Fishlake Meadows & Blashford Lakes.

Saturday 28th September 2024.

We were lucky enough to see the juvenile Osprey at Fishlake Meadows this morning.

Another Saturday was upon us and yet another superb day’s birding with great company. Even the weather was kind to us with unbroken sunshine for the early part of the morning though a bit of cloud came in, but still quite sunny throughout the afternoon. However, it was quite cold at first with a light frost and it really didn't warm up till mid morning. As well as checking the Moth Box, the plan today was to meet Matt & Emma Parkes at Fishlake Meadows and then take a trip in the afternoon to Blashford Lakes. Two cracking reserves to check out today and some great sightings throughout the day made getting our wet feet worth the effort.

The Moth Boxes:

One of three Lunar Underwings in a low number of moths this morning. 

It was very cold overnight, hence the poor showing of moths this morning in both mine and Andy’s Moth Boxes. Just 13 moths in my Moth Box and 4 in Andy’s just proved how cold it was last night, but at least the winds are blowing from the south tomorrow and maybe a few more moths? We shall see.

One of three Angle Shades.

The moths present in my Moth Box included the following:

• Angle Shades 3
• Lesser Yellow Underwing 3
• Pale Mottled Willow
• L-album Wainscot
• Lunar Underwing 3
• Large Yellow Underwing
• Light Brown Apple Moth

In Andy’s Moth Box, we had the following moths:

• Square-spot Rustic
• Lunar Underwing 2
• L-album Wainscot

From top to bottom, Lunar Underwing, Square-spot Rustic and L-album Wainscot were just a few moths in Andy's garden today.

So, enjoying a cup of coffee with my two chums, we discussed the week's bird sightings etc., a Chiffchaff was calling in the neighbouring garden and I even managed a quick glimpse of it flitting about in a small tree. Meadow Pipits were trickling through overhead, though they were not easy to spot in the clear blue sky. Yesterday, the UK’s second Pale-legged Leaf Warbler had all the ‘Twitchers’ scurrying up to Bempton Cliffs, East Yorkshire and a few ‘Lazee’s’ were up there too and managed to connect with the bird. 

Fishlake Meadows, Romsey:

Above, a Cetti's Warbler afforded us a better view of this secretive bird from the footpath. Below, a Common Buzzard soaring high overhead on the reserve.

Parking up within the small car park by the Housing Estate, we made our way north up the footpath. Nuthatch, Chiffchaffs and a few Titmice were all heard calling as well as a ‘scolding’ Mistle Thrush by the main entrance and reaching the first clearing looking over the reserve, we noticed a large flock of House Martins hawking over the reserve. There must have been at least a couple of hundred birds, but surprisingly, I couldn't find one Swallow! Water Rails seemed to be calling everywhere and both Emma and I were lucky enough to see one fly down into the reeds. Cetti’s Warblers were abundant too and one or two actually gave us a chance to take some photos of them. Up in the trees, there were a variety of birds noted including a couple of male Blackcaps and a juvenile Bullfinch had us scratching our heads with the call it was uttering. Chiffchaffs were literally everywhere along the path showing well in the Willows and reedbeds adjacent to the main footpath. I saw a couple of Siskins flying overhead, but too quick for the others to get a sighting. A Red Admiral butterfly was basking in the morning sunshine close to the main footpath.

Above and below, one of a few Red Kites seen over the reserve.

Above and below, a female Marsh Harrier showed well flying over the reedbed and later seen soaring with a Red Kite.

Over on the reserve, we picked out at least two Great White Egrets flying around by the main lake, though they always remained distant. We checked the trees thoroughly for the Osprey that had been reported earlier this week, but all we could find were Cormorants perched on the dead trees. Matt found a distant Red Kite soaring over the tree-line in the distance, though more sightings were to come.

Above, from the Viewing Screen, a flock of Gadwall flew in alongside a Mute Swan and below, the female Marsh Harrier quartering over the reedbeds.

Above, a Yellow Iris flower close to the Viewing Screen and below, Emma, Geoff and Matt checking out the birdlife from the Screen.

On reaching a clearing overlooking the north of the reserve, we found a pair of Stonechats perching on the bushes and a little later, Matt found a Painted Lady butterfly also basking in the sunshine. This was only my third sighting of this species this year for it has been a poor year for butterflies this year. For example, I have only seen just two Small Tortoiseshell butterflies this year and only one in Hampshire! Everyone is reporting very low numbers this year. Emma found an interesting passerine perched on a distant bush and then it flew across the clearing and landed on overhead wires. It was a Spotted Flycatcher and was soon joined by a couple of Chiffchaffs on the same wire.

Above and below, a Red Kite soaring with the female Marsh Harrier. Photos by Emma Parkes.

Above, a small flock of Mute Swans head off north over the reserve and below Water mint growing by the side of the footpath.

Above, this male Stonechat was north of the pathway with the female bird nearby. Below, one of the Great White Egrets flying over the reserve.

Eventually, the pathway turned into water and we had a choice. Either get our feet soaking wet by wading through the water to get to the Viewing Screens to the south or turn back. Both Emma and Matt sensibly had Wellington Boots on, but we only had so called ‘waterproof trainers’! Yes, we took option one and spent the rest of the trip here with soaking wet feet! From the Viewing platform we had, at first, great views of Coots and Mute Swans, but as the morning went on, it got better. A female Marsh Harrier flew over the reedbeds and showed well, although distantly. A Kingfisher did a circuit around us several times and both Reed Bunting and Reed Warbler were seen briefly. Regarding Dragonflies, both Migrant Hawkers and Common Darters were abundant in front of the Hide, but a bugger tried to try and get a photograph. The Water Rails were again calling all around us, but no sightings this time. 

Above, a view of the reserve at Fishlake Meadows looking west. Below, one of many Chiffchaffs seen along the footpath.

Above and below, the juvenile Osprey on the reserve.

Above and below, it wasn't easy negotiating the flooded footpath to the Andy and Geoff Viewing Platform

We all agreed to take a trip to Blashford Lakes and as we got to the main footpath, there was a bit of a ‘Raptor fest’ going on above our heads. At least four Common Buzzards, including a pale individual, were seen and then joined by at least two Red Kites and the female Marsh Harrier. Superb stuff. Then as we made our way back down the footpath to the Car Park; Emma saw a large bird sailing over the reserve close by, which turned out to be the Osprey! We watched the bird fly back south and knowing that the bird likes to perch on the trees near the roadside; we then headed there next. From the roadside viewing area, we had superb views of the young Osprey perched on one of the trees. I even had time to take some digiscoped images and film footage of this magnificent bird. The Osprey was most certainly the icing on the caek and was well worth getting soaking wet feet! to see this lovely bird. 

The guys paddling through the water. I think I shall bring Wellingtons next time.

Blashford Lakes, Blashford:

A large skein of Canada Geese arrived to land on Ibsley Water this afternoon.

There has been at least four Black-necked Grebes this week on Ibsley Water and after a good search from the Tern Hide, we connected with at least two of them that were swimming distantly over in the far end of water with a few Wigeon, Tufted Duck and Great Crested Grebes. Two of the islands over on the west side held good numbers of Herring Gulls in various age groups. Among them, we found a pair of Goosanders sleeping on one of the islands, but at this time of year, they could be in eclipse plumage as both looked like female birds. A Great White Egret was hunting along the waters edge near the Gull flock until flying off north and a second bird was seen a little later in front of the Gull flock. A Red Kite was seen flying low over the trees by the roadside and a Common Buzzard was seen to the north. We spent at least an hour here until we took a drive to the car park over by the main building.

Above and below, Sulphur Tuft toadstools grows along the footpath leading to the Ivy South Hide.

Above, our first Fly Agaric toadstools growing along the same path as was this Toadstool below.

Above and below, Andy and Geoff feeding crumbs to this very showy Robin.

Above, the showy Robin and below, another photo of the juvenile Osprey.

Above, more Toadstools growing out of one of the trees.

Above, the four photos above were of a Great Crested Grebe in front of the Ivy South Hide. Photos by Emma Parkes.

From here, we took a slow walk down to the Ivy South Hide and saw several species of Toadstools along the footpath that included Sulphur Tuft and a clump of three Fly Agaric toadstools. From the Ivy South Hide, all the usual birds were present that included several Great Crested Grebes, a few Wigeon and Gadwall. Cormorants were up in the treetops nearby and a Kingfisher showed briefly near the reedbed. A Common Buzzard flew low over the main lake and headed off south to round off our trip here, though both Matt & Emma stayed behind. I had to get home pronto as it was our granddaughters birthday today and she was now coming over for tea!! On the way back to the car, along the footpath, the two friendly Robins came out and actually picked crumbs off both Andy’s and Geoff’s hands. These memories will last for a long time when you can get so close to the birds we watch. A great day.

Above and below, film footage of the juvenile Osprey at Fishlake Meadows.