birdwatching

A trip out.

/ Andy Finnegan / 2 Comments

A trip out to some old gravel pits which are now filled with water and are now a nature reserve Blashford Lakes near Fordingbridge. The area is managed by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Although only 30 miles from home this was my first visit to the reserve.

There is a suggested entrance fee of £4 good parking and a small information area the lakes are large and a telescope is useful as many of the waterfowl are a long way off. Post Code BH24 3PJ.

Some interesting bird spots included a Great White Egret {no Photo} Tufted Duck, Wigeon and Pochards as well as a pair of Egyptian Geese.

Great Crested Grebe in winter colours.

Cormorant.

Egyptian Geese.

There was also a good number of woodland birds in the Reserve.

Goldfinch.

Long Tailed Tit.

Robin.

Bearded Tit.

/ Andy Finnegan / 7 Comments

They are small brown, long-tailed birds, a bird of the reedbeds. Males have black ‘moustaches’.They are sociable and have a noisy, call.

With modern thinking – scientists have decided this is not actually related to the tit family. It was removed from the tit family and instead placed in the parrotbills, before further research revealed it belonged alone in its own family, “Panuridae”.

Now known as Bearded reedling or Bearded Parrotbill but to me, I will stick with what I know them as!

Thursday morning I was lucky to spot a flock of 16 birds at Titchfield Haven. They were some way off but I was able to capture some acceptable images of these pretty birds.

Male.

Female