January 02, 2007
Tuesday 2nd
KEYHAVEN AND DENNY WOOD
The last of the overnight rain cleared just as we surfaced this morning, and we had the day off, so we went to Keyhaven. From the car park opposite the Gun Inn we walked the sea wall as far as Pennington, returning along the inland path. It was a lovely sunny morning, but spoilt by a strong wind.
An added complication, for the second day running, I couldn't decide whether to just go birding; to digiscope, or to carry the digital slr camera. In the end I did neither very well, and as yesterday I missed a lot of photos by not having the slr ready. Will I ever learn? Probably not.
Anyway in spite of the handicaps we saw some birds, including Wigeon, Teal, Brent Geese, Pintail, Black-tailed Godwits, Eider, Grey and Golden Plovers, Red-breasted Mergansers, Reed Bunting, Shoveler, and Redshank. At Milford on Sea, a Mediterranean Gull was in the sea front car park.
On the way home we stopped at Denny Wood to photograph birds coming to seed which we placed on a gate post, these included Marsh, Coal, Blue and Great Tits, Chaffinch, and Robin. There were Nuthatches and a Greater-spotted Woodpecker as well. The Goosanders and Mandarins were on Eyeworth Pond this afternoon, with far fewer people, and no dogs or kids! On our way across the Forest a ringtail Hen Harrier came to roost below Leaden Hall, and a Barn Owl hunted a rough field at Cripplestyle, between Alderholt and Cranborne.
Robin
Great Tit
Mediterranean Gull
Goosanders
Posted by Frampton25 at January 2, 2007 08:28 PM