Hampshire again (02/02/14)

A much better trip this time.  Once again I started at Pennington Marshes but still no sign of the Long-billed Dowitcher however did see a Chiffchaff, Golden Plover and Water Rail.  Four Ruff on the flood.

Next stop was Sopley where I met John Clark who was doing some counting of the birds.  I almost immediately got onto the drake Green-winged Teal which was with a group of Teal and displaying to them.

Spent most the rest of the day at Blashford Lakes.  Not much on Ibsley Water apart from a few Goldeneye and 2 Black-necked Grebes.  I then went to the woodland hide where after a while had excellent views of at least one Common ("Mealy") Redpoll.

At Ivy lake the Bittern could be seen with difficulty and had reasonable views of the red-head Smew.

When I went back to Ibsley Water, a couple of birders I showed the Bittern to, told me that the Great White Egret had just flown into Ivy Lake.  I went over to the north hide and there was no sign of it there, then I went over to the south hide and eventually found it preening in the reeds between north and south hide.

Last stop of the day was at Rhinefield Arboretum where there were 2 Hawfinches.