Another day at Blashford...
It actually started off when I dropped the girls at their Nannies. On leaving the village of Sixpenny Handley I thought I’d check out the pumping station area just down the road. As I drove along the single track road to the car park I noticed a few people about with scopes so I pulled over and asked one bloke what was about. He told me it was a Great Grey Shrike, and I squinted out across the field and could just make out a whitish blob. I quickly parked, got my gear out and then headed back to share the bird. It was a cracking sight I’ve seen them in Poland along with Red Backed and also Lesser Grey and Woodchat in Kefalonia but this was my first British GGS as it’s always been a bit a bogey bird. This is a good site though as the rough ground around the tumuli offers plenty of food and the fencing, small shrubs and trees offer a multitude of perching sites. Over the course of the next hour I drank in all that I could; side, front and rear views, noting how the white on the breast changed from pure white to pink to yellow as it caught the light from different aspects. I really enjoyed its behaviour, flying with 7 or 8 flaps, disappearing form view and then reappearing back on a perch.
Still I was supposed to be heading out to Blashford...so off I went. On arrival I headed straight to the Ivy North hide where the Green Winged is supposed to hang out. No joy despite checking every single duck be it Teal, Gadwall, Mallard, Wigeon or Shoveler. Further out there are a few Pochard visible as well as some Great Crested Grebes in spring finery and a couple of Egyptian Geese. At one point as I’m watching a Wren creeping along a tiny branch a Kingfisher flashes by before the real reason I came puts in an appearance. It too, like the GGS before it offered the full range of views; head up pretending to be a reed, skulking low and hunting, offering tantalising glimpses of its tail, back or the top of its head before finally it came out into the open. I swear you could have heard the cameras clicking in Ringwood! So, not to be left out I too had a go (again cursing the bloody Perspex windows!).
![003 - Copy-001.JPG (442.8 KiB) Viewed 1443 times 003 - Copy-001.JPG](./files/thumb_9821_3390545dc882602a27bdd95d1a95cb89)
![006 - Copy (2)-002.JPG (242.75 KiB) Viewed 1443 times 006 - Copy (2)-002.JPG](./files/thumb_9821_fe943afdc1f80e1605922a21a7b87dc7)
![033 - Copy-002.JPG (309.24 KiB) Viewed 1443 times 033 - Copy-002.JPG](./files/thumb_9821_83b7c383fafb3d402bbdffa098c18969)
I then headed round to the Woodland hide to try and get some shots of Siskins etc. But again the Perspex windows meant I couldn’t get as close I’d have liked. My favourite shots of the day were achieved using the tried and tested butterfly technique i.e. focus, click, one step closer, focus, click etc etc.
The Ivy South hide had all the usual ducks but no Green Winged Teal – although I’ve since discovered where it likes to hang out so I might try and get back there next weekend. Ibsley water saw me adding Goosander, Goldeneye and Pintail to the list but it was all too soon time to be heading back to Sixpenny Handley to pick the girls up.
![094-002.JPG (121.66 KiB) Viewed 1443 times 094-002.JPG](./files/thumb_9821_edfdb1e8075592cebc89af889d2673df)
![096 - Copy-002.JPG (100.85 KiB) Viewed 1443 times 096 - Copy-002.JPG](./files/thumb_9821_0a5921783df57915d0ff26b5a7d50eaa)
![098 - Copy-002.JPG (198.12 KiB) Viewed 1443 times 098 - Copy-002.JPG](./files/thumb_9821_f79e5975371c00e63de77154471f2d10)
I was supposed to be picking the girls up at flourish and as I drew up to the large roundabout I had about 20 minutes to spare to instead of turning right I went straight over – I’d just have a quick peek down at the pumping station for GGS one last time. There were more people in the car park this time and the GGS was still there but further away and a photographer stalking it was driving it further and further away. “I really better go” I told myself so scope back in the car I reversed starting my three point turn and everyone was looking into the opposite field. I jumped out of the car and got my scope set up again as a male Hen Harrier was quartering the ridges in the field, at one point flying above the horizon in silhouette. Stunning!
Still back to the car, scope away and something caught my eye – bins up and onto a Short Eared Owl. Well my scope was away by now but having found the bird (or “re-found” as it had been around before I’d arrived) a kind lady let me have a look at it through hers as it perched on a fence post. Stunning take two! I really had to go and almost as if to taunt me it flew lazily along the tumuli parallel with my journey. Stunning take three!
So no lifer, but a British tick and a day which produced the most quality for a very long time, possibly ever!
Have a goodun
Wurzel