Saturday 18th February 2023 - Blashford NNR

 

 

Saturday was this month’s Bath RSPB field trip and this time it was to Blashford NNR nr Ringwood. 17 members met at the reserve including a few new members on their 1st field trip. David was our leader with Bryan and myself, Tony, lending a hand where and whenever it was needed, mainly helping the less knowledgeable with bird identification and as you will note later some less than common species were encountered so lots of assistance was handed out.

We did identify some species as we traveled to Blashford so Collared Dove, Pheasant, Rook and Kestrel were counted. As we drove through Stapleford just outside Salisbury 4 Red Kites were seen in flight. And from Salisbury to Blashford Grey Heron and Little Egret were seen.

At Blashford  as we waited for the other member to arrive we noted Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Jackdaw Woodpigeon and Blackbird, and as we set off Nuthatch and Great Tit were seen. Our first stop was the woodland hide and as we approached it this Scarlet Elf Cup fungi was found.

Scarlet Elf Cap Fungi - Bath Birdwatcher

 In the hide on the feeders were many Siskins we saw lots during the day and I would guess we saw approaching 100 birds.

Goldfinch and female Siskin - Blashford (Bath Birdwatcher)

 Also on the feeders were Robin, Long Tailed Tit, Greenfinch and Goldfinch, while on the ground were several Dunnocks. As we left the hide a Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen climbing a tree. Next stop North Hide that overlooks open water and here we added Mallard, Coot, Gadwall, Wigeon, Shoveler, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Black Headed Gull, Mute Swan and Pochard. 2 Cormorants were in the trees opposite and in the middle of the lake was a Herring Gull and Common Gull. In front of the hide is a reedbed and one of the members found a Cetti’s Warbler which the whole group was able to see. As we were about to leave the hide our first Canada Geese of the day flew over. Next stop was to be South Hide, on the way we pass a small shallow pond and here a Water Rail was seen and enjoyed by all of the group, some who had never seen one before.

Water Rail - Blashford (Bath Birdwatcher)

 Nothing new was seen by me in the South Hide but a Kingfisher did fly by but was missed by your truly and many others. In the hide we chatted to a couple who told us that a Lesser Redpoll had been on the feeders in the Woodland Hide and as we passed it on our way back to the cars for lunch we popped in and after a very short wait the Redpoll flew in, another good sighting and another 1st for many members. As we were eating lunch I spotted a Sparrowhawk flying past, plenty of other birds about but all we had previously seen. After lunch we were going to Ibsley Water which was a lovely walk from where we parked the cars, and in the first part of the walk where Holly and Ivy dominate I could hear the call of a crest so stopped to investigate and eventually found the bird high in a tree silhouetted against the blue sky so identification was tricky but it behaved very kindly and came down to our level where we could rejoice in a Firecrest one of our smallest birds and one I have not seen since 2020 and funnily enough in exactly the same place, another species new to many of our members.

Firecrest - courtesy of Tim Locke

 From Tern Hide we spotted new for the day, Goldeneye, Lesser Black Back Gull, Shelduck, Great Black Back Gull, Yellow Legged Gull, Egyptian Goose. Last stop was the Goosander Hide and here the hide lived up to its name when Bryan found a single Goosander here we also saw Teal. Walking back to the car we made a short detour to Rockford lake nothing new on the lake but I did find a Treecreeper yet another 1st for some members. Everyone said they enjoyed the day and our leader was pleased that we had seen so many scarcer birds. The day ended with a Moorhen seen on our way home.

Wigeon - Blashford (bath Birdwatcher)


 

Location: Blashford, Ringwood BH24 3PE, UK

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