Picked up 11 'year-ticks' today .

Saturday 13th January 2024.

Mandarin Ducks were hiding on the island at Eyeworth Pond along with a few Mallard. Most of the Pond was frozen over, but there was so much to see here again. 

Though it was a very cold day and overcast, Geoff Farwell, Andy Fisher and myself had a blinder of a day with some great birds seen and our respective year-lists took a big boost. We took in Blashford Lakes today and finished off with a trip to the ‘bleak-looking’ Blackgutter Bottom for raptors. I have to say though, that I think it was probably the coldest I have been this year, despite being well wrapped up, but thankfully, the birds kept us entertained.

Above and below, this Nuthatch was showing very well by Eyeworth Pond.

Above, a pair of Mallard on the ice at Eyeworth Pond and below, a pair of Long-tailed Tits picking off some bird seed by the Pond.

Above and below, my first Marsh Tit of the year.

Above, another photo of the Long-tailed Tits picking off the seed.

Sadly, no moths at all by Andy’s moth box this morning, but a few Goldfinch, a singing Dunnock and a distant ‘drumming’ Great Spotted Woodpecker were noted over a hot cup of coffee in ‘Cowplain Marsh’! Our first destination would have been Linbrook Lake for the Ring-necked Duck, but we got the message that it had not been seen for a few days (though the initial sighting this week was probably duff). So, our first destination was Eyeworth Pond in Fritham.

Above, our first Great White Egret of the year flew past the Tern Hide over Ibsley Water. A second bird was seen in a field with Little Egrets by the M27 on the way home.

My first ‘year-tick’ of the day was to be the Marsh Tits. Virtually guaranteed at this site, at least a couple of birds came down to feed on the bird seed put out for the birds on the gate that also attracted both Long-tailed and Blue Tits and a few Chaffinches and Robins. Out on the near ‘iced-over’ pond, I pointed out at least three Mandarins (two drakes and a female bird) to a young bird photographer that were on the small island. A few Stock Doves were seen and heard calling over the adjacent woodland and a healthy number of House Sparrows were also present nearby. A Nuthatch came down to take advantage of the food put out for birds and a Treecreeper was seen briefly climbing a bough of a tree. There is always a good variety of birds to be seen here and one of our favourite birding areas in the New Forest.

Above, this drake Tufted Duck was preening in front of the Tern Hide. Below, a Grey Heron stealthily moving through some tall weeds in search of prey.

A mixture of Shoveler, Pintail and Teal flying over Ibsley Water. It certainly was a grey day, which really didn't capture the ducks' lovely plumage. Below, a large flock of Grey Lag Geese flew over Ivy Lake as we neared Ivy North Hide. In front of the Hide, again, there was a good number and variety of wildfowl present.

It most certainly looked cold and bleak looking across the heathland as we made our way to Blashford Lakes along the Roger Penny Way road to Fordingbridge, but, this place is a stunning place and we should be so grateful that we have such a place in Hampshire, which is so rich and diverse in habitats. Our next stop was to be the Tern Hide at Blashford Lakes. From here, two more species were added to my year list: a Great White Egret and Pochard. Yes, the latter is a relatively common duck species, but can be very awkward to catch up in our area; but here on Blashford Lakes, they can get into decent numbers along with the many Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Mallard, Teal, Wigeon and Pintail here today. At least 8 Goldeneye were present, mostly female birds, but some stunning distant drakes among them. A Black-necked Grebe was discovered here during the week and one kind birder chap said it was still present at the far end of Ibsley Water. Through the scope, I soon picked it up fishing among the other waterfowl. I caught some big and white flapping past the hide to my left and quickly got Andy onto our first Great White Egret of the year, slowly flying past and then eventually settling down in the distance close to the Goosander Hide. To round off our sightings here, I found a pair of Stonechats searching for food on the spit to the right of the Hide to round off a nice 45 minutes here.

Above and below, Lesser Redpolls feeding above our heads near the Woodland Hide. So glad to catch up with these delightful finches. There has been some good numbers recorded here over the past week.

Above, our first Goosander of the year (centre) and behind it on the shoreline, you can just see a Green Sandpiper walking by the watersedge. A second bird was seen nearby. 

Ivy North Hide was next and after parking the car, we made our way along the path through the woodland where we came across large numbers of Siskin flying over and also calling in the trees. Then the guys spotted some possible Redpolls and sure enough, we had at least a dozen birds high up in the Alders feeding on the seeds up there; another good species added to our year list. In fact, I was quite impressed by how many Siskins there were and took time in watching them going about their business. Unbelievably, we heard a singing Chiffchaff in the distance behind us, but it seemed to be getting further away and so we made our way to the Hide. It was empty on arrival and so we grabbed some good seats overlooking the reedbeds and Ivy Lake in front of us and quickly, Andy saw his first Green Woodpecker of the year flying over the Lake having heard it earlier. A Common Buzzard drifted over and then a large skein of Grey Lag Geese flew high overhead and onto my year list and a good scan through the many duck present on the Lake, produced not only our first Goosander of the year (a sleeping drake), but also two Green Sandpipers that were on the foreshore on the opposite side of the Lake. Sadly, no sightings of both Kingfisher or Cetti’s Warblers here this morning.

Above, I still keep my eye open for any interesting fungi and this Turkey-tail Fungus caught my eye as we walked through the woods to the Hides. Below, a Song Thrush was on the same footpath and was very close to where we stood.

At least one Siskin was seen on the feeders by the Woodland Hide as well as several other species and below, we saw quite a few Common Buzzards today including this bird flying past the Ivy North Hide.

We rounded off Blashford Lakes with a visit to the Ivy South Hide where we were treated to a small flock of five Goosanders flying over (two drakes and three females), more views of the Green Sandpipers (though distant) and a large variety of wildfowl. We then took a walk around the boardwalk and then back to the car park where overhead, my first Red Kite of the year drifted high over. A Little Grebe was seen fishing among the Willow branches in the water while Siskins, Long-tailed Tits and the occasional Goldcrest were seen in the woodland.

Above and below, two drake and three Goosanders flew over Ivy lake but never settled and flew off north.

Above, a pair of Gadwall in front of the Ivy South Hide and below, my first Red Kite of the day over the reserve and another pair were seen off Ellington Drove.

Above, a Red Kite soaring over the reserve and below, this female Stonechat perched close to where we stood overlooking Blackgutter Bottom.

Checking the time, about 2.30pm, I knew we didn't have a lot of light left in the day and so I suggested a trip to Blackgutter Bottom for raptors and on the way there, yet another ‘year-tick’, Andy and my first Fieldfares of the year, with four birds flying over the road. Parking up on the side of the road, we joined at least six or more birders present overlooking the gulley below at Blackgutter Bottom. Fellow ‘Lazee’ James Cutting and his son joined the guys present and though it was very cold here, we settled down and waited patiently for the show to begin. It didn't take too long for our first superb sighting to show. The shout went up that a Merlin had been seen and James came down to us to point out exactly where the bird was perched out on the heath. Checking the bird several times, I concluded that it was a female bird or possibly an immature male, though it was quite distant. A couple of Redpolls flew overhead and a pair of Stonechats flitted about on the ground near us. One female bird actually perched right behind us allowing me to grab a nice photo of the bird. Then the shout went up that a Harrier had been spotted and sure enough, a superb male Hen-harrier flew low across the top of the ridge heading left and using my scope, I had a great view of the bird until it disappeared over the ridge and out of view to round off another brilliant day.