Our visit to the New Forest coincided with the recent arrival of a new generation of adorable pony foals, and our first stroll from the hotel also produced bubbling Curlews and a family of six Stonechats perched in one small pine sapling, resembling baubles hanging on a Christmas tree.
On our next walk from the hotel, across Shatterford Heath and along Bishop’s Dyke, we spotted a Hobby, a Cuckoo and a lovely male Redstart all from the same spot. In fact we saw Redstarts galore and they quickly became ten a penny and far more numerous than Robins, Wrens and Dunnocks combined! Meanwhile the Woodlark that dropped by turned out to be a far scarcer sighting. The yaffles of Green Woodpeckers accompanied us on our way, and as we watched a Spotted Flycatcher on a dead tree perch, a Fox also made a brief appearance. At dusk, we heard Nightjars churring across the Beaulieu Road on Black Down and got fleeting glimpses of their ghostly flight, followed by stunning telescope views of Saturn and its rings!
Next morning, we began at Acres Down Farm, where a singing Wood Warbler put on a good show for us. The views across the forest from this high point stretch for miles, and it is well worth a visit just to take in this beautiful panorama, but we were also lucky enough to spot a Goshawk soaring high up in the sky, along with several Buzzards. Delving deeper into the forest, we found Siskins, a Tree Pipit, more Redstarts of course, and a fabulous pair of Firecrests just a few yards away, showing all their features, including the bright orange cap of the male. Back at the farm, there was still time to enjoy a home made afternoon cream tea.
Today we went further afield, with a crossing from Sandbanks to Brownsea Island, finding Red Squirrels not far from the jetty. From the hides looking out onto the lagoon, we saw numerous Shelducks, Oystercatchers, Dunlin and nesting Great Black-backed Gulls, as well as a single Yellow-legged Gull. Common and Sandwich Terns nesting right in front of the hides allowed intimate views of themselves and their eggs, and there was also a large flock of Black-tailed Godwits, some of which were turning a nice rusty colour. In the island’s woods, we found Nuthatch, Coal Tit, and two Great Spotted Woodpecker nest holes, with squeaky red-capped young peering out and looking near ready for fledging. From the return ferry we spotted a Red-breasted Merganser, and after dinner, a walk from the hotel was rewarded with an exciting display by two Nightjars, flapping round us at close range, while still light enough to see their mottled brown colouration and the white wing and tail flashes of the male.
Back at Acres Down, the Goshawk was on show again, and we also had another Cuckoo and fantastic views of a male Great Spotted Woodpecker ‘glued’ to a dead tree branch, but still no Honey Buzzard or Dartford Warbler. After lunch at The Royal Oak in Fritham, a walk on Fritham Plain produced a herd of about fourteen Fallow Deer stags, resting in the heather, with new velvet-clad antlers just beginning to sprout. Nearby a Green Woodpecker called from the top of a dead tree and at the tranquil setting of Eyeworth Pond, we found Mandarin ducks with fluffy little ducklings, as well as the first Coot and Marsh Tit of the trip. By now it was gone 5pm and the alert for the missing Dartford Warbler had been raised to “desperate”. It seemed that the bad winter had decimated the population, and so we made a last ditch effort to find one at Bratley View on the way back to the hotel. Suddenly our luck changed and we were all delighted to find a male singing in the gorse long enough for us to see the detail of its red eyes, grey back and deep red underparts. Phew, job done at last!
To break the long return journey north, we called in at the RSPB Otmoor reserve, which was alive with singing Skylarks, Whitethroats, Sedge and Reed Warblers, Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings, while Clive even heard a calling Quail. From the hide, we watched Little Egret, Redshank and a pair of Mute Swans with six cute little cygnets. Dozens of Swifts hawked insects just above head height and several Red Kites floated over the wet meadows with their entourages of Lapwing mobsters. Finally we spotted a single Little Ringed Plover hunkered down on its nest, making a total of 91 species seen during this very enjoyable trip.
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