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Avon Valley and New Forest – 29 January 2012

On Sunday 29 January, Martin Sell led a joint field trip with the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) to the Avon Valley near Ringwood and the New Forest. The initial meeting point was the bridge over the River Avon at Ibsley. In a nearby field were several hundred Mute Swans, plus one Bewick’s Swan and one Whooper Swan. Next stop was Blashford Lakes, a nature reserve of the Hants and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. A hide in a wood of birch and alder looked out over feeders which were being used by Redpolls, Siskins and a selection of other finches and tits. Lunch was eaten in another hide, looking out over a lake with Goosanders, displaying Goldeneyes, distant Black-tailed Godwits and a bankside Fox. The final destination was Blackwater Arboretum in the New Forest. In late afternoon, Hawfinches fly in and perch on the tops of the trees before going to roost. Their bulky bodies and short tails give them a distinctive torpedo-shaped outline. Crossbill was another good find here.

Pictures by Ray Reedman and Jan Haseler

Species list for Avon Valley and Blackwater Arboretum

Ibsley

Little Egret  Egretta garzetta
Whooper Swan  Cygnus cygnus
Bewick’s Swan  Cygnus columbianus
Mute Swan  Cygnus olor
Greylag Goose  Anser anser
Canada Goose  Branta canadensis
Stonechat  Saxicola torquata

Blashford Lakes

Great Crested Grebe  Podiceps cristatus
Dabchick  Tachybaptus ruficollis
Grey Heron  Ardea cinerea
Wigeon  Anas penelope
Mallard  Anas platyrhynchos
Gadwall  Anas strepera
Pintail  Anas acuta
Shoveler  Anas clypeata
Teal  Anas crecca
Pochard  Aytha ferina
Goldeneye  Bucephela clangula
Goosander  Mergus merganser
Lapwing  Vanellus vanellus
Black-tailed Godwit  Limosa limosa
Great Spotted Woodpecker  Dendrocopos major
Blue Tit  Parus caeruleus
Great Tit  Parus major
Coal Tit  Parus ater
Long-tailed Tit  Aegithalos  caudatus
Nuthatch  Sitta europaea
Treecreeper  Certhia familiaris
Chaffinch  Fringilla coelebs
Siskin  Carduelis  spinus
Greenfinch  Carduelis  chloris
Goldfinch  Carduelis  carduelis
Redpoll  Carduelis flammea

Blackwater Arboretum

Hawfinch  Coccothraustes  coccothraustes
Crossbill  Loxia curvirostra