Superb variety of birds at Ibsley Water.

Saturday 25th March 2023.

The summer plumage Black-necked Grebe always remained distant on Ibsley Water today, but always spent its time out in the open among the Gulls.

It was back over Blashford Lakes again today for a good 6 hours birding from the Viewpoint overlooking Ibsley Water. The long drive there, which is always fraught with danger from dodgy drivers on the M27, was safely negotiated as Andy Fisher and myself went in search for more birds to add to our year list and whatever else might come our way. Yesterday’s sighting of an Alpine Swift over Ibsley Water was a very big temptation, but the chances of another was always going to be very slim; though it turned out to be a good day's birding.

Above, the Little Ringed Plovers always remained distant, spending most of the time on the spits in front of the Tern Hide. Below, a pair of Egyptian Geese flew low over our heads. 

Our day kicked off with our respective moth boxes where I scored a big fat zero! A windy night did not help and I now had to rely on Andy’s moth box to come up with the goods. He had a massive total of just one moth; but it was new for the year nonetheless. My first Brindled Pug of the year, which was near the roof of his conservatory. I currently have a bad back and reaching up to pot the moth was not pleasant at all. But where there's a will……!

Above, good numbers of Goldeneye are still on Ibsley Water and below, this singing Chiffchaff was right behind us near the Viewpoint. 

Above, the self-confessed the UK's laziest birder, but good company though!

Stopping off at the Garage at Blashford first of all for food supplies, we then made our way to the Tern Hide Car Park and promptly took our spots on the Viewing Platform. We now believe it gives a much better view of the whole area and God knows what we might have missed being stuck in the Hide with a very limited view of the whole area. At least you get a 360 degree look of the reserve and the big open sky above, instead of bouncing up and down when someone walks past behind you in the Hide! And don't even go there with those awful big windows. I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but whoever designed them Hides seriously needs a rethink. But hey, at least you don't have to pay to use them……..yet!

Above, several singing Dunnocks were seen by the Viewpoint and many giving chase to the females! Below a Long-tailed Tit was now bringing feathers to line the inside of its nest.

Above, the female Scaup (centre) sporting the flash of white around the base of the bill was showing very well throughout the day. Below, some of the 70+ strong Black-tailed Godwit over on the east side of Ibsley Water.

Back to the birds. During our time there, Andy and I reckoned we clocked up to at least 53 species of birds that included 6 species of raptor (Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, a male Marsh Harrier, several Red Kites and a Peregrine) and 7 species of wader (2 Redshank, 70+ Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin and 1 Common Sandpiper), which in truth, is certainly not bad at all for an inland reserve.

Above, another photo of the female Scaup with a Black-headed Gull. Below, the male Peregrine flying over Ibsley Water which scattered all the Godwit and Wildfowl. 

Above, the Common Sandpiper on the spit to the right of the Tern Hide.

The female Scaup showed well most of the time, associating as always with the Tufted Ducks. Again, 11 species of duck was a very good tally for this time of year. Species present included  Mallard, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Wigeon, a few Pochard, a female Goosander and at least 8 Goldeneye that included four drakes. Geese were represented by the usual Canada, Grey Lag and Egyptian, but in much smaller numbers of late. One of the star birds here, the Black-necked Grebe, was also showing very well, but busy diving a lot among the many Gulls out in the open water. The bird is now in summer plumage, but always remained distant.    

Above, another photo of the male Peregrine flying over Ibsley Water. Below, a Chiffchaff briefly singing behind us from the Viewpoint.

Chiffchaffs were singing all around us as were several Dunnocks around the brambles surrounding us and a pair of Long-tailed Tits were coming back and forth, building their nest nearby. Overhead, the occasional small flock of Sand Martins would pass by, calling in doing so, but although Swallows were being reported at Testwood Lakes and Fishlake Meadows further east today, we saw no Swallows in the whole time we were there. It was blustery all the time we were there on the wooden Viewpoint, though the wind did ease up a little in the afternoon. Though we checked the skies constantly during our time there, our optimism for seeing an Alpine Swift belting over waned, but we were rewarded with plenty of raptor sightings throughout our time there, which was always exciting. We were joined by several experienced birders that included one of the ‘Lazee Birders’, James Cutting with some of his family in tow. Always nice to see him. A great day's birding and despite the pain in my back, some great birds to reflect on.