An afternoon jaunt with MRE down to Blashford Lakes, Hampshire for another bash at the Franklin's Gull which was coming in to roost again on Ibsley Water.
We arrived at c2.45pm and settled in to the Tern Hide, slightly better prepared this time with Matt bringing pillows and a rug so our bottom's were slightly more comfortable! At about 3.30pm the guy sitting next to Matt got a phonecall to say his mate had it in front of the Goosander Hide. We immediately got up and walked out the hide to head to where it was showing from, but nobody else in the hide bothered to follow!!!
After a short drive and lengthy sprint we were in the Goosander Hide first, only to find one mad old women drawing in there and no birders! We set up the scopes and started scanning the gulls in front of the hide. Soon enough I located the bird and then Jake G and his car load arrived and we all enjoyed the bird at perhaps 200yds range. A really nice looking bird which I was chuffed to bits with finally catching up with.
Lastly to finish off the afternoon just as we were about to leave the Starling roost started to build. Eventually it must have numbered 5,000+ birds and probably a lot more. A wonderful sight and probably the biggest murmuration I have seen. Brilliant afternoon and thanks go to Matt for doing the driving.
Also nice to see a few other bits and pieces which included:
Franklin's Gull - 1 Ad
Goosander - 12
Long-tailed Duck - 1
Black-necked Grebe - 1
Yellow-legged Gull - 13
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