birdwatching

Dull end to the year.

/ Andy Finnegan / 10 Comments

The last bird-watching trip of 2022. A walk around Titchfield Haven in the wind and rain on a really dull morning. Not good for taking photographs with slow shutter speeds and poor colours due to the conditions. Although a nice walk around with few other people venturing out.

A Marsh Harrier hunting the small waders.

The Mash Harrier has a wingspan of about 4 feet. There are only about 600 pairs in the UK. This bird is a male. (the female has a creamy head).

High numbers of Common Snipe were on the ponds today. In the UK some 66,500 pairs are present in the breading season however these numbers increase to 1.1 million birds during our winter months.

As well as the Snipe Lapwing numbers also increase during the Winter to some 635,000 birds.

See you next year.

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.