Trip reports

OWN TRANSPORT TRIP TO BLASHFORD LAKES - Thursday December 18th 2008

Thursday, 18 December 2008

24 members arrived on a cloudy, but dry morning for our first full day's birding at this fast improving Hampshire Wildlife Trust Reserve. The pre-lunch session was spent at the Tern, Goosander and Lapwing hides. All three gave us a good range of wildfowl, with up to 7 Goosander and 2 Black-necked grebes probably the highlights. Waders were represented by a large flock of Black-tailed Godwits and a single Green Sandpiper. However, the star bird was almost certainly the French ringed Great White Egret on Rockford Lake.

Lunch was taken by the Information Centre in view of the feeders where Siskin and Redpoll joined the tit family.

The afternoon started en route to the Ivy Lake North hide, where more finches, including 2 Bullfinch and a Brambling were seen, along with Redwings. Although both the Ivy Lake hides failed to add new species, the Woodland hide gave close up views of Marsh Tit and 2 Bramblings. The final bird of an enjoyable day was a Kingfisher, which passed low level in front of Ivy Lake South hide.

Other species recorded :- Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler, Teal, Ruddy Duck, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Sparrowhawk (brief flight view for 2 members), Kestrel, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, BH Gull, LBB Gull, GBB Gull,
Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Green Woodpecker, GS Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, LT Tit, Nuthatch, Magpie, Jackdaw, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting (58 species)

Reported by Steve Oakes