Short-eared Owl

We had set an ambitious programme of visits for today, in an attempt to fill a few of the gaps in our year lists. It got off to a good start when we picked up Hawfinches in the trees at the back of Yew Tree Cottage in West Dean Woods. They were very distant and did not give any picture opportunities but this is a bird that you are always pleased to see.

The next target was Woodcock and Ambersham Common is a place where we have often flushed them in the past. This usually comes as more of a shock to us than to the birds, as they suddenly burst into the air just a few feet in front of you.

However, today it was not going to happen, the place was full of horse boxes, four wheel drives, and yellow jacketed marshals. We got the definite impression that we were not wanted, they probably thought we looked like hunt saboteurs. For our part we were happy to move on and look for some peace and quiet elsewhere. Not an easy task when there is an "El Alamein" style soundtrack playing out all across Sussex as the landed gentry enjoy their weekend "sport".

Next stop was Lavington Common which proved to be mostly devoid of life other than a few Crows and a couple of dog walkers. The best we managed here were two Yellowhammers.

Yellowhammers

We stopped off at Burton Pond and Lord's Piece. Birdsong was more evident at these two but there was little to look at. Waltham Brooks usually saves the day but even here there was nothing much moving and nothing at all at the Sewage Works. By know I think we had seen more butterflies than birds, not bad for the end of November.

Our final destination was the Burgh to see the Short-eared Owls. The walk in gave us views of Grey Partridge, Corn Buntings, and the usual Buzzards and Red Kite, but unfortunately not the Merlin that we were told had been seen.

Grey Partridge

Red Kite

We had great views of at least six of the Short-eared Owls for about an hour before the sun went down. I was disappointed in that I only managed one decent picture. In bird photography you are always pushing the camera and the lens to the limits of their performance capabilities but I should have done better. Now I am just going to have to go back and do it all over again. Life is hard!

Hawfinches

Went out on Tuesday expecting some sun at last, but it was obvious when we set off pre dawn, that we were in for another dull and gloomy day. We had decided to go in search of Hawfinches, a bird that we had missed out on a few times over the past year. We started off in Eastleigh at the Lakeside Country Park. Hawfinches are regularly reported there although we had never managed to see one. It also has the added advantage that the cafe does a great bacon sandwich and cup of tea which would help to console us if we dipped out yet again.

As it happens we spotted the bird as soon as we arrived. I managed to snap a quick record shot, distant and in silhouette, but still clearly recognisable as a Hawfinch. Even better Dave was still trying to get his camera out of the bag when it flew off. It looked like bragging rights to me for the rest of the day. I would have been quite happy to go off for a bacon sandwich then, to celebrate, but Dave wanted to stay in case it returned and there was always the risk that he might end up with a better picture than me.

Getting cold and with no sight of the bird we decided to move on to Romsey where there had been reports of a small flock of Hawfinches with a supporting cast of Bramblings and Siskins. The site is on the edge of the town in a small housing estate and did not look very promising. I don't think either of us really believed it was going to deliver but it was worth a look.

Hawfinch Heaven

It was absolutely amazing. There were dozens of Hawfinches sitting in the trees and flying backwards and forwards across the site. However, getting a good picture was going to be near on impossible. Although the birds were coming down to puddles to drink they were skittish and keeping their distance. In the poor light it was going to be difficult to get the shot - and it was. Four hours, freezing cold, and a couple of hundred pictures later as  we headed back to the car I already knew that we would be returning on the next sunny day.

Tree top shot

 

Drinking from Puddle

 

Nice record shots but they do not do justice to the real colours and magnificence of the bird. At least we now know where to find Hawfinches and perhaps next time I will make the effort to photograph the Bramblings as well.

Fortunately there is always a Robin waiting about to have his picture taken.

Take my picture next