Three Counties Birding

NEW WEBSITE

I've got a new Website, well I started it when Surfbirds was off air. At present it's much the same as this Blog, but please take a look anyway.

Copy and paste this link.

http://www.freewebs.com/notjustbirding/

Thank you for looking,

Brian

Sunday 15th April

GARSTON WOOD

It was another glorious afternoon so we drove to the RSPB reserve at Garston Wood on the Wiltshire/Dorset border, and had a long walk in the woods and fields each side of the county boundary. There was a fantastic display of Bluebells, with the added bonus of Primroses, Stitchwort, Wood Anemones, and the first Ramsons, Yellow Archangel and Early Purple Orchids.

We didn’t see or hear many birds, but there was some good stuff among them, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Nuthatch, Goldcrest, Greater-spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Jay, two Ravens, Yellowhammer, a Wheatear and although we heard a Tree Pipit singing in a tree above us, we couldn’t see it.

Butchers Broom

Early Purple Orchid

Bluebell Wood

Yellow Archangel

White Dead Nettle

Ramsons

Saturday 14th April

NORTH HAMPSHIRE DOWNLAND

On a really hot afternoon we walked on some North Hampshire downland in the hope of seeing some butterflies. We weren’t disappointed, as we saw good numbers of Brimstones and Peacocks, and half a dozen or so of Orange Tips and Grizzled Skippers.

There were some birds as well, Yellowhammer, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Kestrel, Lapwing, and a Wheatear, but best of all was two groups of Pasque Flower, OK we knew they was there, but they were still good to see.

North Hampshire Downland

Pasque Flower

Grizzled Skipper

Friday 13th April

LYMINGTON

With the promise of a fine evening, after work we drove to Lymington. From the Bath Road Car Park we walked the sea wall as far as Eight Acre Pond, returning along the lanes. Unfortunately the weather didn’t live up to its promise, and it was misty and quite gloomy.

There are still some winter visitors around, Brent Geese, Red-breasted Mergansers, Teal and Pintails; other waders included Black-tailed Godwit most of them in their red plumage, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Turnstone, some coming in to summer plumage, Greenshank, and Ringed Plover. We couldn’t decide if two of the Godwits were having a dust up or an amorous interlude.

Two summer plumaged Mediterranean Gulls flew over, and there was a Little Tern on a shingle island, and returning along the lanes Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers were singing.

Black-tailed Godwits

MORE CRANBORNE CHASE

Here is a further selection of photographs taken over Easter

Dandelion Clock

Alongside The Wood

Cows

Wild Arum

Oilseed Rape

Blue Sky, Yellow Field

EASTER

CRANBORNE CHASE

Not wanting to mix it with the Bank Holiday traffic, on Easter Sunday afternoon we had a long walk from home up over the fields, and the following day we had a walk in the Chase Woods on the Wiltshire/Dorset border. The weather was glorious, and the spring flowers were looking very good. The Celandines and Primroses are still going strong, the Wood Anemones are putting on a good show, and the Bluebells and Cowslips are just starting. Up in The Wood we found what we think is a False Oxlip, a cross between a Primrose and a Cowslip rather than a true Oxlip.

The butterflies were out in force as well; Peacocks, Commas, Small Tortoiseshells, Speckled Woods and Holly Blues.

Bluebell

Primrose

Wood Anemone

Wood Violet

Speckled Wood

Comma

False Oxlip

Cowslip

EASTER

IN THE GARDEN

The glorious weather over the Bank Holiday weekend meant that we spent a lot of time in the garden. The birds are still taking lots of sunflower hearts from the feeders, and there are still good numbers of Greenfinches, Chaffinches and House Sparrows around. The two pairs of Great Tits can’t make their mind up which of the nest boxes to use, but the Robins must be nesting close by.

A mouse, we think it’s a House Mouse was picking up morsels from under the fat ball feeder, two Frogs are in our small pond, and we got off to a very modest start with the moth trap. The fruit trees are now in full blossom, we’re crossing our fingers that the frost keeps away.

House Mouse

Plum Blossom

Hebrew Character

Angle Shades

Early Grey

Frog

2nd APRIL

SHAPWICK HEATH

After a weekend of not very good weather - it was very windy – not many birds and some pretty lousy photographs; we had today off and went to the Shapwick Nature Reserve on the Somerset levels. It was a gloriously sunny and warm day, but still breezy.

We were never out of earshot of singing Cettis Warblers and Chiffchaffs, and Sand Martins were over the lakes and a single Swallow flew through. Water Rails squealed from the reeds, a flock of Fieldfare flew over and a Merlin dashed over Noahs Lake.

Water birds included Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Teal, Pochard, Little and Great-crested Grebes, and Goldeneye.

There were good numbers of Brimstone, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies and two Orange Tips. Basking in the sun alongside the main track was an Adder.

View over one of the lakes

Basking Adder

One eye on the camera

Small Tortoiseshell

Brimstone

Peacock