Friday 13 December 2013

FARE - ORDINAIRE

The forecasters told of a pulse of rain passing through our region overnight, hence the rain-guards on the traps, but according to the gauge none fell. Mild, overcast and more or less wing-free there were c8 December Moths between the three traps this morning but no Thrushes on the 'apple festooned' Ash tree.With bad weather predicted and looming it was thought best to nip down to
 and more particularly
 IBSLEY BRIDGE
and adjacent WATER MEADOWS to see if any
Bewick's Swans
had arrived there yet.
 A scan around produced just a few
 MUTE SWANS
along with this small gaggle of
CANADA GEESE
 The arable land to the north west of here past
HARBRIDGE HOUSE
 and IBSLEY CHURCH
 are also worth a look, in fact anywhere along the
Hampshire Avon Valley could be good.
No returning birds were found so Blashford was next
 via the OLD BEAMS PUBLIC HOUSE,
where a MERLIN was seen
 and another rather nice property among the trees.
 First to be photographed at the lake
EGYPTIAN GOOSE
female GADWALL,
 one of c7 female RUDDY DUCK,
and a group shot of the same Ruddy (distant), a pair of WIGEON
(centre) and a COOT either side.
This dapper gent was also some way off from the hide
RUDDY DUCK
along with all the other usual Wildfowl such as
male WIGEON,
 female WIGEON,
 male GADWALL,
 LITTLE GREBE,
 CORMORANT
plus Goldeneye, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Greylag Goose,
Pintail and reports of Red-crested Pochard not seen.
Crossing the road to the south side of the reserve my arrival
coincided with that of 15 young mums, a young dad and their
attendant toddlers.
 A brief chat before spotting these 2 tiny FUNGI and then this
 SONG THRUSH
Entering the Woodland Hide there was time to note that the
 BANK VOLES
 had seen a successful breeding season as today there were c6 there
just before the afore-mentioned mum's arrived. To be fair there was  a good deal of apology for the noise being made but as I pointed out "at least your children are away from the Idiot's Lantern (TV), X-Box etc and seeing something of nature". Get 'em while they're young! The hubbub was short lived, and getting back to the wildlife that is when the rain started in earnest seemingly driving more birds in to feed.
 GOLDFINCH
 DUNNOCK
female CHAFFINCH
BLUE TIT
 DUNNOCK again
 GREENFINCH
 GREAT TIT
 male CHAFFINCH
BLUE TIT
 GOLDFINCH
 COAL TIT
 and as can be seen from the droplets the rain was now heavy.
 NUTHATCH
 GREAT TIT
 and more FUNGI
BRACKET of sorts and maybe
ORANGE PEEL????
Not what you would call 'MEGA' birding, but just to sit alone in a 'QUIET' hide (a novelty alone) with the rain pouring down and all that avian action almost within touching distance! 'ORDINAIRE' ALRIGHT??
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