TwO Owls Birding Blog  Your answer to Birdwatching in Dorset & Hampshire

Birding Local Rarities

Sat, 4 Feb 2012 22:19:56 +0000

With friends, visiting from Hertfordshire, wanting to see the long staying rarities still residing in the area. So our first stop this morning was Calshot for the Spanish Sparrow. We parked and walked up the road and joined other birders who were looking for the bird, when ask had they seen it they replied yes earlier but it flew off. Well when I walked past the village hall I had heard a sparrow singing from the hedge and thought it sounded different. As no one knew where it had gone I thought I would go and investigate the singing bird and guess what I found, this cracking little Spanish Sparrow singing his heart out and I called the others to join me.

Great start to the day so next we walked out to the Power Station along the shoreline path. Our quarry here was Black Redstart, on the way we checked off many of the common waders including two Bar-tailed Godwit with the black-tails feeding on the shore. Good numbers of Wigeon, Pintail, Teal and Great Crested Grebe were on the water. On reaching the security fence of the power station Bill and Jackie thought they had a Black Redstart inside of the fence, but it seemed to disappear and turn into a Robin. Anyway we moved on a little further and Jackie said I'm sure that's a Black Redstart there, and we all looked again and true enough a immature male Black Redstart was parading itself a few metres inside the fence.

Our next destination was Hawkhill Inclosure, when we arrived the bird which was our target, had not long disappeared. So we set up patiently and waited for it to reappear, in the mean time we checked off Reed Bunting, lots of Chaffinch, Dunnock, several fly over Crossbills and one or two that stopped a while to be scoped at the top of the pines. We had a brief view of the Dark-eyed Junco as it flew up into one of the pines after being disturbed by some walkers but promptly disappeared again only to reappear near it's favoured fallen pine. But by the time we arrived it couldn't be seen, then Jackie saw it sitting on the right hand end of the fallen pine warming in the sun. We all had brief but very good views before it flew off into the long grass again.

It was then lunch time and after which we headed to Stanpit for another American this time Spotted Sandpiper. We hunted for the spot sand along the foreshore and was told that it was around the boats by the jetty, where I had the first view as it disappeared behind a boat. For the next fifteen minutes or so we played cat and mouse with this super little 'Common Sandpiper' impressionist, only for it to fly out and land right in front of us on the frozen shoreline allowing me to get some video and a few photographs. An excellent end to a good days birding.

Normandy Marshes

Fri, 3 Feb 2012 12:37:49 +0000

Our Wednesday monthly group met on 1st February, a very cold but bright morning for a walk round Normandy Marshes, Lymington.
We started our walk with Chaffinch singing obviously enjoying the sunshine and relatively warm shelter of the trees, because as we stepped out onto the sea wall path the wind was bitter. However the birds more than made up for this. A Kingfisher was rather quick and not all of us got on to it, but while looking to see if it come back we added Song Thrush, Greenfinch and two female Bullfinch.
The tide was out and plenty of waders were taking advantage, feeding avidly on the exposed mud. Good numbers of Dunlin, lesser numbers of Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Oystercatcher, Turnstone and Redshank. Skeins of Brent Geese were flying around with their evocative calls were a superb sight, as were a flight of Black-tailed Godwits.
The birds took flight and soon Nick picked up the culprit that panicked them, a male Peregrine flew low across to the saltmarsh and landed on a post. It was then that we saw a female already sat on the marsh nearby. In the channel a Goldeneye and Great Crested Grebe were diving.
Nick then called our attention behind us with a Raven flying across the lagoon. Not long after Joe saw a Dartford Warbler flit across the path into a lone gorse bush. It wasn’t long before it showed well for everyone and we all had good views.
On the lagoon we were occupied watching Pintail, Shoveler and Lapwings. A Spotted Redshank daintily picked along the muddy edges, we went on to see a couple more, one was extremely close an near a Common Redshank which gave fantastic comparison views of these closely related wader. Just before leaving the main path all the birds moved and became very uneasy, as another male Peregrine flew high across the lagoon, and a quick look back over the marsh confirmed that the original pair were still resting where we had seen then a few minutes before.
Away from the sea and lagoon we found Meadow Pipits, Canada Geese in nearby field with Curlews. Walking along the narrow road we had the usual House Sparrows, Robin, tits species and Dunnocks. We crossed back over the field just to check if the Kingfisher had returned and again it flew past and around us and disappeared though most people were able to see it this time.

Middlebere

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:11:10 +0000

Well this morning when we woke a decision had to be made, do we continue our walk with it being so wet or do we postpone and do it another day. Well the forecast said it was going to clear by mid-day, so me decided to take the chance and go.

We arrived at Middlebere and it was still raining steadily so we went straight down to the main hide looking over the Middlebere Channel. On the walk down we had some of the usual birds that we would expect Robin, Dunnock, Jackdaw, Rook and Carrion Crow, also a good size flock of Lapwing rose off one of the fields.

On entering the hide we soon became aware of a large flock of Avocet roosting on the spartina cord grass out front, accompanied by a few Black-tailed Godwit, Wigeon and Teal. As we settled down in the comfort of the dry hide and started scanning the area more intently. We started to find other species, Kestrel hovering over Coombe Heath, Shelduck, Redshank and one or two Dunlin and Curlew were also to be found along the shoreline opposite.

On top of the post, erected to encourage Osprey to rest when passing through the harbour during their migration, today the perch was taken by a Cormorant which was already showing it's white flank breeding patch. On other parts of the marsh a scattering of Little Egrets, which every now and then would fly up and move to another location on the marsh showing their characteristic yellow feet.

Resting on the bank opposite the hide Jackie pointed out a roosting Yellow-legged Gull, a regular here. After being in the hide for some time Liz brought our attention to a Marsh Harrier that had appeared seemingly from nowhere over to the right of the hide. It wasn't a large bird so most probably it was a first year male, it quartered the marsh and moved off towards Hartland Moor direction. Jackie, and one or two of the others, popped out of the hide to have another look at the bird before it moved off.

They returned just in time to see a large flock of Black-tailed Godwit flying in and they seemed to unsettle the Avocets and they rose up to join the godwits in flight, and we were treated to several hundred birds swirling around right out front of the hide, what a treat. They all soon settled in their respective flocks, though not for long and the tide began to drop and the Avocet left the roost. Feeding whilst swimming at first, then by wading with their characteristic sweeping bill action.

There were a number of ducks to be seen with Wigeon, Teal, Mallard and Shelduck, also just one male Shoveler and four Gadwall. A flight of Dark-bellied Brent flew in and a Buzzard flew across and landed on a small pine, rounded off an excellent couple hours.
To top it all the rain stopped and we had a dry walk back to the cars, en-route we had Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest and a Redwing. It just goes to show you can still see some good birds on a wet day.

New Forest & Wyke Down

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:29:35 +0000

We started our birding trip in the New Forest at Blashford Lakes, a look over Ibsley Water produced the usual waterfowl including Goldeneye but nothing out of the ordinary. So we went in search of the Ferruginous Duck on Ivy Lake, plenty of Gadwall, Shoveler, and a few Teal, but there wasn’t many Pochard to be seen and certainly not our quarry.
Looking at the feeders from the Woodland Hide, Redpoll, Goldfinch and Siskin were on the niger seed, on the ground were many Chaffinch, Dunnock and Blackbirds. Walking back to the visitor centre we had a “flock” of Bullfinches, with three males and two females feeding in the same tree, Nuthatch and Treecreeper were also noted. Great Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming and one from it’s usual spot in the car park, whilst towards the reserve entrance Redwings were seen.
We stopped at Blashford/Spinnaker Lake in case the Ferruginous Duck was there but again no luck, however we did see Goosander here. Looking over Ivy Lake from the screen we saw a Green Sandpiper fly across and on Rockford Lake we had three drake Goldeneye and two females.
On to Harbridge to look through the herd of Mute Swans, in with them we had very close views of the Whooper Swan and not far away were the six Bewick’s. A few Greylag Geese were with them and at the back of the herd were Canada Geese. A Kestrel hovered overhead and further down the road a few Fieldfares were in the field. By Harbridge Church a couple of Egyptian Geese were seen.
Our next destination was Eyeworth Pond, here with Nick’s very keen eyes he found us Mandarin Duck. Really obscure views as they hid in the willows on the far side of the pond! Much nearer for us we had many Blue Tits, lesser numbers of Great Tit, House Sparrows, Chaffinch and at last a Marsh Tit flew in.
We had a quick stop at Cadman’s Pool and another Marsh Tit, good views of Nuthatch and Coal Tit. We looked through the Chaffinch but could not find a Brambling. It was now time for lunch and we drove on to Blackwater Arboretum for our picnic and some more birding.
The car park was closed for tree felling but we managed to find parking and as it was such a lovely day had our lunch on one of the picnic tables. As we ate we had Crossbills, and Redpoll singing, plus Song Thrush and Robin also joined in serenading us. Finally a Hawfinch very kindly perched on top of a close pine tree! and gave good views he looked particular smart in the midday sun.
So off we went into the Arboretum in high spirits. As we stood watching a Goldcrest, Jessica was very soon befriended by a very confiding Robin, perhaps hoping for some tasty titbits, then Jess spied a pair of Bullfinch feeding under a tree nearby, a good start. Deciding to look further afield we walked out of the Arboretum and along the track. Geoff saw several birds fly up so we went closer to investigate, we found in this flock several Reed Buntings but mainly Chaffinch. Our attention was turned by Jess to a Red Admiral sunning itself on the trunk of a Silver Birch, then I noticed a Redpoll hanging on a branch higher up.
It was time to drive back into Dorset for the last part of the day at Wyke Down. We had a quick stop to look for Corn Bunting near to Sixpenny Handley roundabout but only managed to see two fly off!
At Wyke Down we had a look for the Great Grey Shrike unsuccessfully but luckily we did have two Corn Buntings sat quietly on top of a bush, though the light was not particularly favourable.
We didn’t wait much longer before I picked up a Short-eared Owl hunting, after a short while it came quite close to us. It seemed happy hunting and then looked straight at us and disappeared over the ridge. It wasn’t long before it reappeared and flew towards a Buzzard sat on the post and the Owl swooped towards it making the Buzzard take flight out of the way.
Time to take our leave but a superb way to end our day.

Poole Harbour

Sat, 7 Jan 2012 15:13:39 +0000

Yesterday I mentioned that today would be the day that took us to a one hundred on on year list, well it was a day that didn’t disappoint. Starting at Shell Bay we had a really good start with Black-necked Grebe, Razorbill, Sanderling, Great Northern Diver and Red-necked Grebe an excellent bird for the area. Looking in the harbour from the edge of Bramblebush Bay there were the expected Red-breasted Mergansers, the males looking really smart in the morning sunlight, Goldeneye, Oystercatcher, Curlew and more Black-necked Grebes. Moving on to look over Brand’s Bay we checked off many of the harbour’s winter wildfowl, Brent Goose, Pintail, Gadwall, Teal, Shelduck, Redshank, Grey Plover, Dunlin and a small group of Knot, a species we do not see in big number in this very large harbour.

Our next location was Middle Beach, viewing from the car park we had more Black-necked Grebe, Common Scoter, two more Great Northern Diver along with Red-throated Diver, several Mediterranean Gull of various ages, Brent Geese and a single Slavonian Grebe. Walking along the coastal path to Fort Henry we saw little different but managed to add Ring-necked Parakeet, in fact three pairs, resting in the trees. South Beach produced more of the same.

We then had a break for lunch and afterwards we headed to Norden to check out the Sewage filter beds, no Chiffchaffs but Grey Wagtail and Meadow Pipit were added to the day list. Middlebere was our next location and it really did us proud. We walked up to the top of the heath and looked down on the Wytch Channel, we had a Yellow-legged Gull, Teal and Little Grebes and a distant Lapwing flock. Once at the Middlebere hide things improved beyond our expectations. On entering the hide we had a Short-eared Owl quartering the shoreline on the Arne side of the channel, a little after a first calender year female Marsh Harrier put in an appearance showing well as it crossed in front of the hide. Just as we were thinking of heading back to the cars a male Hen Harrier was sighted but quickly disappeared from sight. As we left we had a look over the reed bed and there in front of us was the female Marsh Harrier and the male Hen Harrier so close that you could see every detail of these superb raptors. This would’ve made a outstanding end to the day but we still had another location to visit for the end of the day Hatch Pond in Poole.

We arrived at Hatch Pond around four o’clock and set up to wait for the Bitterns to come into roost. Ewan, a friend who was already in situ when we arrived, found a Bittern working its way along the reed edge at the far side of the pond. We all had views but they were not very good, but it then flew and landed in the top of the phragmites and gave distant but good views. We waited and we were rewarded for our persistence. At the edge of an area where the reeds have been cut down I noticed some flappy wings, putting my bins up to get a better view, a Bittern had appeared in the cut area and performed what can only be described as a territorial display. It jumped up wings flapping then would stretch and point its bill skyward, then it would level its bill and fan out all its neck feathers and hackles, then go through the whole routine again. We watched this several times before it flew into the reed and gathered a bunch of the phragmities to form its perch to roost on.

We decided that we couldn’t beat this experience and we called it a day.
Thanks to all that joined us on what was a perfect day’s birding in good company.

Oh! nearly forgot Jackie and I ended the day on 115 for the Year so far.

TwO Owls Birding Blog Your answer to Birdwatching in Dorset & Hampshire

Birding Local Rarities

Normandy Marshes

Middlebere

New Forest & Wyke Down

Poole Harbour

TwO Owls Birding Blog  Your answer to Birdwatching in Dorset & Hampshire