tree and then the arrival of the bird itself and also seen by six others who had now joined in search of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.  Very high and distant so lots of record shots taken but a couple will do the trick.  Also, using the bins, able to see the red crown so confirming the bird to be a male. And making my way back to the car I also note the overflying Carrion Crow and the Wren at the side of the track.

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

Ans so on over to Blashford Lakes passing the mall rookery with its Rook inhabitants as I approached the site.  Starting at the Tern Hide overlooking Ibsley Water almost all the bird life save for a number of Tufted Ducks and a pair of Carrion Crows were at the far end.  Here, with the use of the scope, I was able to identify the very many Wigeon along with good numbers of both Shoveler and Pintail. Barely a score of Coot but I did find both a Heron and a trio of Goldeneye.  The one remaining distant island held a handful of Cormorant and a single Oystercatcher whereas the land to the right provided the only Lapwing of the day.  I did find a distant, single Shelduck as I watched the bird a half-dozen others flew over.  But less than a handful of Mallards noted on this water.

Time to move across to the main reserve and head off to the Woodland Hide where I was later joined by friend Richard Osman for the rest of the stay here.  Blue and Great Tits were quickly recorded and even more once inside the hide.  Wonderful to see so many feeding Siskins which were joined by Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Goldfinches.  Ere long also Blackbird, Dunnock and Robin feeding mainly below the feeders and a visit from both a Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpecker. Then the biggest surprise pf the day when a male Brambling arrived in the nearby bush and made four return visits before deciding it was safe to explore the feeder!

Male Brambling Fringila montifringilla

Long-tailed Tits are always a joy to see and a second happy surprise cam with the arrival of a male Reed Bunting before we et off for our next stop.

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus

More Mallard, Shoveler, Tufted Duck and Wigeon at South Ivy Hide but North Ivy Hide was almost deserted.  However, upon returning to the Visitors Centre plenty of activity on the feeders by a pair of Coal Tits.

Coal Tits Parus ater

Departing to nearby Ibsley hamlet both Magpie and Collared Dove and a flock of at least 30 Jackdaws feeding on the grass just over the other side of the bridge.  Continuing on through the narrow road through the New Forest I made my final stop at Cadnam Pool where I was delighted to find both a male Mandarin Duck and the long-staying Muscovy Duck. The latter was getting itself into all sorts of mischief paying too much attention to one of the quartet of Canada Geese.  I think this duck needs to see some sort of avian psychologist!!!

Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata

Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata

Also present on and around the pool a good number of Mallard plus a handful of Coot.  On the banks a number of Robins and Chaffinches and the trees on the far side of the car park, having been well stocked with seed, were drawing in numerous Blue Tits along with both Great and Coal Tits. A Nuthatch put in an appearance as did both Blackbird and Siskin.

Nuthatch Sitta europaea

Time to head off back to Warsash and as crossing the Test floodplain on the M27 looking down below me I could not but help count at least seven resting Little Egrets at the water's edge of the main pools that had been created.  All in all, an excellent morning's birding and well-rewarded for actually getting out of the house, finally recording 47 species.

Female Siskin Carduelis spinus

In the woods at Blashford Lakes lots of Scarlet Elf Cup fungi to be seen.

Scarlet Elf Cup Sarcoscypha austriaca

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Muscovy Duck, Mandarin Duck, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Coot, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Brambling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Reed Bunting.

Brambling Fringila montifringilla

Coal Tit Parus ater

Dunnock Prunella modularis

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis with Blue Tit Parus caeruleus

Greenfinch Carduelis chloris

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor

Siskins Carduelis spinus plus a Goldfinch

Stock Dove Columba oenas

Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula

Wigeon Anas penelope

Scarlet Elf Cup Sarcoscypha austriaca

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