Returned to Blashford Lakes during the week to explore more of this amazing reserve and catch up again with some Bramblings and of course the epic Gull roost.
We arrived about 10am and headed through the woodland. The weather was fantastic, the birds were in song and there was a great sense of spring in the air with large variety of lichens, fungi, flowers brightening up the woodlands.
After a short walk we bumped into a large feeding flock of Chaffinch and Siskin feeding on the ground. No sign of any Bramblings in the flock but a look at the nearby feeders and there were at least 7 Bramblings present showing very well down to a few feet.
The Brambling ( Fringilla montifringilla) is the Northern cousin of the Chaffinch which arrive in late September on the East coast and Scottish highlands to winter in the UK. During some cold snap spells, Bramblings move south into milder climates, hence the small arrival of birds in the south of the UK and in Dorset & Hampshire area.
These birds have always been a great photographic ambition to see up close. I saw my first Bramblings in 2010 few years ago in County Dublin. They are simply stunning birds and have some fantastic colours & patterns in their plumage compared to the Chaffinch.
The Brambling is a rather elusive bird and difficult to see close up and even in decent numbers at a feeding station. They fed on fallen seeds from the feeders alongside vast numbers of Chaffinch, Siskin, Greenfinch and several Redpoll. It was an amazing sight to watch...a true winter spectacle.
After enjoying the Bramblings, we headed around to the Ive Hides and Lakes to look at some wildfowl. Present on Ivy lake were large numbers of Wigeon, Pochard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck and Pintail. A Continental Cormorant was a nice treat to see fishing on the lake alongside Common Cormorant, Coots, Moorhen and some Black-headed Gulls.
A Bittern has been frequenting a small patch of reeds below the North Ivy Hide and has been popular with local birders. The Bittern never showed while waiting in the hide but did enjoy lovely views of a Water Rail feeding along the reedbed edge.
We finished the day off with checking the Gull roost from the Tern Hide where at least 8,000+ Gulls were roosting on the far end of the lake. Scoping through the vast numbers I picked up a 1st winter Iceland Gull, 1st winter Caspian Gull and several Yellow-legged |Gulls among the Black-headed Gulls. Over 50+ Common Gull, 500+ each of Herring Gull, Lesser-black backed, Black Headed Gull made up the large majority of gulls present. No sign of the Ring-billed Gull.
A great day's birding and wildlife watching. A few photos below of the trip.
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| Female Brambling |
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| Stunning male Siskin sitting in lichen covered tree |
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| Tufted Duck on Ivy North lake |
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| The amazing Gull roost spectacle |
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| Male Brambling |
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| Sunset overlooking Blashford Lakes |
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