Friday 30 November 2012

Hide & Seek - Howard Jones

Cold and frosty morning accompanied by some bright sunshine seemed ideal for a wander across the border into Hampshire and a visit to Blashford Lakes. Lots of birds but all of a common variety although enough to keep me busy for a few hours.
Met in the car park by this male CHAFFINCH
it was quickly on to the first nut-feeder which was attracting GREAT TIT,
COAL TIT,
many more CHAFFINCH, both male (top) and female
along with the first NUTHATCH of the day.
Lots of birds at the Woodland Hide where the GREAT TITs were keeping very much to the bushes,
while the resident PHEASANT was as ever showing very well.
There were at least another 3 NUTHATCH here
but probably most numerous were LESSER REDPOLL,
followed by GOLDFINCH,
the odd COAL TIT and
GREENFINCH
NUTHATCH back again, surprisingly
only a single SISKIN here
and a couple of DUNNOCK foraging the leaf-litter.
LESSER REDPOLL were joined by
c5 BRAMBLING
and another SISKIN as I left the hide.
Also there was a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER
which just capped a day of common but most welcome woodland birds.