Winter 100 - 29th March

The weather was sunny and mild. Highlights were Mealy Redpoll, Swallow, Sandwich Tern, Woodlark, Brambling, Hawfinch, Goosander and Knot.

We met at the Canadian War memorial and heard a Pheasant – the first bird – as we organised the car share. We drove down to Mark Ash and searched the woods for Lesser-spotted Woodpecker all to no avail. However we did get all the other woodland species we were looking for – Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Green Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Siskin, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Stock Dove and Chaffinch. We also heard a Tawny Owl and saw a few Redwings, two species I thought we may not get today! We stopped briefly at Bolderwood car park to use the facilities and added Pied Wagtail, Jay, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Mistle Thrush and Woodlark.
We then drove down to Hengistbury Head. The birds were not singing as much as we expected, so it took a little while to get Skylark for the day. We got a few migrants here Wheatear, Chiffchaff, Swallow and Sand Martin and we also saw Teal, Wigeon, Brent Goose, Shelduck, Little Grebe, Turnstone, House Sparrow and Oystercatcher as we walked round.
After a coffee we went on to Keyhaven. We were running a little late and so had lunch in the Gun Inn straight away. The walk around Keyhaven was very productive though. We added Cetti’s Warbler, Tufted Duck, Canada Goose, Gadwall, Linnet, Snipe, Shoveler, Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, Greenshank, Redshank, Great crested Grebe, Grey Plover, Knot, Ringed Plover, Pintail, Sandwich tern, Dunlin and Mediterranean Gull.
Off to Blashford. We quickly added Little Ringed Plover, Goosander, Goldeneye, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Grey-lag Goose from the Tern Hide. At the Woodland Hide we added Brambling, Lesser Redpoll and Mealy Redpoll. We were now on 95 for the day!! We were shown a Pochard from one of the other hides and a pair of Common Gull flew over as we walked back to the Tern Hide. We had been told that Ruddy Duck were out there and we found them before too long. 98.
Off to Blackwater Arboretum. We easily saw several Hawfinch, 99. Siskins, Goldcrest and Bullfinch all showed themselves, but we had already seen them. We really needed a Crossbill to fly over. We waited. Nothing! In the end we walked off resigned to the fact that we had got 99 for the day. Then something started singing... a Firecrest! We had done it 100 in a day.
Simon Curson