First away day of the year, and it was off in search of Hen Harriers in the New Forest, the weather though had a part to play, and with quite heavy rain and strong winds the plan was to meet Ian at Blashford Lakes so that we could take advantage of the hides while it rained itself out, then hopefully we could set off into the Forest in the early afternoon.
When I arrived Ian had already secured one of the only open windows in the Ivy North hide. As I settled down a Water Rail appeared in an open patch. It was raining hard and very dull hence the very grainy picture.
On the other side of the hide a female Bullfinch had found some food amongst the bramble bushes.
While it rained we sat an watched the reed bed in the hope of seeing the Bittern, but there was nothing moving. On the lake there were Tufted Duck and Wigeon, but they were all very distant. Once the rain had stopped we walked around to the Tern Hide, and found out that we were not alone. The hide was packed, standing room only. However after awhile the numbers decreased, and it was possible to get a place at one of the windows. The weather turned once again and a squally shower came in, hides are not the best places to be when the wind is blowing straight in through the open windows.
The birds again were very distant, there were good numbers of Pintail on the far side, and Wigeon would arrive on a regular basis, There were several Goldeneye, I could see at least three males and I did manage to see three Goosander at the back of the lake, while there was also some good numbers of Pochard.
An immature male Long-tailed duck was feeding in the far west corner, again very distant and very mobile. Just as we were about to leave the reported Black-necked Grebe was found, and we settled back down to watch it as it dived its way closer and across the lake. The hope that it would come closer, was in vain, but I did manage to get an acceptable record shot.
When we finally left the Tern hide there was only two people in it, a big change from when we arrived. We made our way back to the visitor centre where a large flock of Siskin were feeding in the trees. Despite searching we could not find any Redpoll amongst them.
We decided to head off as the weather, while still rather windy was dry, and there were signs of sunshine about too.
Our first stop was Harbridge, not because there was anything reported, but because we wanted to see the site for future reference. There were several Mute Swans in the fields along with Greylag and Canada Geese and this pair of Egyptian Geese.
Scanning around the fields we also found these Roe Deer. There was in fact three another was hidden in the long grass.
Leaving Harbridge we set off for the forest, parking at the Telegraph car park. The initial plan was to walk to Eyeworth Pond, and then come back around to Leaden Hall, however as we sorted ourselves out, and I wandered around the car park area I found a Ring-tail Hen Harrier. It was flying over the heather, and was using the wind to rise and bank, then swoop low back over the heather and gorse.
We watched as it banked around and headed back into the wind before turning again and using the wind to disappear down the valley.
We waited but couldn't see it again, so decided to take the track towards Leaden Hall. The track was wet and muddy, and also very windy. The only birds we saw initially were crows, and then as we took smaller tracks we were flushing Meadow Pipits.
We finally reached the Leaden Hall area which was an open grass bank. With the wind we decided to head to an area of shelter, the objective to have a cup of coffee, and also the shelter might be a better place for a Hen Harrier to hunt.
We headed down the valley towards Ashley Hole, and as we did so Ian pointed to a male Hen Harrier drifting over the valley in front of us.
It remained quite high, and rose and fell as it negotiated the still blustery wind. Never that close, but close enough to admire this beautiful raptor I did manage to get some acceptable record shots of it.
The head looking down for any source of food.
Elated to have been able to see two Hen Harriers in the early afternoon we celebrated by drinking our coffee. We were then joined by another birder who had seen the male, and as we talked another, maybe the same bird drifted along the valley, but a little further away, this was just all too much.
We stood around and waited for another performance but it never came, so rather than be greedy we decided to set off in search of the pond. As we walked down the valley I noticed a small herd of Fallow Deer feeding in the afternoon sunshine.
The walk was to be eventful, initially with just a map, then with a map and a compass we made our way through the Islands Thorn Inclosure. Birds were far and few between, there was a few Redwing and Blackbirds, but the highlight was a Woodcock we flushed as we negotiated one of the many bogs.
Despite the best efforts, we missed the pond emerging from the inclosure north of it, and as the time was late we decided to give it a miss and walk back to the car, in a more direct route. The highlight of this trek were another herd of Fallow Deer, and a pair of Stonechat.
There was still about 45 minutes of daylight left so we drove up to the parking place near to Black Gutter, and made our way to a dry spot, joining a couple of others to hopefully watch more Hen Harriers coming into roost.
We were not let down, first a male drifted across and then dropped into the heather, and then a very distant Ring-tail also disappeared into the heather. An amazing day, I can't recall so many excellent views of Hen Harrier, and definitely never so many good views of the stunning grey male. The only down side was there were no Merlins into roost, I really am never satisfied!
Some quality birds and a great walk around an area of the forest I have never explored before, a really good start to the New Year.
The weather has been clear, bright and cold, perfect for those after Christmas walks. Yesterday we walked around both Frensham Great and Little Ponds, and saw nothing but people, today we decided that we would go somewhere where there would be birds. We could have walked around Four Marks, but that would probably have just returned the same as Saturday, so we decided to head to Titchfield, the light looked perfect, and there had been some promising reports over the last few days. As it turned out, the light was wonderful, and I filled a 4GB SD card and a little more, a long while since I have done that is a day.
When we arrived looking across the reed bed up the valley, the scene looked perfect.
We stopped to view the reed bed before heading into the reserve and were told about a fox that could be seen from the viewing point, so we headed back and sure enough tucked away in the long grass in full sun was a fox with its nose tucked under its back legs.
I moved to get a better view and it looked up to see what the fuss was.
But it really didn't care who was looking and went back again to a snooze in what was probably the one warm place on the reserve.
We set off around the east side of the reserve, and the first stop was going to be at the Knights Bank hide, but as we approached the Suffern hide turn I changed my mind, this was to prove to be the right decision.
The light as predicted was wonderful, low golden winter sunshine, clear blue sky and a still water. Gulls were perched on the posts in the the river. This Common Gull looking very nice.
I had heard a whistle as we walked up to the hide, and very soon we heard it again, then a flash of blue, and good fortune as the Kingfisher flew to the posts close to the hide.
It bobbed, and then dived into the water and successfully caught a small fish, and then returned to another dead branch that was even closer.
It then proceeded to thrash the fish against the branch.
Then gradually turn the fish until it was head first so that it could be easily swallowed.
Before it could swallow it though a Black-headed Gull flew at it and it flew off up river, still though with the fish.
That little piece of excitement over the next began to turn up. In front of the hide were a pair of Bearded Tits, and then conveniently moved through the reeds until they reached the top, and sunshine. They never came out into full view, but these photographs for me depict these birds as they are, skulking, shy beautiful spectacular birds.
In this one I love the yellow eye as if it is watching me.
The light continued to deliver, this Cormorant casting a lovely reflection.
The Kingfisher returned, however this time it preferred the other side of the river fishing from the reeds and the sticks along the edge.
It wouldn't spend long in one place, and you were able to watch the flash of blue as it flew back and forth in front of the reeds
But would quickly settle before launching another dive into the water, and always successful in its fishing.
It never returned to the close posts probably due mainly to the number of gulls about. Two pairs of Mallard flew past, again the light providing a lovely shot.
A Gadwall slowly swam in front of the reed reflections.
The Bearded Tits too moved away so we decided to move on. As we came out of the hide a Great Spotted Woodpecker called from the top of a birch tree, and Goldcrests and Long-tailed Tits called from within the marsh area. A Sparrowhawk turned the calls to alarm calls, and we just saw it flash past us.
Next stop was the Meadow Hide, a Stonechat was on the fence close to the hide.
Curlew flew around and several Snipe dropped in, but the only visible waders close enough to the hide were Lapwing.
All the main birds were distant, where the water was not frozen. There were large flocks of Teal and Wigeon, you could hear the latter whistling, but they were all impossible to see. It was much the same from the Knights Bank Hide, so we decided to head to the visitor centre for a warming cup of coffee and a bite to eat.
From the visitor centre we headed to the west side, stopping at first to see if the fox was still there, it was, and raised its head to check us again before settling down to another doze.
Next stop was the Meon Shore Hide, and we were informed that we had missed a flock of Bearded Tits in a small clump of reeds in front of the hide. You could see the chaff from their feeding on the ice below the reeds. The were still a few about, but they were distant, and not photographable.
The water was frozen apart from a patch where the water entered the scrape. This allowed a heron to wade in. It was quite graceful as it slowly walked through the water, but that bill remained a threat to anything.
It then stopped and settled down for a while, the reflection looking superb, and contrasting between the open water and ice.
There were no ducks pesent at all. A few Moorhens waddled about on the ice, and Oystercatchers were roosting on the islands. Then a small party of Teal flew in, belly flopping onto the ice.
As they tried to walk on the ice, their legs would splay away from them in a rather comical scene.
The gulls too found the ice difficult to land but preferred it to the islands.
There were a few Snipe around the outside of the pool, but apart from them and the Oystercatchers the only other wader was this Ringed Plover that decided to walk across the ice between islands.
It was going quite well until it came across a little pool, and this seemed to unsettle it, and it fell.
We left the hide and walked around to the Spurgin Hide. As we walked in a Marsh Harrier flew over the reeds, and by the time we were in position it dropped into the reeds and sat carefully on a post.
As we waited for the harrier to fly again three Teal flew into the open water in front of the hide. The water was like a mirror, and the golden light was catching the teal perfectly.
Looking across the the north we found another harrier sitting in a tree, and it was then joined by a Buzzard. Finally the harrier on the post was up, but the views were distant as it quartered the reeds. It was possible though to see that it was an immature bird, probably female from the size.
We decided to leave the hide, and as we did the immature harrier came over our heads.
We decided to have one more time in the Suffern Hide, but had to stop at the bridge to watch the Tufted Duck in once again some wonderful light and water reflections.
Looking up from the ducks a small flock of Golden Plover flew into the scrape in front of the Meon Shore Hide.
Carrion Crows are quite difficult to photograph, but this individual gave me the chance at the visitor centre while it sat calling in a conifer.
In the hide the gulls were still present and in the wonderful light provided some wonderful poses. This Black-headed Gull standing on water.
Here the opportunity to see the difference well between Black-headed and Common.
And finally this Common Gull was doing a few yoga moves before bed.
Another Marsh Harrier drifted past the hide over the reeds, this time it was an adult male, probably the bird we saw in the tree from the Spurgin Hide, the grey wing patches diagnostic.
The light continued to deliver, this pair of Gadwall dozing and making the most of the late afternoon sunshine.
The Kingfisher was still about, but again on the other side of the bank, fishing from its favourite spots in the reeds.
There were also a few Bearded Tits in the reeds, and as they came into the sunshine you could just make them out. Again these are typically the views you getof these wonderful birds.
The sun was dropping fast and it was getting cold, so we decided to leave and headed back to the car. The tide was high, and on what was left of the beach were a group of Sanderling with a couple of Ringed Plover, in a more typical habitat.
And of course the Turnstone, on the beach, and the groynes.
It had been a wonderful day, in almost perfect condition, if the re was one fault it was the frozen water that kept more of the duck and waders away. That said it has changed my view on 2015, more of which will come in the other blog.
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