Saturday 3rd October 2026.
A Great White Egret over Ibsley Water today.
I was waiting for the news if the Semi-palmated Sandpiper
was present this morning on Pennington Marshes and by the time we had finished
with the Moth Box at Cowplain Marsh and there was no sign of the bird, I made a
change of plan and headed off to Blashford Lakes instead. There was always a chance
it might reappear later in the day and we would be literally halfway there to
the Reserve. Sadly, as it turned out, there was no further sign of the wader.
Though it was going to be a cloudy day, it still remained quite
bright and relatively mild too and judging by all the visible migration going
on over Cowplain Marsh (Andy Fisher’s garden), it was going to be a good day
for birds and as it turned out, we saw quite a variety too and even finished the
day off at Blackgutter Bottom on the way back to check for raptors.
Geoff’s Moth Box, Cowplain Marsh:
This Barred Sallow moth was new for the year.
I did not put my Moth Box on back in Southsea overnight due
to the fact I was catching a lot of the same moths and so gave it a miss.
However, Geoff’s Moth Box came up trumps with up to FOUR ‘year-ticks’ with
Barred Sallow, Brindled Green, Red-lined Quaker and the micro moth, Thicket
Knot-horn (Acrobasis suavella) all added to my year list.
Above, a Red-lined Quaker and below, a Brindled Green. Both species were also new for the year.
A late Rosy Tabby (Endotricha flammealis) was present on the
conservatory roof, which was unexpected and close by the same moth, a Turnip
Moth sat. Two Blair’s Mocha were recorded and up to 3 Lunar Underwings were
found on the egg trays. Sadly, very little in the Box itself with just one Square-spot
Rustic present.
My first Thicket Knot-horn of the year.
The following Moths were present in and around Geoff's Moth Box this morning:
|
MACRO MOTHS
|
MICRO MOTHS
|
|
|
|
|
Barred Sallow
* x1
|
Common Plume
x1
|
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Brindled
Green * x1
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Light Brown
Apple Moth x1
|
|
Red-lined Quaker
* x1
|
Thicket
Knot-horn x1
|
|
Blair’s Mocha
x2
|
Rosy Tabby x1
|
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Lunar
Underwing x3
|
|
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Turnip Moth
x1
|
|
|
Square-spot
Rustic x1
|
|
|
L-album Wainscot
x2
|
|
While checking the Moth Box, three Spider species were nearby
that included a large Giant House Spider perched on the garden gate; a Garden
Spider in its web near the back door and a False Black Widow sat in its web in
the kitchen! I think Andy promptly removed that Spider!
The Bird Feeders at Cowplain Marsh. Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatches and Goldfinches were coming down to feed on them while we were in the garden.
While noting down the Moths, there was a lot of bird
activity going on within and over Cowplain Marsh. Andy, who is now recording
all the wildlife, including the birds, has a good array of birdfeeders up and
this in turn is attracting at least two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatches,
at least a dozen Goldfinch and the usual Blue and Great Tits. Even House
Sparrows (getting so much harder to see these days) were coming into the
feeders.
While we chatted over a coffee before setting off to
Blashford, at least two Chiffchaffs were around the garden (I wished I brought
my camera from the car! Fume!) and showed above our heads very well indeed.
Other birds noted included flyovers of Skylark, Jackdaw, Song Thrush, Dunnock and
large flocks of Herring Gulls in their familiar V shape flying north out into
the countryside.
Blashford Lakes, nr Fordingbridge:
Ibsley Water:
The juvenile Peregrine on one of the islands on Ibsley Water.
Literally seconds before we arrived at the Tern Hide Car
Park, I noticed a bird sat in the road and so slowed down and stopped to pick
the bird up. It was a female/juvenile type Blackbird and I can only assume it
had flown into a car and stunned itself. It didn’t let me pick it up and so I helped
it on its way to hop into the nearby grassy verge. Job done, bird saved.
Above, this Cattle Egret was unexpected and below, a buck Roe Deer grazing by the water.
Instead of going into the Tern Hide and seeing it was such a
nice day, we decided to view the area from the Viewing Platform at the back of
the Car Park and from here, we had four species of Heron on show. Right at the
back of Ibsley Water, there were up to 5 Great White Egrets on show, four
Little Egrets and at least 4+ Grey Herons. Unexpectedly, a Cattle Egret flew
high over our heads heading southbound! The reason for all these Heron species
gathering up became apparent when I noticed through the scope the many
Cormorants swimming in the shallow water close to the Herons. Andy and I saw
this a few years ago where the Cormorants were herding up the fish to the
shoreline and the Heron species were picking off the fish that swam close to
the shoreline. Andy had counted at least 60+ more Cormorants flying onto Ibsley
Water to also join in the fishing expedition!
A large flock of Long-tailed Tits were in the Willows by the Car Park. Below, one of the five Great White Egrets by the edge of Ibsley Water.
The only waders seen were a flock of around 60+ Lapwing
resting on the islands and a Common Sandpiper flying low over the water at the
back of Ibsley Water. A second bird was seen later in the afternoon when we
returned to the Tern Hide. Wildfowl mostly consisted of Tufted Duck and Coot,
but there was a sprinkling of Teal, Mallard and Shoveler. A large skein of
Egyptian Geese was on the east bank with a few Canada Geese among them. A good
gathering of Herring Gulls also held both Great Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls;
but I could not find anything rarer among the 150+ Gulls present.
Above, a Grey Heron over Ibsley Water and below, one of the Starlings that nearly got caught by the juvenile Peregrine.
Above, a large number of Herring Gulls had gathered on the east side of the Water.
Passerines seen from the Viewing Platform included a Reed
Bunting, a few Swallows flying high south overhead, a few Chiffchaff and at least
30+ Long-tailed Tits making their way through the Willow Trees by the Car Park.
Ivy South Hide:
Above, a Migrant Hawker in front of the Hide.
After an hour or so, we decided to walk from the Car Park to
the Information Centre where Andy purchased a few Bird books for his collection
at home. Siskins, Treecreeper and Nuthatch were calling from the woods from the
Car Park here and Geoff and I could also hear some Wood Crickets calling deep
within vegetation near the Car Park! These are such a difficult insect to see
as they like to remain hidden amongst the vegetation and thankfully, both Geoff
and I have acute hearing. Long may it last! The chap selling the Books told us
that up to 6 Beavers are now on the Reserve! He even told us on where to look
for the Dams they had built, and it didn’t take long to view them for
ourselves.
Above, an adult Great Crested Grebe on Ivy South Lake with a preening Gadwall in the background. Below, a juvenile Great Crested Grebe.
Following the Boardwalk past the Ivy South Hide, we carried
on till we saw the stream adjacent to the Water Skiing Lakes. At least two small
Dams had been built by the Beavers, which were my first ever sighting of this
spectacle. Beavers are virtually nocturnal, so we didn’t expect to see the
animals, but it was always good to see something like this on the Reserve.
Above and below, I have pointed out where the dams were created by the resident Beavers.
From Ivy South Hide, which was full of birders present, we
had good views of at least two Kingfishers, though they remained mostly distant
in the Willows to the left of the Hide. Occasionally, they would dart across
the water in front of us, but too quick for a decent photo. There was a small
flock of Gadwall swimming near where the Kingfishers were and at least three Great
Crested Grebes present including a juvenile stripey headed bird.
Above, one of the two Kingfishers on Ivy South Lake and below, the juvenile Great Crested Grebe.
In front of the Hide, both Migrant Hawker and Common Darter
dragonflies were hunting in front of the Reedmace and within the water itself,
you could see a school of Roach swimming just below the surface.
Ibsley Water:
The juvenile Peregrine flying off after an unsuccesful hunt after the Starlings.
Walking back to the Tern Hide, Andy had picked his books up
and so we made our way the Tern Hide where I could have my lunch. Almost
immediately, all the Lapwing and some other birds took flight due to a raptor.
It was a juvenile Peregrine that circled the lake several times before landing
on one of the islands. A pair of Starlings landed in front of the Hide and as I
was watching them, something was coming straight for the birds at speed. It was
the Peregrine and as the raptor was about to grab one of the Starlings, the
smaller birds took flight just in time and managed their escape. The disappointed
young Peregrine then flew off over the main road and headed off west.
Above, a Grey Heron flying over Ibsley Water and below, Sulphur Tuft toadstools found by the pathway.
As mentioned earlier, two Common Sandpipers were seen flying
low over the water and disappeared towards the Goosander Hide area and out of
view. I briefly saw a female Sparrowhawk at the back of Ibsley Water fly low
over the water and disappeared into the nearby trees, which rounded off our
trip here to Blashford Lakes.
Blackgutter Bottom, New Forest:
Geoff overlooking Blackgutter Bottom.
It was a bit of a long shot, but I fancied trying our luck
at Blackgutter Bottom for possible Merlin or even a Harrier and so spent a good
hour with my scope to hand, waiting patiently for anything of note to pass
through. Almost immediately on our arrival, I saw a Common Snipe flying up the
valley from the small stream below as it headed off northbound.
Apart from the din of passing traffic in the distance and
the occasional burst of Robin song, it was so very quiet here. Sightings here
were far and few between but what we did see was a few Meadow Pipits going
over, a flock of 12 Linnet, a distant male Stonechat on the heather and a male
Kestrel that was flushed by a Horse Rider rounding up the local Ponies. Still,
not a bad days birding here in the New Forest area and good weather too helped
make it a pleasant day.
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