Friday 24 January 2014

Today was a good day, albeit with a slow start.

 Headed off into Hampshire, first stop West Lane on Hayling Island for the European White-Fronted Goose seen regularly with the Brent Geese, alas the tide was wrong and the geese were all out in Langstone Harbour feeding so I resolved to return later in the day...

On to Blashford Lakes for the drake Ferruginous Duck, which was located after a while on the far bank. What a venue Kingfisher Lake is! The only viewing is from behind a tall mesh fence through ivy, willow and alder! Prolonged views are nearly impossible but luckily a trip back here in the late afternoon found the bird out in the middle of the lake preening and much more viewable. Really pleased to get it as I had expected a dip, not sure what the neighbours think of all and sundry birders staring through the fence though!

A quick successful trip down to Sopley for the Green-Winged Teal again and then it was back up to the Blashford Lake visitor centre to try for the Mealy Redpoll.

Friendly staff at the centre pointed me in the direction of the Woodside Hide where the feeders were abuzz with all manner of Tits, Reed Buntings, a Nuthatch, Siskins:





 Lesser Redpolls and I'm pleased to a Mealy Redpoll too:





Homeward bound and a stop off at Hayling again where the first bird in the scope was the juvenile European White Fronted Goose, now feeding happily with the Brent Goose flock: