 |
| Male Siskin Carduelis spinus |
Sunday 25 January
A dull start t the day but finished at Ripley Farm Reservoir arrived and missed most of heavy showers when in the hides at nearby Blashford Lakes. Then the rain set in and stopped as I arrived back in Warsash - and even the Sun is trying to put in an appearance.
Arriving at the entrance track to Ripley Farm Reservoir I face the 3 km return walk past the pig fields and in the hedges and neighbouring area recorded Robin, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Blue Tit and Woodpigeon. Even a pair of Brown Hares in the field on my left. However, once at the reservoir itself I was soon shown where to find the visiting Killdeer. Next to the bird a couple of resting Shelduck and also five Herons on the bank along with a couple of Greylag Geese. On the water a small, mixed flock of ducks including Wigeon, Shoveler and Mallard and very close a sleeping Little Gull.
Making my way back to the car before leaving the reservoir area I stopped aside the larger pig field and found a trio of Red-legged Partridge at the back and near the feeding pigs a single Pied Wagtail and Herring Gull along with a small flock of foraging Starlings. Further along the return journey I also cam across a number of Carrion Crows and a single Dunnock.
A few spots pf rain as I drive north to nearby Blashford Lakes and decided to make my first port of call the main reserve knowing that the Tern Hide overlooking Ibsley Water was next to the car park. Straight to the Woodland Hide and inside to beat the coming light rain and , with nobody else inside, able to take the opening window position. Rain easing to nothing and eventually slightly brighter so a good opportunity to even use the camera. During the next forty minutes or so a continuous supply of Blue accompany by a few Great and the two Coal Tits. On the other hand, lots of visiting Long-tailed Tits to join the many feeding Chaffinches and sole Goldfinch.
 |
| Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus |
As all began to settle down a trio of Blackbirds and a couple of Dunnocks below the feeders and then the arrival of the first Siskins. Lovely to see the one Nuthatch but best of all to find the lone, visiting male Brambling. At first well concealed on a thick branch of the small trees to the left of the feeder but, eventually, made a move out into the open for all, including a small visiting group, to see the bird.
 |
| The first sighting of the Brambling Fringgilla montifringilla |
 |
| Brambling Fringgilla montifringilla |
Moving on down to the South Ivy Hide, compete a room full of birders, nine resting Cormorants along with many Tufted Duck. At the far end the main Wigeon flock, about eight Gadwall, a single Coot and Great Crested Grebe plus a pair of Mute Swans. Not many Mallard and only the one Black-headed Gull. A short visit to Ivy North Hide produced very little apart from the odd Mallard and Cormorant but then a Kingfisher flew in and posed right in front of the hide the minute I had put my camera away! Back to the car park where a Song Thrush was singing away in the tree next to the car.
 |
| Gadwall Anas strepera |
Time to move over to Tern Hide at Ibsley Water and, in the dull weather, note all the Coots and Wigeon. Scanning with the scope I eventually found the Black-necked Grebe that my neighbour had been watching at the very far end of the water. A detailed study of the ducks to my fare left then found the dozen or so Pintail plus a Goldeneye and a small group of Shoveler. Moving my attention to the ducks towards my right I had the pleasure of a second Goldeye accompanied by a male Goosander. Further back resting on what was now the flooded island a single Great Black-backed Gull and into shot flew and settle a lone Lesser Black-backed Gull.
 |
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
|
 |
| Wigeon Anas penelope with a few Pintail Anas acuta at the back |
Finally, as I started off towards Ibsley village an the forest road over towards Fritham, the corner field held a good number of feeding Carrion Crows and Jackdaws plus a quintet of Magpies. Even a Pied Wagtail amongst them, and a watching Rock Dove from the roof of the nearby house.
 |
| Coal Tit Parus ater looking at Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs |
Time to head off ack to Warsash but first a very short stop at Cadman's Pool near Fritham to check the natural feeder and water. A number of mallards on the water and island but the stump feeder seemed to be very active with many Blue, Great, Coal and Marsh Tits plus Chaffinches, a Blackbird and the late arrival of a Nuthatch.
 |
| Chaffinch (right) looking at Blue Parus caeruleus and Coal Tits |
Birds seen:
Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Goosander, Red-legged Partridge, Pheasant, Great Crested Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Cormorant, Heron, Coot, Killdeer, Little Gull, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Kingfisher, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, Chaffinch, Brambling, Goldfinch, Siskin.
 |
Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus
|
 |
| Blue Tit Parus caeruleus |
 |
| Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs and with Blue and Coal Tits |
 |
| Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis and with Siskin Carduelis spinus |
 |
| Coal Tit Parus ater looking at Great Tit Parus major |
 |
| Marsh Tit Parus palustris |
 |
| Nuthatch Sitta europaea |
 |
| Siskins Carduelis spinus (male below) |
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment