Once Bittern - Ian Hunter (Mott the Hoople)

Everything is back to normal here at Parley with the mantle of 'Lord' handed back to its rightful owner and chance for me to spread the wings a little further afield today.Another reasonable night as far as Moths were concerned but the trapped total amounted to just 2 x Brick. The rest of the day was bathed in bright sunshine, although a little on the chilly side, but ideal for a spot of 'birding'. With at least c2 Kingfishers now visiting the garden and Parley Pond on a daily basis, it was though worth taking a little time to stake out both but unfortunately the target bird(s) were only heard! While there a couple of shots were rattled off at this

GREY HERON

looking in 'reflective' mood,

MOORHEN

and the resident

COMMON BUZZARD
With a single report of Caspian Gull, a real 'rarity', down at the

Avon Causeway

a couple of days ago, it was a 'long shot' but well worth the few minutes drive. Not a sign unfortunately, not even in the Pig Field where it was seen to fly, but quite a lot of common Waterfowl including Mute Swan, Greylag Geese, Wigeon

along with these CANADA GEESE which flew in over my head
to land on the River Avon.

In addition there were in excess of 30 Black-tailed Godwit, a very vocal Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, lots of Lapwing along with 2 more Kingfishers. From here I ventured into Hampshire and visited the Blashford Lakes Reserve where day after day there are report of some interesting sightings. The 'pager' system is used by many birders to keep them updated with all the bird news, but when you have a friend like John Gifford, who needs such a facility. John follows my movements like a detective would his quarry and wherever I might be so the latest information is forthcoming.

Lots of potential, but on a cursory look all that was seen was the increased numbers of Wildfowl. Probably most numerous now are

WIGEON (male)

WIGEON (female)
followed by Coot.

GADWALL,

GREAT CRESTED GREBE

 and POCHARD are well represented, and luckily I managed

 to spot the female RUDDY DUCK (surrounded by Pochard) reported to me by John some days ago. This sighting I kept very much to myself as it is well known that should the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries 'Marksmen' (aided and abetted by the Royal Society for the PROTECTION of Birds) find out this tiny Duck would soon cease to exist. This bird was alone here, but such a fine sight is the male that I have dug this image out of the archive.

 RUDDY DUCK (male).

 PINTAIL
was represented by another lone bird with 

 TEAL (male) also in good numbers.

This single flower in a hedgerow is thought to be
RED CAMPION
with no doubting the identification of what was seen from the
Ivy (North) Hide.

BITTERN

have been back on the reserve for a couple of weeks now,

there are thought to be at least 2 here,

but this well camouflaged denizen

of the Reed Bed is all too infrequently seen.

With that in mind it was thought best to publish

every pose this 'fantastic' creature made

during its short visit to the clearing.

Note the 'wide open' bill!

One of the BEST 10 minute periods I have experienced
in many a day!
A few incidental shots as I wandered through the woodland but

without managing to locate the Marsh Tit that has been here for
a while now.

BLUE TIT

NUTHATCH

CHAFFINCH (female)

CHAFFINCH (male)

COAL TIT

A fine looking property in the tiny village of

IBSLEY.

Well known to 'birders' of the region for over-wintering Bewick's Swan which favour the water meadows close to the Ibsley Bridge just off the A338 Ringwood to Salisbury Road. What may not be so well known hereabouts, to myself at least, is Ibsley Common, a huge tract of open heathland surrounded by ancient woodland and well worth a visit if only for the view. Again it was John who directed me here and where I saw his reported

GREAT GREY SHRIKE

 As can be seen from the distribution map these birds over-winter

in what might be described as the more temperate zones.

 Global range - Yellow: summer only, Green: all year, Blue: winter only.

A few choose to spend these months in Great Britain and can be
'creatures of habit', returning time and again to the same site.

Entry	Pageviews
United Kingdom	904
United States	808
Germany	78
Russia	56
Estonia	42
China	23
France	21
India	9
Spain	7
New Zealand	6