Thursday, March 31, 2016

30 in the 29 days of February

Wednesday 3rd February after working in Bournemouth, I popped into Blashford lakes, going to the woodland hide, and seeing: Sparrowhawk, Woodpigeon, Great spotted woodpecker, Dunnock, Robin. Blackbird, Coal tit, Blue tit, Great tit, Jackdaw, Chaffinch, GREENFINCH, Goldfinch, Siskin, LESSER REDPOLL & Reed bunting. I then went to the Ivy lake north hide hoping for Bittern, I stayed there until closing time, NO Bittern, but did see: Great crested grebe, Cormorant, Grey heron, Canada goose, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Tufted duck, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed gull, Woodpigeon, I watched Wren, Robin, Goldcrest, Long-tailed tit all feeding in the reed bed & finally Magpie.



TOTAL FOR YEAR = 93

Sunday 7th February, I started at Thursley Common Surrey where with other birders, had great views of the GREAT GREY SHRIKE. I then went to Woolmer forest near Bordon Hampshire, hoping for Crossbill. The Red flags were up, so I walked around the perimeter track, seeing: Canada goose, Mallard, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted duck, Buzzard, Coot, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Redwing, Goldcrest, Long-tailed tit, Coal tit, Blue tit, Great tit, Carrion crow, Goldfinch & Siskin.







TOTAL FOR YEAR = 94

Wednesday 17th February, and as I was working near Dinton Pastures CP Berkshire, I had a lunchtime walk around the lakes seeing: Great crested grebe, Cormorant, Little egret, Grey heron, Mute swan, Canada goose, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Pochard, FERRUGINOUS DUCK, Tufted duck, Goldeneye, Red kite, Buzzard, Pheasant, Water rail, Moorhen, Coot, OYSTERCATCHER, Lapwing, Snipe, Black-headed gull, Common gull, Stock dove, Woodpigeon, Green woodpecker, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song thrush, CETTI’S WARBLER, Goldcrest, Long-tailed tit, Blue tit, Great tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Jay, Magpie, Carrion crow, Starling, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch & Reed bunting.







TOTAL FOR YEAR = 97

Thursday 18th February, and after working in Bournemouth, I went to Blackwater Arboretum New Forest, and I waited for the Hawfinches to come in to roost. While there I saw: Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Song thrush, Goldcrest, Coal tit, Blue tit, Carrion crow, Chaffinch, Siskin & HAWFINCH.





TOTAL FOR YEAR = 98

Friday 19th February, work took me to Redhill, and after I had finished the call, I went to Papercourt water meadows near Ripley Surrey. I parked up near Papercourt farm, and walked down to the lock, and then out on to the water meadows, seeing the following: Cormorant, Canada goose, Egyptian goose, Teal, Mallard, Kestrel, Pheasant, Moorhen, Black-headed gull, Stock dove, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, RING-NECKED PARAKEET, BARN OWL, Wren, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song thrush, Redwing, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Long-tailed tit, Blue tit, Great tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Starling, House sparrow & Siskin. I went for Short-eared owl but none seen.









TOTAL FOR YEAR = 100

As I had no work scheduled for Friday 26th February, I spent the day birding in Hampshire, started the day at Mark Ash Wood, New Forest. There were some other birders already there, I soon had MARSH TIT, and then heard drumming so I walked towards where it was coming from and then saw the LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER, high up on a dead branch. Also seen here: Stock dove, Green woodpecker, Wren Robin, Blackbird, Song thrush, Blue tit, Great tit, Nuthatch. Treecreeper & Chaffinch. I then went to Acres Down New Forest, when I walked up to the viewing point, two birders that were at Mark Ash Wood, were already there, and they put me on to GOSHAWK, a new bird for me, enjoyed watching these birds displaying, and one flew over us, also good views of WOODLARK. Before they left for Keyhaven/Pennington marshes (also my next destination) that told me about some Crossbills they had seen earlier. I went down into the wood and soon located the COMMON CROSSBILL, also had great views of Hawfinch. Then on to the coast, met up with the other two again I noted 57 species of bird, adding the following to the year list: SPOONBILL, DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE, LONG-TAILED DUCK, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, GOLDEN PLOVER, GREY PLOVER, KNOT, RUFF, SNIPE, BAR-TAILED GODWIT, SPOTTED REDSHANK, GREENSHANK, TURNSTONE, MEADOW PIPIT, WATER PIPIT & DARTFORD WARBLER. The total for the day was 75.











TOTAL FOR YEAR = 121