Keyhaven NR - Thu 6 Mar

I spent a couple of hours this morning at Keyhaven, though made the mistake of paying two quid for the car park when if I'd driven a twenty metres up the road I there was loads of space to park for free! I was going to take the coast path but a sign stated the path was closed, so it was along the cycle path towards Lymington, with a very obliging Cetti's Warbler putting in an appearance.
There was not much else to see along the way, so I made straight for the flooded area at the back of Fishtail Lagoon where a Long-billed Dowitcher had been present, though it did not show during my visit! A flock of sixty-seven Golden Plover were a nice sight though, with a couple of birds starting to moult in to summer plumage.
After a brief chat with a dog-walker I found out the coastal path was in fact open, so I followed this back towards the car. This proved to be much more productive, with the tidal flats producing three Bar-tailed Godwits and a couple of Grey Plover amongst the more numerous Dunlin and Turnstone.
One of the lagoons I passed held a couple of Pale-bellied Brent Geese, well apart from the Dark-bellied Brent Geese that were out on the mudflats. A real surprise came in the form of a Dartford Warbler that showed really well as it sang from a gorse bush right next to the path, and rounded off a really nice trip out.

Rhinefield Arboretum - Wed 5 Mar

A visit to Rhinefield Arboretum this morning and a pleasant walk in the Spring-time sunshine. A mixed bag on the bird front with several displaying Siskin being seen, the male birds looking wonderful in the sun. There were lots of Goldcrests about too, and I heard about three Firecrests calling but couldn't pin any down unfortunately. The usual woodland species were present, including Treecreeper, Nuthatch and Jay. When I returned to the car park I spotted a very smart male Crossbill alongside a female bird. I also managed a very brief return visit after lunch which was not that eventful...until a Goshawk flew over!

Stanpit Marsh NR - Tue 4 Mar

What a difference a day makes, I popped along to Stanpit late afternoon (after a brief stop at Avon Beach where I noted sixteen Turnstone and little else!) and the lake that was present yesterday morning had all but gone. I made for the path that follows the gold course and looked down over Priory Marsh. I located at least three Water Pipits amongst several Pied Wagtails and Black-headed Gulls.

A Siberian Chiffchaff was also seen, alongside a Common Chiffchaff.
I then walked back towards the visitor centre and out on to Crouch Hill where I scanned the area. Several Wigeon and Dark-bellied Brent Geese were grazing whilst on the water there were loads of gulls gathering, though all common species...at least that's all I could find. A large flock of Dunlin was present and several Redshank were also seen.
A quick scout around the trees located nothing in the way of interesting passerines, except for another Chiffchaff, so as it was getting cold I decided that would do for the day.

Hengistbury Head - Tue 4 Mar

A lovely day and a very enjoyable morning at Hengistbury Head. Walking out from the main car park to the end of the beach huts, I got the Land Train back for an enjoyable rest. On the bird front there was very little around, a few Skylarks singing overhead indicated Spring is well on the way, whilst a few Meadow Pipits and a couple of Rock Pipits were seen. Other than that is was pretty much what you would expect, but a brilliant morning out despite the lack of birds.

Blashford Lakes NR - Mon 3 Mar

Slightly later than I was hoping but I did manage to get to Blashford Lakes this afternoon, arriving with a little under a hour before the car park were locked! I made straight for the Woodland Hide and amongst the gathering of feeding finches I located the long-staying Mealy Redpoll, so a result with my first target bird ticked off. Also from the hide I saw several Siskin and Lesser Redpoll amongst the more usual woodland birds. With time against me I then made a flying visit to Ivy Hide, but saw nothing different.
Back to the car and a short drive up the road followed by a walk out to Goosander Hide, where I saw five Goosander! I also saw a drake Red-crested Pochard amongst a small flock of Tufted Duck.

There were also several Pintail and half a dozen Goldeneye. Checking the time I realised I had to get a move on, so back to the car.

 

Ten minutes later and I was parked up at the end of Hurst Road and following the public footpath alongside Kingfisher Lake. What a nightmare, it's a private lake with very little in the way of viewing. I did see a Kingfisher and after a lot of searching I finally got the hatrick with regard to the birds I was after as I located the drake Ferruginous Duck.

After enjoying the bird for a few minutes I had to head off after a peasant few hours out.

Stanpit Marsh NR - Mon 3 Mar

A pretty brief visit to Stanpit Marsh this morning and the pretty much the entire site was under water. I headed out to Priory Marsh first, but no point really, just a lake, though a Water Pipit did fly over calling, so not a completely wasted walk. I then walked out to the visitor centre and scanned the water, lots of wildfowl, mainly Wigeon and Teal and a hundred or Dark-bellied Brent Geese, but that was about it, so I simply left!

Sopley & Blashford Lakes - Sun 2 Mar

A trip to Sopley, just north of Christchurch today, and I was hoping to locate the drake Green-winged Teal that had recently been seen in the area. Trips before and after lunch produced the same result, and that was a negative! That being said amongst the thousands of birds on the flooded River Avon I did see a pair of Goosander, somewhat unusual considering the area is usually farmland! A real surprise was a drake Ringed Teal, which I doubt made its way to the Dorset/Hampshire border from South America unaided! I wouldn't hazard a guess at the number of Black-tailed Godwit and Lapwing present, but it must have numbered around a thousand.
After lunch I made another flying visit, this time seeing a couple of Ruff and a brute of a Raven having a go at a rabbit which a Buzzard had caught and abandoned.

A couple of partridge also flew over the road but moved so quick I couldn't determine the species. A small flock of Pintail joined the mass of Wigeon, Teal and Shoveler.
I then moved on to Blashford Lakes and with limited time spent about twenty minutes in Tern Hide over looking Ibsley Water. A drake Goosander flew over whilst on the water at least half a dozen Goldeneye were present. A single Egyptian Goose was on the water's edge amongst a flock of grazing Wigeon.