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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