Three New Birds......

Sunday 30th March 2008

The clocks went forward during the night, which means British Summer Time has begun!! I have to admit it's been a lovely day here today and a bit warmer than of late, so I'm not complaining....


brambling

After a couple of none birding weekends, it was great to be back at Blashford today, and we even managed to see three new birds for the list.


grey squirrel

As usual, we saw and heard lots of woodland birds, but the waterfowl numbers have dropped. Also saw my first Brimstone butterfly of the year.

111. chifchaff
112. wheatear
113. little ringed plover.

Keyhaven in the mist......

Friday 14th March 2008

One bird I always love to hear is a Cetti’s warbler.....and there always seems to be one near the reed bed at Keyhaven. Today was no exception.....I was no sooner out of the car when I heard it....sweet, sweet music to my ears. I wish I could live near a reed bed, full of cettis, reed and sedge warblers......that would be paradise for me.

Typical of the Cettis to let me hear it, but not let me see it... I went to get the binoculars to have a look for it, and that’s when I realised I had made a mistake!! I had picked up the wrong bag from home. Instead of a bag with the camera, binoculars and a few other bits and pieces.... I had picked up Ian’s work bag, with an empty coffee flask and a half eaten sarnie!!! Just as well I have a good sense of humour.....unfortunately Ian does not!!!!

So we set out in silence, to walk the sea wall to Pennington marshes, and hopefully see some birds. Five minutes later the rain started......it was going to be one of those days!! At least I had a hood on my jacket...........Poor Ian, his raincoat was in the bag, which was in our house, a forty-five minute drive away!!! Oh well, it was only a bit of drizzle so we carried on....

Despite the weather, it was a very enjoyable walk.....hardly another person in sight, just the sights and sounds of the birds....

mergansers
reed buntings
spotted redshanks
whimbrel
black-tailed godwits
shovelers (lots)
pintail
teal
mallards
oystercatchers
lapwings
great crested grebes
shelducks
curlew
meadow pipits
various gulls
greenshank
crows
blackbirds


We noticed the dead tree by the jetty (keyhaven side) had been blown down, probably in the storm earlier in the week, and was broken up and washed up on the defence wall. Looks like the Peregrine will have to find somewhere else to sit.....

Walking back to the car via the inland road, the weather became very misty and murky....... Ian said, all we needed was a Barn Owl to complete the scene. No sooner had he uttered those words, when just like magic, a Barn Owl appeared in the field beside us!! We watched as it flew along the edge of the field, across the gravel path and out of sight......

I was so delighted, a beautiful Barn Owl to add to the year list..

109. greenshank
110. barn owl

Goshawk.....

Friday 29th February 2008

I’ve been out of action for the past week, so this is just a quick update on what I saw the other week...


male chaffinch

On Friday the 29th Feb, we had a quick afternoon trip to Blashford Lakes. I was hoping to see a redpol, as a couple have been seen on the feeders near the visitor centre. But no, didn't see any... Then we had a walk down to the woodland hide where we saw lots of nice birds, including a nuthatch, treecreeper, brambling, siskins, various finches and tits. I even managed to get a bird for the year list, when a couple of Jays appeared.


wild daffodils outside the woodland hide at Blashford..


Saturday 1st March 2008

On Saturday we went to a well known (secret!) location, in the New Forest, looking for Goshawks. It’s that time of the year, when they do their amazing sky-dance courtship display.

It was very cold and windy, so we wrapped up warm.... but after the first hour of standing around, I was absolutely freezing cold!! By then we had seen, woodpeckers, stonechats, pipits, crows, a sparrowhawk and seven buzzards, but no Goshawks!! Time for a cuppa I thought...and headed back to the car....

After the teabreak we decided to walk back for another hour. I'm so glad we did, as within ten minutes of watching and waiting, a female Goshawk appeared in the distance. Mind you, It was only in view for two minutes before dropping out of sight. No sky-dancing or photos, but at least I now have a Goshawk for the list.

So that’s it...... I didn’t get out last weekend and I’m not sure what’s happening this weekend. Just as well I have the goldfinches in my back garden to keep me going...

107. jay
108. goshawk