Blackwater Arboretum - Sat 19 Feb

After a relaxing start to the day, Ellie and I headed off to the small village of Rockford just north of Ringwood where we met up with our friends Laura and Paul for lunch at the Alice Lisle Pub. After an extremely good meal and a chat we decided to head off to Blackwater Arboretum for an afternoon stroll...and hopefully some birds!
It was a little after 3.30pm by the time we reached the arboretum and as we entered the grounds we were beckoned over to a group of birders who were watching a fir tree, and before long we saw why as a couple of male and a female Crossbill were showing well feeding on the fir cones.


After watching the birds for ten minutes or so we walked in to the middle of the arboretum so that we had a good view of all the surrounding trees, and before too long a shout rang out as some Hawfinches had be found. Over the next half an hour or so we had some great views of at least four birds.


Before we realised it time had ticked on to nearly 5.00pm, so it was time to head off home. As we reached the car park, we saw a small group of three or four Siskins. Bidding our farewells to Laura and Paul we came on home after a great afternoon out.
UK list for 2011 now at 164 species.