{"id":1636,"date":"2012-02-01T15:41:55","date_gmt":"2012-02-01T20:41:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rdnhs.org.uk\/blog\/?p=1636"},"modified":"2012-02-01T15:41:55","modified_gmt":"2012-02-01T20:41:55","slug":"avon-valley-and-new-forest-29-january-2012","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rdnhs.org.uk\/blog\/avon-valley-and-new-forest-29-january-2012\/","title":{"rendered":"Avon Valley and New Forest – 29 January 2012"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n