Blashford Lakes and Eyeworth

Robin Erathicus rubecula

Saturday 25 November

A most enjoyable morning's birding back in the New Forest at Blashford Lakes followed by a short stop at Eyeworth on the way home.  Leaving home no long after 9 the sun was shining in a clear blue sky with not a cloud in sight and no breeze at all.  On the other hand, the occasional fall of leaves and the very white countryside around me was most evident of the first real frost of the season, so plenty of layers at the ready!  And to think that nota week ago I had been in sunny Spain and able to do a little birding from our cruise ship with stops in Cartagena, Malaga and Cadiz.

Sunning Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo

Rather than the Tern Hide I went straight to the main reserve and headed down towards the Woodland Hide in the hop that it might be empty and chance to see some early morning feeders.  Both Robin and Blue Tit as I made my way along the initial footpath towards the Visitors Centre then a stop on the track just before the hide to check the small birds feeding atop the tall Alders to my right.  Initially, a small flock of Siskins but continued observation also revealed at least a quartet of Lesser Redpolls; a great start to the morning.  On down the to the hide itself and on my own to record the visiting Chaffinches, Greenfinches and many Goldfinches.  Naturally, both Dunnock and Robin were also seen and then along came the local Nuthatch and a couple of Blackbirds. A Magpie flew away at the back of the feeding station and a Long-tailed Tit was feeding in the tall trees as I made my departure.

Finch selection including (from top down); Chaffinch Fringilla colebs, Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis, Siskin Carduelis spinus, Greenfinch Carduelis chloris and Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis

Passing the small pool to my right I noted  eight Mallards and once inside the Ivy South Hide chance to take note of the very many resting wildfowl.  Mainly Wigeon and Tufted Duck but also a fair number of Gadwall along with a handful of Shoveler and a single Pintail.  In addition, a single Moorhen but many more Coot long with a small number of Black-headed Gulls and a single Great Crested Grebe.  Both on the water and in the trees to my left a number of resting and sunbathing Cormorant as the Kingfisher flashed past a couple of times and to my far right a quartet of Mute Swans.

Male Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula

Making my way back to the Woodland Hide I came across a foraging Jay and once in the Ivy North Hide picker up more Gadwall and Wigeon along with another Great Crested Grebe.

Jay Garrulus glandarius

On to the Tern Hide ross the road overlooking Ibsley Water where at least some of the Coots and Tufted Ducks were at this end of the lake.   Many more of both along with numerous Wigeon and Pochard at the far end but mot noticeably the great number of newly arrived Shovelers.  Three Herons noted at the far edge and a lone Buzzard resting atop a distant tree at the back of the water.  Following the large amount of rain these past few weeks no sign of any of the islands but a dozen or so Egyptian Geese were gathered together off to the far left.  Immediately on front of the geese amongst the Tufted Ducks, Coot and Wigeon I also managed to locate a lone Goldeneye.  Also at the far end a small number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a solitary Great White Egret.  Then, as I looked almost behind me to the left, not only a second Great White Egret but a Little Grebe.

Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca and Cormorants

Leaving the area to make my way home with a call in at Eyeworth I managed to find both Jackdaw and Carrion Crow further along the road and then taking the main road towards Fordingbridge noted the score or more Mute Swans on the flooded river  beyond Ibsley followed by a flock of forty Rooks grazing the field to my right.

Mainly Pintails Anas acuta

Once at Eyeworth for my fifteen minute stop many cars and a number of hikers out making the most of the sunny, if cold, weather.  On the pool a number of Mallard and a distant Moorhen.  The feeding area was, as expected, popular with the local birds and especially Chaffinches and tits, with a special note of the Coal Tit joining its Blue and Great cousins.  Robin, Dunnock and House Sparrows were also present before the arrival of the Song Thrush.  And the last birds of the day as I left for home a pair of departing Woodpigeon.

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

Birds seen:

Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Pintail, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Great White Egret, Heron, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Kingfisher, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll.

Male Blackbird Turdus merula

All of a whir Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis

More Goldfinches, Greenfinches and a Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs

Nuthatch Sitta europaea

Sleeping Wigeon Anas penelope

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