13 March - Our Sunday group met at Moyles Court near Blashford for a circular walk taking in part of Blashford Lakes and we managed 55 species of birds. We very quickly reached 20 species before we had gone more than 200 metres, with Song and Mistle Thrush, three Jays, Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Bullfinch and of course the ever present Robin. Only a couple of people got on to the Merlin that Nick picked up going too quickly for the rest of us! A pair of Bullfinch along the footpath were not easy to see at first but finally we had great views and both Chaffinch and Goldfinch sang in branches overhead. With glimpses of one of the lakes we had our first views of Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck and Canada Geese.
We were now on the footpath beside Spinnaker Lake but the light was so awful it was test of our skills iding silhouettes and all we added was Coot. It was much easier once we were on the Rockford Lake/Ivy Lake footpath, with good views of Pochard, Wigeon and Little Grebe. A Treecreeper was briefly glimpsed but I could only be hear it singing. Two pairs of Reed Buntings were seen feeding on the ground by Rockford Lake, a female flew up into the bushes at the waters edge and was joined by another male. A pair of Buzzard was watched soaring overhead taking us to 42 species.
Looking again over Ivy Lake we had a pair of Shoveler, a few Teal were tucked tightly in at the edge of the lake under the trees where the Cormorants always like to hang out. In the middle Rockford Lake a party of five Goldeneye including three splendid looking males, every now and then they would stop feeding to display to one of the females.
Leaving the lakes we had four Mistle Thrushes on the lichen heath, then a small party of 10 Redwings were found and as usual in this area we had Bullfinch. A small bird was seen flitting in the holly and being very active and hard to see properly, finally Liz got a view - a Firecrest, it performed quite well for everyone to see it well.
Moving over the road to the Goosander Hide we added three more to the list with Lapwing, Goosander and Egyptian Goose, we were now on 51. Nearly back to Moyles Court and we at last had a Great Spotted Woodpecker, and heard Siskin going over. Finishing with Meadow Pipit on the school field and a Carrion Crow flying off towards the forest.
Nick and I went to have lunch by Broomy Plain accompanied by Stonechat, Dartford Warbler and a Peregrine, then on our drive home we had a Red Kite, near Ashley Walk a most excellent day.
We were now on the footpath beside Spinnaker Lake but the light was so awful it was test of our skills iding silhouettes and all we added was Coot. It was much easier once we were on the Rockford Lake/Ivy Lake footpath, with good views of Pochard, Wigeon and Little Grebe. A Treecreeper was briefly glimpsed but I could only be hear it singing. Two pairs of Reed Buntings were seen feeding on the ground by Rockford Lake, a female flew up into the bushes at the waters edge and was joined by another male. A pair of Buzzard was watched soaring overhead taking us to 42 species.
Looking again over Ivy Lake we had a pair of Shoveler, a few Teal were tucked tightly in at the edge of the lake under the trees where the Cormorants always like to hang out. In the middle Rockford Lake a party of five Goldeneye including three splendid looking males, every now and then they would stop feeding to display to one of the females.
Leaving the lakes we had four Mistle Thrushes on the lichen heath, then a small party of 10 Redwings were found and as usual in this area we had Bullfinch. A small bird was seen flitting in the holly and being very active and hard to see properly, finally Liz got a view - a Firecrest, it performed quite well for everyone to see it well.
Moving over the road to the Goosander Hide we added three more to the list with Lapwing, Goosander and Egyptian Goose, we were now on 51. Nearly back to Moyles Court and we at last had a Great Spotted Woodpecker, and heard Siskin going over. Finishing with Meadow Pipit on the school field and a Carrion Crow flying off towards the forest.
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| Wild daffodils, Blashford Lakes © Jackie Hull |
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