Stay Signed In
Do you want to access your site more quickly on this computer? Check this box, and your username and password will be remembered for two weeks. Click logout to turn this off.
Stay Safe
Do not check this box if you are using a public computer. You don't want anyone seeing your personal info or messing with your site.
Mockbeggar & Blashford Lakes, nr Fordingbridge, Hampshire.
We are now in full swing with migration underway in earnest. Apparently, we are supposed to be going into a mini heat wave but you would never of guessed this morning, as it was fairly cold to begin with, while I was watching the birds on Mockbeggar Lake. My old pal, Geoff Farwell was in King Somborne and he said it was cold up there also. But as the day progressed, the sun burnt the clouds away and bright very warm sunshine ensued (poetic, eh?!)
Though overcast at first, Mockbeggar came to life with a good number of month ticks. Amongst the wildfowl, my first Pochard (a drake) was seen sleeping amongst many Coots and Tufted Ducks. Gadwall was in good numbers and a count of at least 10 Wigeon was seen on the Lake. A sweep through the scope revealed up to 32+ Great Crested Grebes on the water and at least 10+ Little Grebes. Occasionally, Mockbeggar can hold a rarer grebe, especially in the Autumn, but no diamonds today. A Great White Egret was present yesterday on this site but despite a good search, there was no sign of the bird. Amongst the Grey Lag Geese and Canada Geese, I picked up my first Little Ringed Plover of the Autumn, a fine adult as well. But there were no other waders present which was disappointing. A Temmincks Stint graced the site a little while ago.
A Green Woodpecker flew past in front of me and in the shoreline trees and brambles, a flock of Long-tailed Tits held at least four Chiffchaffs searching for food with them. A look on the pool further up Mockbeggar Lane revealed several Jays and more Gadwall and Mallard, but little else. A quick look on Ivy Lake was quiet also, but I did get my first Goldcrest of the month. One memorable sight was a flock of House Martens swirling around one of the northern pools and then all taking their turns in having a drink. This was repeated over and over again with around 200+ birds present in this dazzling spectacle.
Black Gutter Bottom was in full bloom with the purple heather being seen for miles. The sun had finally broken through now and so it was on with the sunglasses and baseball cap to protect my bald spot!
A soaring Common Buzzard kept me interested as I descended into the valley below. A male Stonechat perched on a nearby gorse bush then flew off over the heath (another month tick). My quest was the Dartford Warblers and eventually, as I neared the bottom of the valley, I heard at least three birds calling within the heather/gorse. Unfortunately, a rather angry looking bull with its cows came into view and didn’t like the look of me hanging around. I managed to get a quick glimpse of a Dartftord Warbler perched on a bush then it quickly disappeared back into cover. I didn’t hang around long enough to wait for a second look and headed back up the hill.
The New Forest is a good spot for Heath Grasshopper and I soon found and photographed one sat on a piece of dead bracken. Finally, a Coal Tit was also seen (yet another month tick) in the gorse bushes, which was rather surprising.
It was a bit of a gamble whether to try Eyeworth Ponds and Wood as it was prime time for many a family to be walking in the area. But my gamble paid off as within the woodland, I picked up my first Nuthatch (albeit, very quick sighting) and a Treecreeper, which showed superbly high up in an Oak tree. Also within the woods, I picked up my first Wren and Chaffinch of the month too. Some Stock Doves were calling within the woodland and a female Sparrowhawk soared over the woods and heathland.
While having a wee discretely behind a bush, a baby lizard landed on my foot, fresh from a good soaking no doubt! It was so tiny that I nearly brushed it off thinking it was a bit of grass! Not a bad day in all with plenty of month ticks to add to my growing total. Walking back to the car, I found a female Mandarin on the Lake, which put a nice big smile on my face. It was worth coming after all.
A Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, possibly the same bird as last month, was found today at Sammy’s Point, Easington, East Yorkshire and an incredible 3000+ Great Shearwaters were seen off the Butt of Lewis, Western Isles. Locally, the Spotted Crake was seen on Farlington Marshes again and the Ortolan Bunting was again seen on Portland this morning.
Yesterday, in our Southsea garden, a gorgeous Migrant Hawker dragonfly rested in the tree to roost for the evening.
Black Gutter Bottom, New Forest, Hampshire.
Eyeworth Pond & Woods, Fritham, Hampshire.
Left, the Migrant Hawker in our garden yesterday. Right, the Heath Grasshopper on the heath of Black Gutter Bottom this afternoon. Below, one of the drake Gadwalls on Mockbeggar Lake this morning.
