Saturday 21st March 2026.
Little Gulls here at Blashford was an unexpected surprise for us from the Goosander Hide.
This has to go down as one of the best Birding Saturdays we have had in many a year for not only a great selection of birds and insects, but the weather was simply gorgeous. There was hardly any wind today, just wall to wall blue sky and with the temperatures getting up to around 17 degrees, it really was a day to be out and about and where else, but the New Forest and Blashford Lakes again.
Yesterday, Blashford Lakes hosted Little Ringed Plovers, Ruffs and a Sand Martin and so it was a ‘no brainer’ to make our way west again with Messrs. Farwell and Fisher. The day got off superbly with up to three Moth ‘year-ticks’ in our respective Moth Boxes and I picked up three more bird ‘year-ticks’ along with a butterfly ‘year-tick’. Along with that, we saw some quality birds today and we were treated to another ‘Raptor fest’ throughout our stay at this wonderful part of Hampshire.
My Moth Box:
My first Early Grey moth for the year.
Despite the low overnight temperatures, I was pleasantly surprised to see my first Early Grey moth of the year on one of the outside egg trays that rested against my Moth Box. I was only saying earlier this week that they should be arriving soon and today was that day. Three more Moths were present too, which included a Hebrew Character and the micro moths, Light Brown Apple Moth and a White-shouldered House Moth.
Hebrew Character.
While checking the Moth Box, the Blackcap could be heard singing again nearby and also the Green Woodpecker ‘Yaffling’ over in Highland Road Cemetery.
Cowplain Marsh (Andy’s Garden):
Early Grey (left) and a Brindled Pug; the latter being new for the year.
A good total of 10 moths of 4 species were by Andy’s Moth Box, which included my first Small Quaker and Brindled Pugs of the year. Also present were 2 Hebrew Characters and up to FIVE Early Grey moths! A great start to the day with a good variety of Moths present in our respective Boxes.
My first Small Quaker moth of the year.
A pair of Goldfinches dropped in briefly to Andy’s garden and then flew off over the gardens, but fairly quiet overhead. Geoff said that there has been no sound or sighting of the Firecrest this week and so maybe holding territory somewhere else in the area.
The M27 motorway:
The journey to Blashford Lakes took us along the M27 motorway where we had a variety of sightings crossing over that included a pair of Egyptian Geese, a flock of 3 Jays, a male Kestrel perched on the side of the motorway and at least two Common Buzzards.
Blashford Lakes, nr Fordingbridge:
Well over 250+ Black-tailed Godwits graced Ibsley Water this morning.
For a welcome change, we tried all three Hides this morning over on the north side of the Blashford Lakes. These are the sightings we had from each Hide:
The Tern Hide:
One of the Little Ringed Plovers (centre) on the spit with Shoveler, Black-headed Gulls and Black-tailed Godwits close by.
There was a good number of birders present in the Tern Hide when we arrived and included a couple of fellow ‘Lazee Birders’, Andy Dickety and Gary Fennemore; both in search of adding to their Hampshire year list. After greeting us, Gary told us that an Otter was seen shortly before we arrived here out in the centre of the Ibsley Water, but despite searching for the animal, sadly, there was no sign of it whatsoever.
Above, another photo of the Little Ringed Plover with a drake Shoveler below the bird and below, some of the Wigeon and Shoveler present in front of the Hide.
On a better note, Andy saw a pair of small waders land on the longest spit in front of us and sure enough, it was the pair of Little Ringed Plovers; our first of the year. That was a great start and now we were in search of yesterday’s Ruffs. Easily between 250+ Black-tailed Godwits were present and most rested on the same spit where the Plovers were residing and most of the Godwits were in fine summer plumage and looked stunning in the strong early morning sunshine.
Above, most of the Black-tailed Godwit had gathered up on the long spit. The Ruff were among them but remained hidden on the other side of the spit. Below, this Great Crested Grebe was preening in front of the Hide.
Geoff pointed out that he had counted at least 700+ Wigeon still present here and also good numbers of Tufted Duck also. However, the likes of Shoveler, Pintail and Mallard were much down in numbers, but a small group of Goldeneye contained at least 7 birds, which was quite impressive. Overhead, Marsh Harriers, Common Buzzards and a few Red Kites were soaring in the clear blue sky and other waders seen included a couple of Oystercatchers and several Lapwing.
Above, the Great Crested Grebe stopped preening for a while to check out a probably raptor up above and below, the Black-tailed Godwits were a bit skittish at times.
Above, some of the Black-tailed Godwits formed a flock over on the west side, standing in the shallow part of the lake. A pair of Goldeneye were in the foreground along with Wigeon and Pintail.
Studying the long spit in front of us where the Godwit were, out of the blue, a Ruff appeared right on the end of the spit briefly, but quickly went back into cover again behind some vegetation. I gave the shout to the other birders present, but it took another ten minutes or so for the bird to reappear in a gap within the vegetation and eventually everyone got onto the bird. A second bird was seen with it briefly and so having got our second ‘year-tick’ of the day, I suggested taking a walk up to the Goosander Hide for a better look of the Ruff and possibly Adders could be on show too.
Goosander Hide:
My first Bee Flies of the year were seen on the footpath to the Goosander Hide.
We parked up in the layby on Ellingham Drove and took the footpath to the Goosander Hide, listening to the calls of Treecreeper and Chiffchaffs that were singing high up in the trees. A couple of Long-tailed Tits flitted about the bushes near the Hide and a Common Buzzard sailed low overhead just before we entered the Hide.
Above, a male Bullfinch was seen singing by the footpath and below, the 'bum' end of the singing male Blackcap.
Above, our first Sand Martins for the year were in front of the Goosander Hide and below, the three Ruff flying north low over the water.
From the Hide, a group of three Ruffs flew north low over the water and landed out of view behind the spit to the right of the Hide and shortly afterwards, Andy saw a Hirundine right in front of the Hide; our first Sand Martin of the year. It was joined by another five more birds that flew just above the Hide as we craned our necks to see the birds eventually fly off northbound. They were apparently seen entering some of the nestholes below the Hide earlier by a couple of birders present within the Hide, but luckily for us, the birds did return again briefly before departing behind the Hide.
Above, a selection of Little Gull photos from today. Below, a pair of Tufted Ducks in front of the Goosander Hide.
Out of the blue, I saw an adult winter Little Gull flying south low over Ibsley Water and quickly got the guys onto the bird. It was joined by three more Little Gulls and now were busy hunting for small flies up and down the lake. Incredible stuff. They performed for us all the time we were in the Hide and made a welcome addition to our day list. All were adult winter birds although one bird did show a paler underwing and was most likely an immature bird going into adult plumage.
Above, there were a lot of Lords & Ladies plants growing along the footpath and below, good numbers of singing Chiffchaffs too.
Above, my first Coltsfoot flowers of the year and below, don't shout it out too loud, but Andy has gone equal second in the Hampshire Listers for 2026!
As mentioned earlier, there were plenty of raptors around with at least 6 Common Buzzards on the wing seen from the Goosander Hide, along with a pair of Red Kites and I also picked out a pair of distant soaring Goshawks over the woodland to the west. Annoyingly, when I took my eye off them to point them out to Geoff, the birds simply vanished! Close to the Hide, I heard a Reed Bunting briefly and then found a male bird searching for food by the water's edge to round off an excellent hour here within this Hide.
Lapwing Hide:
Three of the Goosanders seen from the Lapwing Hide accompanied by some Wigeon.
On our way to the Hide, we searched carefully for any Adders sunbathing along the footpath, but failed to find a single snake. However, I did find my first Bee Flies of the year and also our first Speckled Wood butterfly of the year also. Several butterflies were seen today that included both Peacock and Red Admiral, but I missed the Brimstone that Andy had seen. Singing Chiffchaffs were abundant around the Reserve, with at least 10 singing males seen along with a single male Blackcap and a cracking, but brief view of a male Bullfinch that was also singing.
Another Chiffchaff singing by the footpath.
From the Lapwing Hide, there were up to 7 Goosanders asleep on the water to the south of the Hide and it looks as though the female Red-crested Pochard, that was seen in front of the Hide, has paired up with a male Pochard climb on top of the female bird! That should be interesting in the coming months with possible hybrid Pochard ducklings!
Geoff exiting the Lapwing Hide. Below, the Little Gulls over Ibsley Water.
So that rounded off our trip to Blashford Lakes and though we had some great sightings here today, apparently, two White-tailed Eagles landed by Ibsley Water this afternoon (an adult and an immature bird) and eventually flew up and joined a second immature bird overhead!
Blackgutter Bottom, New Forest:
This male Dartford Warbler at Blackgutter Bottom was Andy's first for the year.
We were to round off our trip here today with a visit to Blackgutter Bottom for a third attempt to find Andy a Dartford Warbler for his Hampshire year list. Thankfully, we were in luck this time as we saw a pair of birds flitting about the Gorse bushes in the bright sunshine. In fact, it didn't take too long to find the birds, though it seemed the male bird headed north and the female bird headed south. It was the male bird that showed well at times, perched on top of the Gorse bushes occasionally and even sang briefly too.
Above, another photo of the male Dartford Warbler and below, one of the two male Stonechats also present at this site.
Above, one of the female Stonechats in the same area and below, I liked this photo due to the fact it shows the Stonechats environment.
Stonechats were all over the place with at least two pairs showing very well at times and affording us some excellent views. A pair of Goldfinches dropped in briefly and a Common Buzzard drifted slowly south over the heath. A distant Raptor, which I was sure was a Merlin, was way in the distance at the bottom of the valley. Even through Geoff's scope, it looked good for a perched Merlin, but there was a lot of heat haze and so we walked further down the slope to get a better view. On reaching a good area to study the bird better, it was in fact a female Kestrel. Doh! Never mind, it happens to the best of us! On the drive back home along the M27, a female Sparrowhawk was soaring high over the road with a posse of Gulls keeping a close eye on the raptor. I said it was a good raptor day!
Above, the female Kestrel at the bottom of the valley and below, a probable male Continental Stonechat.
