Blashford Lakes

Sunday 23 August

Up early and at Blashford Lakes near Ringwood in the western New Forest by 8.30.  Starting at the Goosander Hide I had almost an hour enjoying the birds on view including Mute Swans, Mallards and a few Coot.  On the edges, a few Lapwing plus many Egyptian Geese along with a lone Snipe off to my right.  Nearer to me, at least eight Common and one Green Sandpiper then, best of all, a couple of Grey Wagtails arrived right below the hide. Both Pied Wagtail and a single Heron were also recorded.  Before leaving the hide, also a Little Grebe to my right, a single Dunlin on the water's edge to my left and just the one Sand Martin put in an appearance.

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea

Out on the main Ibsley Water a number of resting Cormorant could be seen on one of the islands off to the back right along with more Lapwing and very many Egyptian Geese.

Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca

Time to move round to the Tern Hide for a clearer view of the main water.  making my way back to the car I stopped to watch a Great Spotted Woodpecker on a tree to my immediate left along with Dunnocks on the path.   Approaching the car both Carrion Crows and Jackdaws in the trees ahead of me.

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus

Once in Tern Hide, very many Coot plus a good number of Mallard on the water.  Off to my left a few Tufted Duck and then the count of the Great Crested Grebes.  At the far back a number of Greylag Geese and many more Egyptian Geese, a making a final total of 62.  Nearer to me a couple of Blackbirds foraging on the land out side the hide.  Then, finally, time to check the main island off to the far left which, in addition to Cormorants and Egyptian Geese held very many gulls, mainly Herring but also Lesser Black-backed and two Great Back-backed Gulls.

Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca

Arriving at the Centre's car park across the road I first went straight to the Ivy South Hide where I found more Coot and Cormorants along with a a dozen Gadwall. next t was back through the trees to Ivy North Hide which proved to deplete of birdlife.

Roosting Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo

Before departing for home I took the long walk through the trees to reach both the small viewing hide overlooking Ivy Lake, which produced more Mute Swans and a Moorhen, and Rockford Lake off to my left.  Here I found a couple of small, gravel islands close to the shore which contained resting Black-headed Gulls and a pair of Common Terns with their two well-grown chicks.  

Mute Swan Cygnus olor

The walk through the trees also produced three Nuthatches, Great Tit, Robin, Blue Tit, a couple of Chiffchaff and a Song Thrush.  All in all, a most enjoyable and rewarding morning and well worth the journey.

Record shot of the Nuthatch Sitta europaea

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Heron, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Dunlin, Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow.

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