Thursday 1 January 2026
Beautiful sunny start to the day with limited broken cloud and the present temperature of 2 quickly climbed to 7C, so giving a wonderful day's birding in the New Forest. First day of the year and what a way to start with the Greater-tailed Grackle sitting on the wire above its adopted home in Holbury. Also seen in the rea 30 Starlings, 8 Jackdaw, Chaffinch, Caron Crow and Woodpigeon.
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| Greater-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus |
Then it was straight on down to Leep Country Park on the Solent coast, arriving at 10.30. Walking from the car park to the woodland entry Song Thrush, Dunnock and Blackbird seen and once in the hide a multitude of small birds making use of the two feeders. Lots of Blue Tits plus Coal, Long-tailed, Great and Marsh Tit. A Moorhen was wandering around at the side before the arrival of the Great Spotted Woodpecker and female Pheasant, the latter keenly watched by a very observant Robin. Back in front of the hide a couple of Water Rail wandered in from the adjacent reeds giving excellent close views, albeit very dark below.
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| Water Rail Rallus aquaticus |
Out on the water a couple of Mute Swans and on the far banks a small group of Lapwing along with a trio of both Redshank and Greenshank. Just the pair of both Mallard and Shelduck with a handful of resting Black-headed Gulls and a solitary Cormorant. Nearer the hide on the edge of the water a lone Heron and up above a circling Buzzard.
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| Male Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs |
Making our way back up the slope to the exit and car park more Robins, Blackbirds and tits when a small flock of Redwing passed overhead with one noted taking a rest at the top of a distant tree. And as we crossed the road to the car park we noted two Song Thrushes had now arrived at the well-berried holly tree where the first had been recorded as we entered the park.
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| Very distant Redwing Turdus iliacus |
There followed a forty minute drive north through the New Forest to Blashford Lakes north of Ringwood where we spent an enjoyable couple of hours, starting at the bridge over the River Avon on the Harbridge road in Ibsley. Almost a score of Mute Swans in the meadow and at the far end a pair of Egyptian Geese in the company of a single Greylag. A pair of Stonechats were hovering round the bushes at the side of the stream along with a passing Carrion Crow.
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| Greylag Goose Anser anser |
Back to Blashford Lakes and a first stop at Tern Hide overlooking Ibsley Water which presented very many Coot along with a good number of Tufted Duck. A Great Crested Grebe and a couple of Goldeneye seen and at the far end the bulk of the gulls, mainly Black-headed but also herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Lots of Wigeon sheltering under the far bank along with a few Shoveler and Mallards. Even a few Canada Geese, many resting Cormorants and a single Heron.
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| Teal Anas crecca |
Over to the main reserve and first to Ivy North Hide where I found the Teal flock and more Mallards and Cormorants plus a quartet of Gadwall. In mid-water a pair of Pochard and in the reeds below the hide a Chiffchaff.
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| Pochard Aythya ferina |
Through the trees to the Woodland Hide where the tits were very active feeding on the three feeders provided. Mainly Blue but also a number of Great and a few Long-tailed Tits. A good number of Chaffinches and a single Goldfinch plus Robins, Dunnocks and Blackbirds. In addition, good to see the return of the Siskins with five males and a female recorded. On the table the visit of a Stock Dove.
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| Siskins Carduelis spinus |
Walking down to Ivy South Hide a Jay flew across the path in front of us and once in the hide mainly Cormorants and Tufted Ducks along with Black-headed Gulls, a Great Crested Grebe and a few more Gadwall. Returning to the car a Nuthatch was seen and as we made our departure we managed to see another Buzzard and a flock of about forty Starlings.
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Marsh Tit Parus palustris (centre bottom) alongside Blue Tit Parus caeruleus with Blue and Great Tit Parus major above
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Birds seen:
Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Pheasant, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Heron, Buzzard, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Redshank, Greenshank, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Redwing, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Blue tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Jay, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, Greater-tailed Grackle, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Siskin.
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major |
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| Great Tit Parus major |
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| Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus |
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| Hen Pheasant Phasianus colchicus |
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| Robin Erithacus rubecula |
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| Water Rail Rallus aquaticus |
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