Monday 24 February 2020

22nd February - Acres Down, Toyd Down and Blashford Lakes, Hampshire

This weekend I met Ian in the car park at Acres Down.  The days are drawing out now, at least 3 minutes more daylight a day.  Today though the overcast conditions did keep it rather dull and you had to question whether the sun was up at all.  Getting out of the car, a Song Thrush was in wonderful voice somewhere above us and distantly another seemed to answer the repeated notes of our bird above us.  The song of the Song Thrush is of a particular beauty, very much like a Jazz performer playing all the notes but not necessarily in the right order!

We set off down the main track, the first time this year.  Robins and Wrens could be heard in song, and in the back ground a little flourish of Blackbird, the first one heard this year so far.  We stopped at a group of conifers, mainly Larches and listened.  Above us birds were coming out of the roost, we could see Chaffinches, but nothing else stood out. Great Tits and Blue Tits called and there were smaller birds, Goldcrests or possibly Firecrests, it was impossible to tell in the gloom.

Moving on we could hear the calls of both Siskin and Crossbill above us and very briefly the call of silhouette of a Hawfinch.  We made our way to the dead tree, always a topic of discussion between the two of us, and a subject of photography.  Today I went for a different approach.



There were branches broken and on the floor, and you have to wonder with the frequency of the storms we have been getting how long this landmark will remain in place.

We followed the main cycle path with the intention of completing the loop back to the car park by walking towards Milyford Bridge and turning up over Acres Down itself.  Above us we could hear the calls of Siskin and Crossbill, and would get teasing views as they broke from the tree tops.  A Small cigar shaped bird flew across the path and I suspected we might have found one of our target birds for the day.  I confess we played the call and it broke form the tree, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.  It showed briefly in the trees before disappearing from us but we were both made up.  Its not always a guaranteed sighting but, despite the lack of photography opportunity, it was a good view.

A little further on a we came across a singing Firecrest.  Again no photo opportunity but we could follow the bird as it fed in the branches of the pine tree above our heads.  The route then turned into the wooded area and then out at the bottom of the hill where the path leads up to Acres Down.  Redwing and Chaffinches were in the trees, but then Ian pointed out a Hawfinch sitting at the top of one of the distant trees.



Here a little bit better.



We tried to get a little closer but true to form it flew off joined by two others.

Looking up the hill beyond the boggy patch we could see large flocks of Redwing coming off the ground and into the surrounding trees.  We decided to cross the bog and head towards them.  As we got closer we started to flush more and more Redwing and Song Thrush from the wet ground under the gorse bushes.  They would appear from nowhere and fly off with a "seep" call and away into the the trees at the bottom of the slope.  A couple of Mistle Thrushes flying low across the heath raised the pulses in anticipation of maybe a Merlin.

The forecast for the day was for it to be windy but overcast.  What they didn't say was that the cloud would become low and would be full of drizzle.  As we covered up the cameras and walked through the gorse there was a burst of song close by.  It was a series of melodious warbling notes that built to a crescendo in both fullness of sound while falling in pitch, the very distinctive song of the Woodlark.  They will sing in flight but will also do so from the top of a bush or even on the ground.  We headed towards where we though the song had come from but couldn't see anything resembling the Woodlark.  We flushed some small birds and followed them as they dropped back into the heather.  These though looked more like Meadow Pipits.

As the drizzle eased we walked along the shelter of a line of trees, heading towards the Acres Down viewpoint.  On reaching the main track across the down we heard the distinctive song once again coupled with a repeated call that sounded like "tuluwee tuluwee".  We could tell the bird was close but couldn't see it on any bush.  I scanned the ground and found it on the edge of a puddle in the middle of the main track, perfectly camouflaged in the twigs and branches of the heather.



it continued to call repeatedly, the crown raised as it appeared to look around the area.



Then it flew up while still calling and was joined by another and they gained height and flew around our heads before dropping away out of sight again. We walked on a little further and came across the two birds once again.  The calls once again alerting us to them.  We were able to get closer using the cover of the gorse bushes.



Both birds were visible and both were calling as if displaying to each other.



While one bird would call the other would flatten itself to the ground as if being submissive to the other.  When the other bird appeared to have no interest in this behaviour it would fly at it and chase it away.



We surmised that these were a pair, both adult birds having similar plumage it was impossible to tell.  The only indicator is that the female is slightly smaller which we could not determine.


The woodlark favours open, dry habitats with short grasses. It can be seen all year-round, but is most notable in February and March when displaying and singing ahead of the breeding season.  Mostly, it is a resident bird in the forest, feeding on seeds and insects, but does move to farmland stubbles for the autumn and early winter, and in bad winter weather move south to warmer areas.  Nesting is early with eggs laid in late March in a nest on the ground.  Incubation takes between 11 to 13 days.


Adult woodlarks have reddish-brown crowns and upperparts with black streaks. Their rumps are brown and the wings have pale tips and edges. Flight feathers are dark brown and the tail is dark brown with black stripes and white tips.

Woodlarks’ underparts are buff coloured, their breasts are streaked with black and there are grey streaks on the flanks. they have a pinkish-brown bill, dark brown eyes and pink legs and feet. Their hind toes having a long claw.  




Here the crest raised as the two birds continued to call at each other and go though the "lay flat on the ground and when you ignore me I will chase you off" behaviour/



Then one chase ended with both birds flying off and we decided to leave them to it.  We could see a group of birders collecting at the viewpoint.  This seemed a complete waste of time because in the conditions there was very little chance of a Buzzard appearing let alone the Goshawks that the area is well known for.  We would be returning on a white fluffy cloud day for that.

As we stood talking to them a pair of Ravens flew past battling against what was now quite a forceful wind.



We made our way back to the car park and debated the next place to visit.  It was either to be Blashford or maybe a visit to Toyd Down just close to Martin Down.  We had never been here and the attraction was one of the reintroduced Great Bustards that has been present there for sometime.  In the wind and rain we decided against the warmth of a hide at Blashford and decided on the trip to the north of the forest.

Pulling onto the A31 and heading towards Ringwood in driving rain I was questioning the decision, but as we drove past the turn for Blashford the rain had stopped and it was relatively dry.  The sat nav took us onto the road that leads through Harbridge.  Just over the bridge the fields were flooded and we stopped to have a look through the swans.  There was nothing of note besides the Mute Swans and a single Little Egret.  But as we scanned a pair of Kestrel flew low across the water and dropped down onto the road.



It seemed quite strange both birds landing on the road, and the behaviour became even strangers as they hopped around after each other, the the female appeared to offer herself by leaning forwards, raising her wings and crouching down.  The male wasn't at all interested!



they were most likely using the road as this was the driest spot in the area, but it didn't appear to do anything for the male.

In amongst the flooded meadow and the clumps of grass was a patch of Marsh Marigolds some of the earliest I can recall.



The sat nav was telling us to head through the village but ahead was a large flood across the road.  Some cars were driving through but I decided it wasn't worth the risk and so turned around and took the road through Fordingbridge.  On reaching the little village of Tidpit you turn right and follow a single track road up hill, parking just before the Farm.  From here the track turns into a bridleway with fields with sheep and crops on either side.

Heading along the track we scanned the fields in search of a large bird, but all we found to start with was a small covey of Red-legged Partridges.  Then a little further along a smart male Yellowhammer.  There were also a group of Yellowhammer around some feeding troughs in the field to the south of the track.  Closer inspection also revealed a few Corn Bunting.  When they flew up they headed out across the field settling amongst a group of Starling, but on closer inspection we could see many more Yellowhammer and as many Corn Buntings as well.  I can't recall seeing so many Corn Bunting here in Hampshire, there must have been around 50 present.

A pair of Stonechat were on the cropped hedge that ran along the northern side of the track.  The male Stonechat looking very smart in full breeding plumage.



As we continued to scan the Yellowhammers flew around us once again.  This female settling on the hedge behind us.



A Red Kite was cruising over the fields, occasionally being mobbed by crows.



It finally settled down in the field and appeared to be eating the remains of a rabbit.



We decided to walk the track as it rose up over the down and then down the otherside.  A strip of trees was providing cover for thrushes as they fed on an open field close by.  Redwing, Fieldfare, Mistle and Song Thrushes could be seen flying to and fro the field and the trees.  A male Yellowhammer posed nicely on the hedge before us.



Checking the map it was possible to walk a loop around the area, so we turned off the main track and headed back up hill moving away to the south.  A partridge flew across and what we first thought was a Grey Partridge turned out to be a Red-legged on photographic evidence.  A pair of Roe Deer were settled in the field, and behind them were two Brown Hares.  A little further along another Brown Hare appeared along the edge of the field.  Still distant but a little closer than the earlier two.



Considering the weather earlier as we had left Acres Down the conditions now were superb in comparison, if not still with a very brisk wind.  Tod Down is to the west of Martin Down, nad it was nice to look across and be able to pick out Bokery Dyke on the horizon.  The area here is very similar with rolling hills and farmland, it just lacks the grassland that is present on Martin Down.  The way the area is farmed though appears to be for the liking of the bird life if the numbers of Yellowhammer, Skylark, Corn Bunting and all the Thrushes present are to be used as a guide.

We were heading down the path now towards the main track we had walked earlier.  A quick check of Go Birding told us that the Great Bustard had been reported at midday in a sheep field alongside a crop field.  This could only be where we had passed earlier, how could we have missed it.  We carried on a swifter pace down the hill, only pausing to enjoy the amazing view.



A Red Kite, the same bird as earlier was quartering the sheep field to the south, the field we considered to have the Bustard.  It came close cruising in the strong wind.




We scanned the field to the south there was nothing, but was the field next to the sheep field a crop field or just grazing.  On closer inspection it looked like grass.  So we decided to take a look on the other side.  In the distance is a Kale field that it has been seen in before, in front of that there were sheep grazing, and next to it on the western side was what looked to be a good candidate for a crop field.  Due to a hill we couldn't see all the field so I decided to walk back to see if I could get a better view.  As I did so Ian called out he had found the bird.  It was at the very far side in the north eastern corner of the sheep field.  We walked down to see if we could get marginally closer.  This was the result.




This is a re-introduced bird, in the UK, the great bustard became nationally extinct when the last bird was shot in 1832. This iconic species of the Wiltshire landscape returned to the UK in 2004 when the Great Bustard Group initiated the 10-year trial reintroduction.  Initially Russian birds were introduced but these did not fair too well, and in the last five years birds from Spain have been introduced


Over the last 15 years, hundreds of birds have been released on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire by the Great Bustard Group (GBG) and a "self-sustainable" population of about 100 great bustards has now been established in the UK.  They are now beginning to wander and there have been reports not just of this bird but of sightings in Sussex, and another individual just outside Keyhaven.

Frustratingly this one continued to move away, the combination of the colouring of the bird and the ground making it had for the lens to pick out a smart image.


It is thought that the word Bustard is derived from ‘Bustarde’ and ‘Bistard’ which date back to at least the fourteenth century, having been recorded as a surname in 1391. Most sources state that this is derived from the Latin avis tarda, meaning slow bird. This became abetarda or betarda in Portuguese, avutarda in Spanish, ottarda in Italian and oustarde and bistarde in Old French. It is suggested that the English is derived from a blend of the two French words with the form Bistard found in some 16th and 17th century sources. Great Bustards had traditional local names in different parts of the country. In Sussex they were called ‘Shepherd’s Wild Turkey’.

It moved further away associating with the sheep and now following the edge of the kale field.  Another awful blurred photograph, but you get the picture (or not)!


There is only a certain amount of time you can spend staring at a spec in the distance so we decided it was time for some lunch.  Ian had to leave early so I decided to pop into Blashford Lakes.  The weather was turning once again, cloud moving in from the west.  We were grateful for the sunshine on our walk around the chalk downs.

Over the period of the two named storms Blashford has taken a beating.  I certain areas trees have blocked boardwalks and the main car park at the Tern Hide was flooded and the hide subsequently closed.  As I pulled into the reserve you could see signs of these events with still large puddles dotted around.  I decided that the first hide to visit would be the Woodland Hide.  On entering there was no one else present and I settled down by the only open window.

Blue and Great Tits were using the feeders while Chaffinches patrolled underneath for any fall out as I sat down.  No sooner had I raised the camera to a ready position than a chorus of alarm calls rang out and everything scattered.  From the left side of the hide cane a blur of bluish grey and a male Sparrrowhawk settled in the branches of the bush just outside the window.  It was that close that with the lens at 400mm it was too close and I couldn't get it all in.



Its always about those eyes, the wide pupils showing inky black against the striking orange iris, menacing and forbidding.



It sat still at first as I scrambled the adjust the lens, then switched positions allowing me one opportunity to capture the whole bird before it was off twisting through the branches with amazing agility.



At home when we get one of these visits in the garden it takes awhile for the birds to return to the feeders but here they returned almost instantly.  A Blue Tit waiting for the opportunity.



A Nuthatch appeared in the same bush that the Sparrowhawk had been in, carefully watching and waiting for its clearance to attack the feeders.





Unusually a single Long-tailed Tit sat in the branches.



They seem to be my staple diet for the camera recently.



In a short while they will be pairing up and leaving the roaming flocks to start to build there beautiful nest ball of spiders web, lichen and moss.



A Goldfinch waited for its chance, the head covered in the dust from pushing into the feeder to get to the seed.




Finally a Great Tit, plenty of these about and several belting out the "teacher" calls that are one of the signs of spring for me.



I had hoped for a Redpoll or maybe a Brambling but nothing happened, so I decided to leave and try another hide.  A spell in the Ivy Lake South failed to deliver anything other than large groups of Wigeon, Cormorants in the trees and Tufted Duck in front of the hide.

Next was a visit to the new Tern Hide.  It has been about since May of last year but this was my first visit and I can't say I was that impressed.  First impressions are of a large hide, but once inside there is only about half of the area that points out across Ibsley Water that actually has opening windows.  To the right it is shit off, while to the left about a third of the building has ceiling to floor windows that do not open, and the glass is covered with the same material used to screen the glass used in the Woodland and Ivy North hide.  This means that trying to look out to the left and the south west corner of the lake you have to battle with a reflection on the glass from the windows that do open looking north.

I was able to sit and scan with the telescope.  Most of the wildfowl was tucked out oif the wind on the westerns hore.  There were plenty of Pintail, Wigeon, Pochard Tufted Duck and Shoveler.  I could also make out several drake Goosander.  To the north there was at least 5 male Goldeneye with the same number of females.  As usual the birds were keeping away from the hide and anything that was close was tucked to the side where the windows made viewing impossible.

On my way home I popped into Alresford to check the water cress beds at Pinglestone and Drayton.  There was hardly anything about besides some Mallard, a Little Egret and plenty of Woodpigeon.  The rain was returning and I made my way home.  An interesting day with plenty of year ticks, the Great Bustard and Sparrowhawk encounter the stand outs, but once again the weather did not play ball, one has to hope the spring comes soon and with it much better weather.

Sunday 16 February 2020

15th February - RSPB Dungeness, Kent

Another weekend, another storm, this time Storm Dennis and its arrival was timed this weekend from Saturday.  Looking at the forecast it looked like the dry weather would be to the east, with the rain due around early afternoon, so it was to the east I went, with the opportunity to see one of the iconic winter birds, and one that I haven't seen for a few years now.

It was raining as I left home, and this stayed with until I turned on to the M26.  I was off to Dungeness, one of the driest spots in the country, with one area of the National Nature Reserve designated a desert due to the amount of rainfall.  I was going to the RSPB reserve though, and I pulled in past the farm buildings and pulled over to check the first pool.  The last time I had been here I had found a Ring-necked Duck almost immediately.  Today I was hoping to catch up with a drake Smew, a beautiful little saw bill, similar in size to a Goldeneye.  Its alternative American name is the White Nun, reference to its white plumage which takes on a cracked ice and panda appearance.

A scan of the pool though only produced Tufted Duck.  The bird had been reported from other areas of the reserve, so I decided to cross the road and view the ARC pits from the hide.  I was on my own in the hide, and pretty much out on the water too.  There were good numbers of Coot and Shoveler but very little else.  I returned to the area around the farm, checked the pool again but nothing, and then spent sometime around the farm buildings in the hope of maybe a Tree Sparrow, but the best I could muster was a Reed Bunting.

Back at the pool, an immature Marsh Harrier drifted across sending lots of the duck for cover.



I headed on to the visitor centre and went and checked the main pits, again the only one in the hide, and little else but Coots out on the water, in fact I don't think I can recall ever seeing so many Coot.  As I sat contemplating the number of Coot a Grey Heron flew across the water and past the hide.



If the number of Coot was something to think about after a walk around the car park and the willow scrub I was also considering the number of Great and Blue Tits in the remote and windswept area.  There are feeders and I wondered if they were here because of the feeders in which case was this creating a false environment?  What would happen if the feeders were not kept full?  As well as the tits there were Chaffinches and Greenfinches and at times there were little snippets of song.

I left the car park and walked around the main loop.  At the Makepeace Hide there was a group of Black-tailed Godwits roosting on one of the shallower parts of the pit.



I kept checking all the open water for any sign of something that was black and with a white bill, but without any luck.  I did though manage to get close to one of the Coot.  For some reason it appeared to be interested in something in the water and showed no concern for me as I got close.



Outside the Christmas Hide there is an area of scrub and gorse.  A sign there says sit and wait as this is a good spot where a lot of the smaller birds seek shelter.  So I did.  A Cetti's Warbler rattled out its song from within the gorse, but never showed itself, then a large flock of Long-tailed Tits appeared, they busied themselves searching amongst the lichen for any food and I was able to sit and photograph them.



This one sat out in the open calling and listening for a response from the flock.






The flock then moved to the gorse and they foraged amongst the branches, again showing a lot of attention to the lichen and spiders webs.




As well as the Long-tailed Tits there were Great and Blue Tits and also a pair of Goldcrests that were very vocal.



The sun was now threatening to come out which considering the forecasts of doom issued throughout the week was a big surprise but also quite welcome.  I walked to the Denge Marsh Hide, again empty, but out over the marsh and water a Marsh Harrier floated by with that rocking flight, while on the water a Great-crested Grebe appeared from behind the waves whipped up by the strengthening wind, the only sign so far of the impending storm.



Amazingly the grebe managed to stay in the same spot despite the wind and waves so I can only assume its feet must be constantly paddling beneath the waves, not much of a rest!



Then a passing Coot (what else!) spooked the grebe and it raised its head to check it wasn't in danger.



On Hooker's Pit there were islands that provided shelter and still water from the wind.  Here Tufted Duck bobbed around with their heads tucked under their wings.



Shoveler came out from under the branches of the trees on the island.  They were concerned by my presence, lifting their bottle green heads in concern.




Then finally bursting from the water to escape from the perceived threat.



Tufted Duck swam past me, always a lovely duck to photograph in dark water.




Gadwall were also present, the drakes and understated beauty with the vermicelli waves on the flanks and breast.





Once upon a time Pochard were a common duck on reservoirs but just recently there numbers have reduced and today to come across a Pochard, especially in Hampshire is a treat.  Here a male was at rest close to the branches.



But was disturbed, much to its annoyance by a Tufted Duck and decided to move away.



This was the only drake I could see, but there were at least four females.



As I lft the duck I saw a Stoat dash across the road, but what caught my attention was the very black tip to what was a white tail.  Fortunately it appeared in the field, moving along the bank of a ditch.



Stoat do acquire a winter coast that is thicker and in northern areas of the country they also change to a white coat, known as ermine.  However in the south of the country they normally keep the same colour as the summer coat if not a little thicker.  Dungeness is very much in the southern part of the country, but this individual has started to acquire a white winter coat.  It is even more unusual as this has been one of the mildest winters for some time, with no snow along the south coast.

I made squeaking noises and the Stoat stopped and looked at me.



There were spots of white on the forehead, it wasn't clear if these were as a result of the change to a winter coat or just some leucistic fur.



Then it was gone, scurrying along the bank and then away through the grass and out of sight.  I walked on reaching the main track that leads into the reserve.  From here I had another view of Tanners Pool where I found the drake Smew, but unfortunately very distant.



Then as almost as soon as I found the Smew a Marsh Harrier flew across the lake scattering the duck before doing the same to the Lapwing and Golden Plover as it made its way across the field.



There must have been around 500 Golden Plover in the field and surprisingly not all of them went up as the Marsh Harrier flew through.



While the Marsh Harrier was terrorizing the waders on the field four Coot were going at each other in front of me.  When Coot fight they really go for it, wings raised and feet and claws thrust forward in battle.



I relocated the Smew but it was still very distant.  It has been some time since I have seen a wild drake Smew, I had hoped iit would have been a little closer for photographs but the scope views were wonderful.  I referred earlier to the cracked Ice and panda look, this is due to the fine black line on the flanks and the dark patches around the eye.  The record shots do not do this gorgeous duck justice.



While the Smew is considered a British bird the truth is that it is not very british.  Even the remnant we do receive is second-hand, so to speak. Smews travelling south-west after breeding tend to settle for the winter in Holland, on a huge lake called the IJsselmeer, where they stay if they can, and may number 10,000 birds. It must then take a surge of freezing weather to drive decent numbers of Smews over the North Sea or English Channel to Britain. The first arrivals are usually in November, but many do not stumble over here until January or even February, ensuring that their stay is startlingly brief.


Smews don’t even send us many of their best. Although the females, and the similarly plumaged first-winter immatures, are distinctive and dapper birds, they cannot compete for sheer looks with the males. A true Smew is a male Smew, with its authentically snow-tinged plumage and smart black blobs and lines that break up its outline. Yet we receive many fewer of these than females and immatures. The reason is a phenomenon known as differential migration. In many species of birds, different age classes of birds have different migratory profiles. Most typically, adult males undertake the shortest journeys, staying as close as possible to the breeding grounds so that, when the time comes, they can sprint quickly to occupy their high latitude territories. Females also tend to be smaller-bodied than males, and potentially suffer in competition with them, so they migrate longer distances, keeping them away from the males and allowing them to nestle in more gentle climates. But the result of this differential migration is that we, at the far end of the Smew’s migration, are starved of seeing the handsome males. The migration is differential, and also discriminatory.

Those that do arrive though keep to familiar sites and Dungeness is one of those sites.  It could be that this male will return later in the year or early next year, a lot will depend on the weather in Holland.  The concern this year is the number of this gorgeous little duck arriving in Britain.  Numbers have been around 500 but this year there have barely been 100 sightings.

I watched this drake diving, and tried to get a suitable photograph, but this was the best of a pretty bad lot.


The core of a Smew’s life, its breeding season, is also lived in faraway places – in the northern taiga to be exact. The taiga is the complex of vast, mainly coniferous forests and wet bogs and marshes that dominates the land south of Eurasia’s cold tundra zone. It starts well to the north of Britain, and our nearest breeding Smews are in northern Sweden, Finland and European Russia. They are scarce there, with quite exacting habitat requirements. They need small, productive, still or slow-flowing pools surrounded by forests of large trees, including dead ones. And they also need a very specific property developer to be present, the Black Woodpecker. This big, chisel-billed excavator is often the only maker of holes large enough for these ducks to use for their nests.

The clouds away to the west were darkening and there were spots of rain about.  I dragged myself away from the duck and started the walk back to the car park.  The distant power station started to disappear as the rain became heavier, I was walking into the wind and the rain was sending it into my face.  It looked like the storm was arriving so I decided to have lunch and then head back, the weather en route home would probably be worse than iot was here.

As I drove back down the rack I stopped to check the Smew once again in the hope it was maybe closer.  It wasn't it was still distant.  I set off happy with the sighting which, despite the lack of photograph opportunities, was still a good one.  I wonder when I will get the chance to see and photograph a drake Smew in this country again?