More New Forest Birding

Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata

Wednesday 12 February

Finished even earlier than expected at the surgery for blood testing this morning so over at Acres Down in the New Forest by 9.45 on a cold and overcast morning with the temperature at 4C (but did rise to as high as 5C by 1pm!) in the hope that I might catch up with the local Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers.  I did not, but a birder who had arrived on site ten minutes before me did get a fleeting glance of a female which stopped at the regular tree for a five second drum. However, I did see Marsh and Blue Tits along with Blackbird, Robin and Wren before I moved on to Blashford Lakes, just north of Ringwood.

Arriving at 11.15 I went straight to the Woodland Hide to check on the feeders and, much to my annoyance, once again found the pair of photographers who sit all morning, and longer, with their long-range cameras at the only opening window, made even worse by the fact that the glass (or is it some form of plastic) is always either both dirty of fogged over on the outside making visibility far too poor for comfort.  Not to worry though, I did find Blue, Great, Coal and Long-tailed Tits plus Robin, Dunnock, Blackbird and many Chaffinches plus the occasional Goldfinch.  However, lovely to see the visiting male Goldcrest which spent a few minutes on a bush next to the feeder but, save for two mentioned above, no other birder was able to get a chance to photograph or even a decent view. But, finally, a chance to get a shot of a group of visiting Siskins through the glass.

Siskins Carduelis spinus

Moving on down to the Ivy South Hide I found the water packed with ducks. Turned out work being undertaken around the edges of Ibsley Water and many birds had moved across to be away from the noise and disturbance.  Lots of Wigeon as expected but also many Teal, Tufted Duck, a few Shoveler and even a lone, male Pintail.  Not so many Cormorants on site this morning but a dozen or so immature Herring plus a single Black-headed Gull.  A few Coot and two Greylag Geese made up the numbers.

Teal Anas crecca

Ivy North Hide produced more teal and wigeon plus a pair of Mute Swans and a Great Crested Grebe.

Then, moving over to Ibsley Water I found most of the ducks were at the back of the water along with a few Mute Swans and Cormorants.  Mainly Wigeon but also Tufted Duck and Shoveler and a few Pintails towards the eastern end of the water where I also found the solitary Black-necked Grebe.  No Egyptian Geese seen and what little of the island in front of the hide above water seen held a pair of Oystercatchers.  As I left towards the hamlet at the end of the road, I also noted a Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon), Jackdaw and Woodpigeon.

Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula

Making my home through the back road towards Fritham, I stopped at Cadnam Pond where I found a good number of Mallard along with a pair of Canada Geese and three Mandarin Ducks. 

Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata

In the stumps and small trees at the back of the car park where active laying of seed had been under way, no shortage of (mainly) Blue Tits along with Great and a single Coal Tit, lots of Chaffinches plus Robin, Blackbird and Dunnock.  Even a Pied Wagtail wandered across to see what all the excitement was about. Time to head of back to Warsash picking up a Starling as I passed by Fritham and then greeted by one of my "resident" Magpies upon reaching home.

Robin Erithacus rubelcula

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mandarin Duck, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Cormorant, 

Chaffinches Fringilla coelebs

Great Tit Parus major

Is this a very shy Robin Erithacus rubelcula?

 For the latest news follow the Axarquia Birds and Wildlife Facebook page for more photos and comments and the opportunity to share with the wider birding world.