Blashford Lakes - 29th Nov

Highlights were Kingfisher, Brambling, Lesser Redpoll, Goosander and Black-necked Grebe.

We started off by checking the feeders at the car park. As usual there were many birds – mostly Great Tit, Blue Tit and Chaffinch, but also a few Greenfinch and Nuthatch. After a few minutes we walked over to the North Hide overlooking Ivy Lake. Plenty of Coot, Tufted Duck, Mallard and Pochard with some Gadwall, Wigeon, Little Grebe and Great-crested Grebe. A Kingfisher that had been calling for a while finally showed itself well on the reeds in front of the hide. We walked to Rockford Lake in the hope of seeing the Great White Egret, but there was just Canada Geese and Little Egret there. Back to the centre and a Marsh Tit, Siskins and Goldfinch had joined the birds on the feeders.
The woodland hide proved very productive and gave us excellent views of Brambling, Redpoll, Siskin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch and the common woodland birds such as Coal, Great and Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Greenfinch.
After lunch in the reserve centre (where it was warm!!), we went over the road to Ibsley Water and viewed it from each of the three hides. There were lots of Wigeon and Coot and many gulls, including a large flock of Lesser Black-backed Gull. From the Lapwing hide we got good views of several Goldeneye and Goosander. From the Goosander hide we found 2 Black-necked Grebe feeding together and a few Little Grebe.
Simon Curson