It took a full 3 attempts to finally get to grips with a much needed Away Day which, by the time we had got just half way around our own Patch the foul weather had driven us back home. Day 2 was dogged by taking the wrong exit at the major roadworks west of Ringwood sending us into the heart of Dorset and again foresaking the quest, while it was Third Time Lucky the next day and while still early it was thought best to give the
FERRUGINOUS DUCK
(not to be confussed with this stunning image of a male bird just to illustrate the point) at Kingfisher Lake, Hurst Road, Ringwood the first go! This individual must have been returning to its favoured Winter Retreat, from mainland Europe for over a decade now which seems not to have been to the likeing of the owners. In latter years a 'canvas-like' screen has been errected, which is quite within their rights, not allowing for any views at all until the vandals cut sighting ports in to it allowing for just brief and by no means addiquate sightings - but at least we saw it! Just a little further down the road
(not to be confussed with this stunning image of a male bird just to illustrate the point) at Kingfisher Lake, Hurst Road, Ringwood the first go! This individual must have been returning to its favoured Winter Retreat, from mainland Europe for over a decade now which seems not to have been to the likeing of the owners. In latter years a 'canvas-like' screen has been errected, which is quite within their rights, not allowing for any views at all until the vandals cut sighting ports in to it allowing for just brief and by no means addiquate sightings - but at least we saw it! Just a little further down the road
comes into view with the biggest surprise, given there were no restrictions, not seeing a single soul during the whole of our visit - unheard of!
The empty but open hide did add a degree of difficulty as having to find and pick out the birds one's self
with the c2
GREEN SANDPIPER
presenting no trouble at all as with a
presenting no trouble at all as with a
GREY HERON
marching past the window at little distance at all, which were the only close quarters birds this side of the reserve. Reaching for the archive images again we did claim
marching past the window at little distance at all, which were the only close quarters birds this side of the reserve. Reaching for the archive images again we did claim
across the wide expance a number of
PINTAIL
(male right and)
(male right and)
(female)
and a short 'clip' across the gathering gloom,
and just maybe
RED-CRESTED POCHARD
and also likely the
YELLOW-LEGGED GULL
(archive image and where's Dave when you need him?)
Back across the road, where all the other hides were found to be locked,
YELLOW-LEGGED GULL
(archive image and where's Dave when you need him?)
Back across the road, where all the other hides were found to be locked,
some of the more common fare here
but scarcities in our own backyard
LESSER REDPOLL
along with
far more numerous
SISKIN
