Geoff's Nature / Wildlife Adventures : Trip to Hampshire

Wednesday 20th January 2016
Me and my mate Bob and Corrinna decided on a trip into Hampshire today we had a sort of plan so on meeting them at Bobs for a * O'clock start after a very cold trip on the bus (no heating) we set of our first stop was

Rooksbury Local Nature Reserve at Andover our target bird here was the 2 Ringed Necked Ducks we arrived and checked the map a short walk and after a short time we found them, so it was back in the car then of for a breakfast stop, our next stop was

Kingfisher lake near Blashford Lakes Target bird Ferruginous Duck spent some time looking but with no luck this looks like the last time here as they are putting up a fence that will block the lake of they are having a lot of problems here, we did have a flock of 20+ Goosanders here with some Wigeon, Tufted Duck,Coots, Gadwall, and a selection of Gulls So on to

Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve
on arriving we had a few common birds on the feeders by the info hut we then set of for the woodland hide on entering we found it a bit noisy so we sat down and had a look at what was about (when I say noisey there was one local gentleman that was a bit on the loud side and he got quite shirty when Bob asked him to be quiet) but we did have some good birds her Redpoll, Siskin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, on the feeders and an ice Brambling on the ground after a short time we could not take any more of the noise, So we set of to have a look at some of the other hides plenty of Wigeon, Pochards, Gadwall, Tuffted Ducks, Coot, Cormorants and a selection of common birds, on the way round to the Ivy Lake North hide we some more Siskins on the feeders we then entered the hide to be told there was a couple of Bitterns and after a short time one put up a good show the best pics I have got of a Bittern then the second one appeared for a short time , also we had Water Rail, and more of the ducks so then of to the Tern Hide where Bob found the 2 Black Necked Grebes, a Yellow Legged Gull I also had a Egyption Goose and another flock of 30= Goosander. our next stop was

Blackwater Arboretum
On arriving we had a few Crossbills fly over which we heard then we spent some time looking for Hawfinch we did manage time find a Crossbill sitting in the top of a tree, Then another couple called us and they had a Hawfinch on the top of a tree very quite here not a lot of birds so we then decided on what to do to finnish the day with as it would only take 15 minute to get to Beaulieu Road we decided to try for the Great Grey Shrike we had a wander out but the light was going and we did not find it

So ended a good days Birding in Hampshire