A few sightings from the last couple of days:
Yesterday (Sunday): On Ibsley Water the female red-breasted merganser was again with a group of goosander and the black-necked grebe was frequenting the northern part of the lake, as they usually do. The more regularly seen of the two ring-billed gull was in early, being seen from about 1pm and later the roost included Mediterranean and yellow-legged gulls as well. The water pipit was showing well first thing from Tern hide, which was good as there was fog at the time and the only other bird visible was a single tufted duck.
Elsewhere, there were firecrest at the Woodland hide and in the holly trees alongside the Dockens Water, today there were two reported from the area between the Woodland hide and Ivy North. The water rail was again in the pool under the alders close to the Woodland hide, showing very well and others were seen from Ivy North hide. The bittern showed at times from Ivy North, as it did again today and “Walter” the great white egret was perched on a branch there all afternoon and was joined by the second bird at roost in the dead alder at dusk, there were both there again this evening too.
At the Woodland hide the food is attracting 2 or 3 brambling and lots of chaffinch, also around 5 or so reed bunting as well as all the regulars.
Opening up this morning I saw 5 raven on the eastern side of Ibsley Water, whilst at dusk a ring-billed gull was reported again, although viewing conditions were difficult.
Some news from just up the road, a cattle egret was found with a small group of little egret in a field beside Church Lane at Harbridge.
I did run the moth trap last night, but the moth list for 2017 remains the same, with just mottled umber and winter moth so far.
Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve 