A Happy New Year to you all, I wonder what it holds as far as Birding goes, perhaps a few rarities, I certainly hope so. Since the New Year began up to the 10th, I had limited myself to visiting Moor Green Lakes, which on the whole had been quiet. A pair of COAL TITS have visited the feeders in the car park and can be seen on a fairly regular basis. Two FIRECREST were reported on the 7th at a wooded area owned by the National Trust, a short distance away from Moor Green Lakes. I visited the area on the 9th but didn't see them, better luck next time perhaps. On the 10th, Gordon Duffus and myself went to Keyhaven/Pennington, and whilst en route took a slight diversion to Hawkhill Enclosure near Brockenhurst, New Forest, where a DARK EYED JUNCO had been seen daily since last week. After parking we walked the short distance to the area where a few other birders had gathered, an open grassed area with a fallen pine tree which was the location where the bird had been seen. I was informed by a fellow birder that he had seen the bird some twenty minutes earlier and was showing well, so the signs were good, fingers crossed. I noticed that the 'fallen pine' had lots of CHAFFINCH and REED BUNTING on it with a few CROSSBILL in a tree nearby. Fifteen or so minutes went by and suddenly there it was on the pine trunk, the DARK EYED JUNCO. I couldn't believe it was there in front of me. It then flew into the branches of the tree where it was hidden from view but after a short while returned to the trunk where it showed well and gave me time to take some photos, fantastic. Very satisfied and happy at seeing the bird, we continued our journey to Keyhaven/Pennington where we spent the rest of the day. Birds of note seen were 3 x KINGFISHERS, which gave us some great views, the best that we have ever had. A single SLAVONIAN GREBE, 15 x RED BREASTED MERGANSER in the Solent, 12 x MEDITERRANEAN GULL, a single YELLOW LEGGED GULL and 5 x EIDER in the Solent flying west, of whom 2 males were in full summer plumage, superb.
RSS Feed
