I had arranged to meet Ian at Harbridge, and as I arrived the rain had eased but it was still dull damp, and unpleasant. We were here to try and find the reported Bewick's Swan. One swan has returned for the last few years, and usually we are given the run around in trying to find it, despite the regular reports. Last year it took us three visits to catch up with the swan. Ian has already tried this year without any luck, this was my first attempt.
Slowly the light increased, overhead there were large flocks of Cormorants heading north up the Test valley, in the fields there were a few Mute Swans already grazing on the grass. We decided to walk the road around past the church. As we set off I picked up a large flock of Starlings that had come out of roost, and heading out across the farmland.
The field to the north west of the church was full of Mute Swan. We paused and scanned through the visible flock. There were 98 swans present, but no sign of a Bewick's. In front of the swans were Greylag Geese. As we stood watching more geese arrived to join those already feeding.
We walked away from the junction heading north. A Raven called and we picked it up being mobbed by a pair of Crows. In the field east of the road were 16 Egyptian Geese.
We walked up to the farm, with little else of note to report. A single Buzzard was perched in a dead tree in the middle of a field, probably like us hoping that the rain would ease.
As we made our way back to the cars the rain became much harder, and as a result we didn't explore the fields along the road that turns off to the west. Back at the cars we walked to the bridge. I counted in total 176 Mute Swans visible in the area, there were probably more that I couldn't see, and probably, somewhere amongst them a single Bewick's Swan, but once again it had avoided us.
We moved on to Blashford Lakes parking just outside the visitor centre due to the construction work taking place around the main car park. Our quest was a Yellow-browed Warbler that again had been reported all week, although not the previous day. As we walked past the Woodland Hide the rain was getting harder. Walking along the track there were good numbers of Blue and Great tits in the bushes around the path and lake, but no sight or sound of any Long-tailed Tits, the birds the warbler has been associating with. We walked to the boardwalk, and stood, and stared at the moss and the raindrops falling in the water. Nothing, the only bird noise was the song of a distant Robin. We waited but the rain was getting harder.
So, vowing to return should the weather improve we walked around the the north hide on Ivy Lake. The hide was busy, and there was no sign of the Bittern, we stood and stared at reeds and raindrops this time, with nothing. We are not the most patient, and decided to try out the Tern Hide. We had the hide to ourselves, but there was very little about. In front of the hide were several Coot and this Little Grebe.
In the bay behind the hide, were good numbers of Pochard, and a further good sized group in the middle of Ibsley Water. There were also Goldeneye dotted about, mostly females. To our right the shoreline was dominated by Wigeon, with a few Pintail amongst them. On the gravel in front of the hide the flock of Linnets were still about finding food amongst the pebbles.
The Pochard would move back and forth, passing in front of the hide
The rain was now constant, and with very little sign of it easing. Attention then turned to the Coot in front of the hide. Not a bird that is usually photographed, but there is an attraction about them close up
The pure white cob and bill standing out.
Finally there was a break in the rain, and we took the chance to walk around to the Goosander Hide. Apparently there is some movement in being able to open the footpath that would make the walk a little more interesting, but today we had to walk the gauntlet of the fast cars and deep puddles on the road.
Again the hide was empty, as was the water in front of the hide. The last time we were here there was a feeding frenzy playing out in front of us. Today the water was still, into which a pair of Little Grebe swam
These little grebes are very photogenic, there size and fluffed up appearance making them irresistible, and it is also good value when they catch a fish and have to swallow it
The two grebes were apart, but every so often they would pop up close to each other, and on doing so they would call, not sure why, maybe as a contact greeting call, or a stay away threat
A Chiffchaff flew past the hide and avoided the camera as it crept through the bramble. Another then appeared calling, this time showing quite well as it searched for insects amongst the bramble.
On the water in front of us there was still little going on. Surprisingly there were no numbers of Goosander that give the hide its name. We only managed to find one red head preening on the bank
It looked as if it would stay dry, so we decided to try for the Yellow-browed Warbler once again. Walking past the silt pond just south of the Woodland Hide a drake Mallard was reflecting inthe dark water of the pond
On reaching the south hide there was more activity than earlier. A Robin was on the branches,and movement just off the boardwalk caught my eye, and I saw a small bird dart through the branches. It stopped on a branch and my first thought was Goldcrest, but the shape was different, with a distinct light wing bar. It moved again, but the flight was very warbler like. I managed to get on it again as it flitted about under the branches. This time I could see the eye stripe above the eye, and knew it was the Yellow -browed Warbler.
The next task was to get Ian onto the bird, which we managed as it crept over the moss covered logs lying on the ground. After that could we get a photograph. It was very active, and while I was able to get some good views, I decided not to give these up to try to take a photograph. This was a first for me in Hampshire, and it has ben a long time since I have seen this lovely little warbler.
Finally it flew off away from us in the direction of the woodland hide. We followed and found a flock of Long-tailed Tits, a good sign, but we couldn't find the warbler once again There was a Treecreeper with them which gave some great views as it moved up the bark of a tree close to us.
We scoured the branches of the surrounding trees, there were Blue and Great Tits along with the Long-tailed Tits,and a few Siskin but again no warbler. A small bird flew into the hedge by the path, but after a wait it turned out this time to be a Goldcrest.
It was starting to rain again, so we gave up on our search, and headed to the north hide to try our luck once again with the Bittern. Arriving in the hide there was one window free, but not the window from where the Bittern had been seen earlier.
Sitting down a Great Egret flew past the window, and out on the water a single drake Goosander.
A Water Rail crossed the channel on the left hand side of the hide, and then appeared on a cleared patch in the reeds before scurrying away into the reeds. The Great Egret then reappeared, flying again in front of the reeds and then dropped down into the reeds showing rings on the legs to indicate it was Walter the long staying egret here at Blashford.
I watched Walter wade through the trees and bushes, and then another appeared from the far side of the reed bed.
We could either have stayed and waited for the Bittern, or try for the swan once again. We were unlikely to get access to the window, so decided to try for the swan. We were encouraged by the fact that reports indicated that it had been seen in the area we didn't search in the morning.
This time we drove past the church, and this time, turning off Churchfield Lane into Kent Lane. we drove to a safe parking place where we could see a large group of Mute Swans. Ian finally found the Bewick's Swan feeding on the edge of the group of Mute Swans.
So what next? It was gloomy and we felt the only thing left was a trip to Black Gutter, there is always the chance of a raptor coming into roost. Ian had seen two Merlin earlier in the month so we set off. As I turned left to go through Fordingbridge Ian turned right. On reaching the parking place at Black Gutter Bottom I waited for him as he toured the A31 to get here!
Walking down to the stream, the scene always inspires me to take the black and white pictures
At the stream, the camera was able to brighten the actual gloom that surrounded us
We scanned the area, and spent sometime watching the horizon for any movement. A couple of crows passed but little else. Ian had seen the Merlins previously in a Holly Tree that stands out amongst the bracken to the right of the above picture. At first the tree was just that a tree, but looking again I noticed a light shape on the right hand of the tree trunk, as you can see here.
We decided that it was a bird and tried to get closer walking through and around the bog. We did manage to get a little closer, and we could see it was definitely a bird. It then flew and we could see it was a Merlin, flying away with rapid wing beats and pointed wings. The colour indicating that it was probably a male.
And that was it, a day that started with frustration delivered in the end with some quality birds.
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