Spanish Sparrow / New Forest and Blashford lake

Spanish Sparrow

I had arranged to go to Hampshire with me mate Bob and Corrina  for the Spanish Sparrow we set off a little after 7 o’clock and where at the spot for the sparrow just after 9 o’clock we joined the rest of the birders and after a short time the Sparrow appeared in the hedge then flew across the road  where we all had good views of it (I did attempt to take some pictures but the bird was too far away and they are not that good ) on leaving here we had a Brambling fly in front of the car, Our plan for the rest of the day was next to see if we could see the Red Eyed Junco that had been present since Christmas near Beauliue  after a minor mix up over witch road to take we arrived at the car park and set off for the short walk to the spot here we had a good number of Crossbills which was nice to see after a while the Junco appeared in the tree with the Crosbills and a flock of Reed Buntings, Our next port of call on the agenda was Blashford Lakes on route we stopped for breakfast come lunch then on to the lakes where we had a Ferruginous Duck on the feeders from the woodland hide we had  Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Great Spotted Woodpecker after speaking to a local we headed to Ibsley where in the fields we had a Whooper Swan 3 Bewick’s Swans and then someone told us there are some Egyptian Geese in the field further back we had a pair of Common Buzzard and some Canada Geese,  After this we headed back to Blashford Lakes and returned to the north hide where we had 2 Water Rails and a brief sighting of a Bittern  we also had some close views of Sisins and lesser Redpoll, The next stop on the list was Blackwater  arboretum for Hawfinch  we arrived at about 2 30 and it was very quite after a short stroll around  bird life picked up Coal Tit, Wren. Robin then Bob found 5 Bullfinches in a tree by now more birders had turned up and aftera short time Corrina found a Hawfinch at the top of a tree which we all had good views off as we were leaving me and Bob had another Hawfinch, As Corrina had a meeting we now had to start heading for home just before leaving the car park Bob heard a Song Thrush singing this was located then back to the car and home so ending a good days birding