Buzzard on a stick

Every year we make at least one journey to the New Forest; the main purpose being a search for a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Unfortunately our quest has only once returned a single sighting, lasting just a few seconds, with no photographs. So to say optimism was high would be economical with the truth.  Spirits were lifted however, just after entering the Forest proper we came across a Buzzard on a branch. Not really significant to most birders I know, but on our travels we see quite a few and invariably the cameras are in the back of the car, in fact probably not out of their cases. So when we spotted this specimen Martin skilfully reversed the car and we were able to prepare and make a slow approach with cameras at the ready.  The resulting pictures are not spectacular but at least they are better than previous attempts. Of course the end result was that we got a little closer and the bird decamped. 

I did a similar exercise on Mull a couple of years ago, driving along the narrow roads, chasing Buzzards along the utility poles. I noticed one habit the birds had was to evacuate when you approached - this was no exception. Oddly the bird wasn't bothered by passing cars or lorries, just humans. On Mull they had the habit of taking off, circling round the car and landing on the pole behind, they must have known that you can't do a U turn on those roads.

Next up was the LSW venue with the expected result, just a few half-hearted drummings at long distance and a very loud Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming and calling. Plenty of Stock Doves mobile in the tree tops to provide some distraction, lots of calling too - much nicer than a Wood Pigeon's efforts. 

On to Blashford via several car parks where we stopped to listen, sadly the forest was rather quiet. So too was Blashford but I did manage to record some Scarlet Elf Cups, Sarcosypha coccinea,  well past their sell by date and during the winter I carry only one lens so they were recorded at great distance using the 300mm - I didn't even consider taking the 1.4 extender off - getting lazy.

The frogs in these parts have been pretty busy - spawn everywhere.

Eyeworth Pond at Fritham was the next venue, always good for some camera exercise. Same old subjects but a great opportunity to get close to some common birds in good surroundings. Just a bit of care and you can get shots without sunflower seeds or peanuts in the frame. Interesting to watch the behaviour of some of the birds when they are in close proximity to one another.

Coal Tit

Coal Tit

Marsh Tit

Marsh Tit

Marsh Tit

Some years ago the Mandarins here were flighty and reclusive, hiding amongst the trees on the island and far bank. Now they come and join the Mallard flock to be fed by the visitors - amazing what a handful of sunflower seed can do.

The onset of spring was obvious with the Mandarins - more males than females being one of the problems I guess. One individual was in full ceremonial dress, chest pumping, head bobbing and much grunting - all to no avail as the female he was displaying to was in fact a Mallard.

Pomp and Circumstance - full breeding regalia

This time we left the Forest with cameras at the ready, normally we find a Buzzard on the way back to the main road. Today, however, it was a pair of Mistle Thrushes that caught our attention and they were happy to come close.

Mandarins

Following a fairly hard overnight frost we made our way into deepest Hampshire, this time to Mark Ash Wood in the New Forest. Several reports of active Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers could not be ignored. After all this is a bird that figures high on both mine and Martin's want list. As we arrived at the car park several birders were already in attendance and at least one of them had seen an LSW. Mission creep reared its ugly head, how could we resist a visit to our friendly Tawny Owl that lives in a hollow tree  just a short distance away. Of course it would be a year tick for those who keep lists.

Shortly after this we heard the unmistakable drumming of the LSW and we began a search for the bird. I swear that several times we were stood below the very tree the bird was in but were unable to locate it. The bird was very mobile so we relocated back to the car park and all became silent. Martin decided to spend more time on the owl and of course while he was away the woodpecker showed, a few fleeting seconds of the bird flying over the car park, alighting in a nearby tree, several more drums and then it disappeared for good. So the upshot is that we will have to make another visit - perhaps the chance of a photograph next time.

Finally we despaired and left for Eyeworth Pond near Fritham, always good for a few birds, especially if you take some feed with you. The birds are fed regularly here and they do pose well. As we arrived it was obvious that the frosts had resulted in the pond being frozen over apart from a small circular opening, fortunately not far from our bank. Sitting in or around this feature were 13 Mandarin Ducks and a pair of Gadwall that really had not got the hang of walking on ice. As the light was good we recorded the birds, though it was fairly difficult to isolate a single subject.

 

It was inevitable, with the birds being confined to such a small area, that they would not remain peaceful. Suddenly all the drakes started posturing with their necks being stretched and feathers fluffed up, behaviour that I haven't seen before. But, with their garb, a stunning display.

 

Neck up - collar out

Whilst this was going on the resident flock of birds had discovered the mixed feed that I had liberally scattered about. Nuthatch, Chaffinch, Blue, Great, Coal and Marsh Tits, flitting in and out. Even three Muscovy Ducks were polishing off a pile of peanuts. Over in the wood on the far side of the lake several Ravens were cronking away.

Next up was Blashford, pretty unremarkable except for several Siskins. Not much to be seen from the Tern Hide either. I convinced Martin that we should have another go for the LSW, a fruitless wait in the car park again. However, an added bonus as we made our way back to the main road, I spotted a bird perched high up in a tree and my initial guess was that it was a Hawfinch - after all Bolderwood has a few residents. It was nice to be corrected by Martin who rightly identified a male Crossbill which was soon joined by a female. No chance of a shot but a snapped record just to prove our sighting.

 

Oh! a shot of a very familiar "Ollie"

 

 

 

 

Birding Hampshire Way

Out west today to find the long staying Green-winged Teal that has been in residence on the River Avon opposite Sopley cemetery. As we parked up in the entrance to the cemetery it was obvious that this was going to be the equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack, the river and the adjacent flooded fields contained a huge number of wildfowl. As I set up the scope I had a sinking feeling that we were doomed to failure, scanning each bird in turn - horizontal white stripe - horizontal white stripe. How on earth can we find it? We were joined by another birder, at least an extra pair of eyes on the job. Continuing the search - horizontal white stripe - horizontal --- no wait - vertical white stripe!! Found it. In the time it took to get Martin on the scope the bird had disappeared, try again - got it - get the other birder on to it - success.  The bird only had to turn 45 degrees and the stripe wasn't visible, at last the bird alighted on a grassy mound and stayed put - finally Martin got it. A life tick for both of us. Unfortunately the target was at least four hundred yards away - no chance of a photograph at that range.

Where next? We ended up peering through a gap in the hedge surrounding Kingfisher Lake at Blashford Pits. Standing about at the end of a cul-de-sac in a private housing estate is not a comfortable state of affairs for me - never mind that the target was an elusive Ferruginous Duck. It felt that we were wasting valuable birding time on an "iffy" bird so we left for the Tern Hide on Ibsley Lake. It was surprising how few birds were about on what is normally a well populated lake, no sign of the Red-crested Pochard, no gulls or sandpipers just two Black-necked Grebes at a fair distance. Visits to other hides on the reserve failed to produce a tick so we left for Eyeworth Pond at Fritham.

Eyeworth is normally good for a Mandarin Duck or a Goosander and either would have been welcome as photo opportunities. Also, the car park here is great for watching small birds, a couple of handfuls of bird food on the posts of the Forestry Commission gate has birds flocking in straight away. Today was no exception, as we soon had Nuthatch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, House Sparrows, Dunnock, Chaffinches, Blackbirds and Marsh Tits coming in to take advantage of the bounty.  It was great fun to lay a line of peanuts across the top of the gate being watched by a Nuthatch about four feet away.

The Mandarins normally tuck up deep under the waterside trees, so I scanned carefully and I reckoned that there were about six drakes present. Just goes to show that you can miss a lot. The birds were spooked and took to the air and I counted at least twenty five in three flocks and it is probable that there were thirty flying around the pond, the vast majority being drakes.

 

By now the sun had gone and grey clouds loomed so we set off for home. However, we were not quite finished, as we approached Arundel, Martin suggested a trip through Warningcamp to the Burgh, ostensibly for me to get a Bewick's Swan tick but actually for Martin to get Red Kite and Grey Partridge