Look at things a little closer & Number 52

When looking at our more common garden birds I often think; if this was a rare bird people would be going crazy for them! Look at the colours on a Blue or Great tit they are far more fantastic than anything found on some of our rare birds that drop in to our country and make twitchers travel the length of the country (cough - rare warblers - cough).

The Humble Robin - Eyeworth Pond 2014

Some people who don't take the humble European Robin for granted are these guys - http://birdingfrontiers.com/2014/12/06/an-exotic-robin-in-china/ Perhaps taken a little out of context but you get the idea.

Yesterday we headed to Blashford Lakes, mainly because it was on our way back from Lymington but it was also great to see a few birds and add them to our 2015 list... 

Firstly we dropped into the Woodland hide, the usual Great, Blue, and Long-tailed tits were on the feeders, along with some 10's of Chaffinches, Collard doves and a rogue Greater-spotted woodpecker.  The highlight however was a single Siskin. The great thing about the Woodland hide is how close you can get to the birds without them even knowing. Through the winter sunshine the colours of the small passerines simply shone! 

Greater-spotted woodpecker - Blashford 2015

Male Nuthatch - Blashford 2015

Check out those colours! Male Great Tit - Blashford 2015

Colours shone in the winter sun - Chaffinch - Blashford 2015 

Siskin - Blashford 2015

We then headed to the Tern Hide over looking Ibsley water to refresh our duck and gull ID. Luckily we were shortly joined by Ed, the reserves officer, who kindly pointed out all the interesting stuff with his scope. Highlights were the Long-tailed duck, Black-necked grebe & numerous Goldeneye - the reported Glaucous & Ring-billed gulls proved allusive. 

Gadwall - Blashford 2015

Pied Wagtail - Blashford 2015

By the end of the day we had clocked up 52 bird species - not bad for a couple of non-birders.....