Friday 3 June 2016

Blashford Lakes HIWWT


..The wave found its way to the shore
I thought it was a ripple and nothing more the wave found its way all the way to the shore... (kt Tunstall)



Getting stir-crazy so decided to go for a drive despite the ropey weather, the car thermometer showing 54F pretty much all the way to Blashford. Good numbers of Swifts zooming over the approach road. Probably 250+ over Ibsley Water and 145+ Greylag Geese but pretty much nothing else.



An LRP called distantly and, as I left, a few extra degrees of temperature encouraged four mewing buzzards to circle over the car park. Caught up with a couple of locals and 'talked tech' for half an hour. No staff present so no moth trap to poke about with. Ivy South is now mostly given over to nesting BHGS and Common Terns on the new HOS-sponsored rafts.
Just three hovers with one, Xanthogramma pedisequum agg,  being attractive, co-operative and pictured here.


Departed across the forest where half a dozen Stonechats,  mostly zipping across the road and flipping up onto the tops of nearest gorse bushes.