Ellie and I had some wedding business to sort out in the New Forest and spent the evening on 27th with friends in Verwood and then took the opportunity to get out and about on Sunday. Unfortunately the weather was not very helpful and as a result there were few birds showing in the New Forest.
We tried and failed to find a wintering Great Grey Shrike near Burley, but did see a Merlin as well as a few commoner species.
A visit to Rhinefield (Blackwater) Arboretum was too early in the day for Hawfinches. So we headed back to Blashford Lakes HWT to have a walk around.
Fortunately, there were some birds here! As we walked to the visitor centre we saw at least three cracking male Bramblings feeding by the bird feeders, as well as numerous Siskins and Lesser Redpolls, and I was lucky enough to find a Mealy Redpoll in with them.
On Ivy Lake we saw several duck, though nothing out of the ordinary. So we walked over to Ibsley Water to see if anything was about. Five redhead Goosanders were roosting on the shingle bank to the right of the hide, whilst on the water a drake Pintail was showing well and at least three Goldeneye were seen. As I looked through the gathering gulls, I found at least one 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull.
Also from the hide we could see an Oystercatcher and probably over 100 Black-tailed Godwits...somewhat surprising this far inland. With the weather starting to turn dismal again and the temperature dropping, we headed off for home mid-afternoon.
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