07/03/2015 New Forest again!

Saturday 7th March 2015
New Forest Birding
Paul and group


Mark Ash Wood

• After a short wait, we heard the Lesser-spotted Woodpecker drumming deep in the forest so we went in search of it.  We soon found it high in the trees just ahead of us.  We had enough time to set up the scopes and get a short but very clear view of a lovely male with it's characteristic red crown.  Soon after it flew away and we never saw it again.

• Driving out of the wood we got a fleeting view of a Brambling as it flew with scores of Chaffinches.  With it's characteristic white rump it stood out from the chaffinches.

Acres Down

• At Acres Down the Goshawks showed well again today but the number of sightings was less than yesterday, probably due to  windy conditions.  We did, however, get one superb, close view of one.

• Also seen were Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk, a Raven as well as some spectacular scenes provided by flying Woodlarks.

Blashford Lakes

• We saw the Long-tailed Duck on Ivy Lake today - it usually stays on Rockford Lake.

• On Rockford Lake the most interesting bird was the female Goldeneye.  At least 6 Bullfinches were seen as we headed back from the lake on our way to the Goosander Hide. 

• From the Goosander Hide  we saw the Goosanders, of course!

• From the Tern Hide we saw the Black-necked Grebe as well as my first Mediterranean Gull of 2015.

• I saw my first butterfly of 2015 - a Brimstone.  In fact there were 2 together.   

Brimstone
Library oicture

Piper's Wait
At Piper's Wait, around 16.00 we didn't see any Goshawks but we did get good view of a Peregine as it flew from left to right in the distance.




Addition to BUBO 2015 UK Bird List:
Mediterranean Gull   (175)



Today's species list:
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Egyptian Goose
Wigeon
Gadwall
Teal
Mallard
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Goldeneye
Goosander
Little Grebe
Great-crested Grebe
Black-necked Grebe
Cormorant
Little Egret
Goshawk
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Coot
Lapwing
Mediterranean Gull
Black-headed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Woodpigeon
Stock Dove
Green Woodpecker
Great-spotted Woodpecker
Lesser-spotted Woodpecker.
Woodlark
Grey Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Mistle Thrush
Goldcrest
Long-tailed Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Nuthatch
Magpie
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Raven
Chaffinch
Brambling
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Bullfinch
Reed Bunting

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