New Forest 8th & 9th February

As I had the week off, I decided to take the opportunity to visit family and do a spot more birding.  On the way down, I popped by Gosport to see the ever present Ring Billed Gull who takes up winter residency at Walpole Park.  He was very obliging and posed for quite a few photos.

 

I then made my way to the New Forest with the first stop being Beaulieu Road Station.  I really don't know why I even bother going there any more as I never see anything, even though it is known for Crossbill and Hen Harrier.  That day was no exception and I therefore went a couple of miles down the road instead where after a bit of work I managed to find 2 Woodlark, 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and 1 female Crossbill and a few Treecreepers.

 

 

Next stop was Pennington Marshes which was quite productive with  1Slavonian Grebe, several Red Breasted Mergansers, 2 Pintail, 1 Eider, many Wigeon, many Teal, 1 Snipe, 1 Bar Tailed Godwit, 1 Whimbrel, many Dunlin, 5 Curlew, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Mediterranean Gull and other common shore birds.

 

 

 

I spent the rest of the day looking for two other New Forest Specialities, Firecrest and Dartford Warbler, without finding either.  As dusk fell, I took in the Blackwater Hawfinch Roost.

 

 

 

The following day I decided to twitch the Green Winged Teal at Blashford Lakes along with a Great White Egret down the rood at Ringwood and finally managed to find a Dartford Warbler on the way back.  Despite extensive searching I still could not find a Firecrest but managed to come across 1 Marsh Tit,loads of Coal Tits, Mandarin Ducks and several Roe Deers.  Highlight of the day though was a very showy Cettis Warbler and his mate on the marshes not that far from my Sister's house.  Also seen in that vicinity were more Roe Deer, a huge Pike and a Brambling.