We left the cars outside, and walked through to the visitor centre where there was a lot of activity around the feeders. This Coal Tit waiting its turn amongst the lichen in the tree.
A little further down the path close to the Woodland Hide there was a nice flock of Goldcrests calling from the oak trees.
A Kingfisher sped past us calling and then disappearing out of sight. The sun was now breaking through the misty cloud and we decided to walk back to the Tern Hide. On the way we stopped to watch a Kestrel sitting on the wire fence in the sunshine watching the longish grass below.
As we were the first ones to arrive earlier in the morning it was a big surprise when we entered the Tern Hide to find it was almost full. Fortunately we were able to find a seat, and looking out across Ibsey Water it was nice and calm.
All through the week there had been an Osprey reported using the same post and the same behaviour almost every day. Looking out across the water there was no sign of the Osprey. There was though a couple of nice adult male Goldeneyes.
As is always the case here the birds were spread far and wide with large flocks spread across the water. Close in there was a good flock of Lapwing on one of the spits, and six Little Grebe slowly made their way close to the hide.
On the far side there was a gathering of Cormorants, and Gulls, and along the bank you could make out the white chests of Shoveler, and away to the right in one of the bays there was a large flock of Tufted Duck with one or two Pochard in amongst them too.
A whistle heralded the appearance of a Kingfisher and it zipped past us the only clear view being of the electric blue on its back.
After getting an alert that there was in fact a Black-necked Grebe on the water in the morning we were directed to where it was. It was possible to make it out right at the back of the lake. A distant speck but quite clearly a Black-necked Grebe.
We decided to move on to either the Goosander or Lapwing hide to see if we could get closer to the Black-necked Grebe. A decision was taken to go to the furthest point, the Lapwing Hide, along the way a male Great Spotted Woodpecker posed nicely at the top of a tree, for me at least!
The hide was not too busy and as we settled in we asked if there had been any sign of the Osprey, and we were nonchalantly told that it was there on the post eating a fish.
And it was, quite a way out but we could sit and watch as it tore apart the fish it had caught in the weak autumn sunshine.
And also a shot taken through the scope with my phone.
Away to our right the Black-necked Grebe appeared in the company of a large flock of Coot and several Tufted Ducks.
Coming ever closer with the Tufties and Coot, the red eye and characteristic up turned bill clearly visible.
It was nice to see a male Pochard come close.
I can recall large flocks of this handsome duck on lakes when I was birding in Essex, but now they appear to be quite rare, further emphasised by the fact that they have now been added to the Red List.
Away to our left in the bay there were five Goosander close to the bank, four red heads and a single first winter male.
It was decision time once again could we get better views of the Osprey from the Goosander hide? Would the hide be full? We made our way to the hide, but as we approached you could see the post in the water, and the Osprey had gone. This seems to be the pattern for us, we miss the bird as it flies over as we walk through the trees. It happened at the Haven in late August, and it seemed to have happened again.
There was one person in the hide and we enquired where it had gone. In fact it hadn't gone far, just further to the back of the hide where it was bathing in a patch of shallow water. It continued this wash and scrub up for sometime before flying off and back to its favourite perch.
And there it sat preening and drying out its wings. This is a late bird, and apparently it is ringed, so probably a British bird. l expect it to stay around while the weather remains mild and settled, what happens when it changes will be interesting.
More Goosander were sitting on the side of the water, frequently being disturbed by the grazing horses.
And the Horses were also upsetting a single Green Sandpiper that was feeding along the edge of the water.
The light was beautiful, and the water very clam and reflective. The Black-headed Gulls sitting on the wooden bridges were throwing long white shadows in the blue water.
A Little Grebe once again was busy diving close to the hide, highlighting the almost mirror like quality of the water.
Time was rolling on, and the Osprey appeared to be going nowhere, while the Kingfishers had also decided not to play ball so we upped once again and set off back top the car park and something to eat.
In one of the inlets the autumn foliage was reflecting in the water, and in amongst this appeared a Great Crested Grebe.
Back at the visitor centre the feeders continued to be busy, this time I was able to catch the Coal Tit in the sunshine.
After lunch we paid a visit to the Woodland hide where the feeders were very busy. The male Brambling put in a brief appearance on the feeders but not at the window I was watching. Here the Great and Blue Tits would busy themselves from the bushes to the feeders, and a Nuthatch would cause havoc as it smashed in chasing everything away. Underneath the feeders were Chaffinches and Dunnock and this little opportunistic Bank Vole.
I was keen to try and catch the birds away from the feeders, this Great Tit posing nicely.
As did this Blue Tit too.
Just as we were about to leave this Lesser Redpoll turned up.
With about two and half hours of daylight remaining we decided to move, we wanted to have some time in the New Forest, and headed for Black Gutter Bottom with a view to walking up to Leaden Hall.
Parked off the road we walked down the track. The last time we were here a few weeks ago birds were at a premium but we did manage some poor views of Ring Ouzel. Today as we walked down the track we found a confiding Kestrel on the gorse.
We crossed the swollen stream, and walked up to Leaden Hall where there were several Starlings but little else. We walked to the other side and a little way down into Ashley Hole. Visibility was excellent but scanning across the tops of the bushes did not reveal anything. It was quiet from a noise perspective as well with the only sounds the occasional calls of Meadow Pipits.
Then we heard the distinctive "chuck" of a Fieldfare behind us, and walking up to the level ground found them along with Redwing in the Birch trees that surround the open area. The Fieldfare were mobile but a few Redwing stayed in the tree as we walked closer.
The thrushes along with Blackbirds and Linnets were using the large pools of water to bathe in, and then would fly up to the gorse and trees to dry off. Finally a Fieldfare appeared on the top of a gorse bush in the late afternoon sunshine.
These were my first of the season, and in the sunshine they look a very splendid bird.
We stood watching the birds bathing and moving through the trees and Ian managed to find a Dartford Warbler that was also preening. In fact after seeing one we started to see more, and could hear them calling from the gorse. Most of the views were distant so we started to walk through the gorse in the hope of getting some better views. The warblers kept calling but giving only partially hidden or quick views.
It was as we walked through the gorse that I picked up a stocky bird flying stiff winged towards us. As it came closer I could see that it was a Falcon, and at first hoped it would be a small one, for it to become a Peregrine as it flew past us quite low.
Not really a place and time I would have expected to see one but there was no doubt.
I then picked up a small bird at the top of a birch tree and watched as it flitted about amongst the branches. It then flew from the tree down to the gorse, a long tail and distinctive flight confirming it was a Dartford Warbler. We then watched and waited as it moved in the gorse. Finally it appeared and fortunately in the warm sunshine.
Then it moved to the next bush and foraged about around the gorse leaves.
Diving into the bush then appearing conveniently always in the sunshine
Then for the final appearance at the top of the bush in a classic Dartford Warbler pose.
The sun was setting fast and the hope was that we would be able to find a Hen Harrier or better a Merlin coming into roost. We slowly made our way down to Black Gutter Bottom where the setting sun and the golden brown bracken was creating a scene completely different from that earlier in the afternoon, it was almost turning the area into the red planet.
We made our way to the higher ground to allow views across the valley. The sun still big and large, and the sky a brilliant orange red.
Behind us we could hear the calls of more Fieldfare, and a large flock of at least a 100 birds passed overhead in the direction of the distant trees.
We stood once again watching and waiting but apart from the thrushes, and a large group of Herring Gulls we saw nothing. The sun now was almost set.
We stayed for a good while after the sun had finally disappeared in the sky, scanning in the gloom for any sign of a harrier, but we could only find the odd Crow. In the end we decided it was too dark and returned to the cars.
It hasn't been a bad week for me, some quality birds for the end of October, and with the prospect of more to come over the coming weeks.
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