As David Campbell hadn't been able to see the bufflehead in Dorset, which seems to have taken up residence, I went a second time hoping to get some better shots of it. It was nice to see it again but it was still fairly distant for photography but fine for telescopes.
We then went in search of the great grey shrike which had been reported near Burley in the New Forest. We stayed for about an hour but there was no sign of it 'behind' the car park as reported. A brief visit to Acres Down was a mistake as the sun was gone and so had the raptors, apart from a couple of buzzards.
We therefore headed for Blackwater Arboretum hoping to see some hawfinches, which I had seen all too briefly the other day. This time we were in luck with several small groups flying in and sticking around for a couple of minutes, albeit at the very top of the tallest trees. I managed to take several shots in attractive light.
Hawfinches. Female top, male below.
Hawfinch. Female.
As we were leaving a further report of the shrike came in. As it was only ten minutes away we decided to go back again, but a further scan of all the likely bushes failed to reveal the bird. Despite this, we left happy to have seen the bufflehead, and I was very happy with the hawfinches.
Hi Phil nice pics of the Hawfinch , i am hoping to go down for the Bufflehead myself soon and wondered if you would nt mind giving me directions to the Hawfinch site ? no problem if you would rather not .
ReplyDeleteregards Rob
Congrats on the Hawfinch. Blackwater Arboretum is just down the road from me. ;-)
ReplyDeleteNice photos Phil, it was a good day. Thanks for taking me. atb David.
ReplyDeleteRob, Certainly. This is the link to the Blackwater Arboretum which is about half a mile down the Rheinefield Ornamental Drive on the East side of the A35. Here is the link to Google Maps.
ReplyDeletehttp://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=Rhinefield+Ornamental+Dr,+Brockenhurst,+Hampshire+SO43+7,+United+Kingdom&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=12.657515,22.368164&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FW3UBwMdc0Ln_w&split=0&hq=&hnear=Rhinefield+Ornamental+Dr,+Brockenhurst,+Hampshire+SO43+7,+United+Kingdom&ll=50.841483,-1.621165&spn=0.001772,0.00618&t=h&z=18
The car park is visible. The path to the Arboretum is on the other side of the road. You need to walk about 200 metres down the path to a gate and then about a further 100m to the more open area.
If this link doesn't work send me your email and I'll email you the link.
Razboynik, thank you.
David, It was a pleasure.
Hi Phil a really big thankyou for the directions , hope to go down on the 27th , thanks again regards Rob
ReplyDelete