New Forest stay



The highlight of my two week stay in Lymington were most definitely the trees and the wildness of the New Forest.  I've missed being around forests as wild as these.  The smell is amazing and somehow calming.

And the birding highlight was one singing Wood Warbler near Millyford Bridge Car park on the 8th and 9th of June. 

I was however, disappointed not to see any Honey Buzzards or confirmed Goshawks despite two extended trips of to Acre Down and "Peter's Bench'.

On the 8th, it took several hours to find the singing Wood Warbler, although once located it showed reasonably well.  The following day, I could only hear it and reportedly, it stopped singing by the 14th June.  This bird is only about my third in the UK, the result of far too many former years living in London.

Some of the other highlights included recently fledged Woodlarks and Redstarts.  It is a privilege to be witness to those birds in their first days of life outside the nest.

In total 14 Woodlarks were noted from four different sites, and 25 Redstarts from six locations. 

One of my all time favourite bird species, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was present in two area, including a female seen in flight and perching on a dead tree in the area East of Blackwater Arboretum. 

Tree Pipit were few and far with only three heard displaying.

Other species recorded; 23 Marsh Tits from eight sites, five Crossbills heard at three sites.

Surprisingly, only two Dartford Warblers were heard but that likely was down to days with high winds and focus on other species.  

Two Nightjar were heard churring at Beaulieu Heath around the area of the WW2 airfield with one being seen displaying and perching.  Photos were all too dark unfortunately.

Several visits to Normandy and Pennington Lagoons provided entertainment from Terns and waders.  Little Tern were busy bringing fish to their chicks as were the many Common Terns.  Sadly, no Roseate Terns were present during my visits.

One one occasion I witnessed a Common Tern carry a rival birds chick and drop it into the lagoon!  The chick managed to swim back to the island where I lost it amongst the bricks that line the island.

The female Long-Tailed Duck remained well into June at least, spending time continuously diving or sleeping on one of the islands.

Whenever in the lagoon area I checked the Black-tailed Godwits (high count: 42 on the 11th June) incase the recent Hudsonian at Titchfield Haven had wondered this way.  No luck of course.

Two Spoonbil were also present on the 11th June.

Other notable sightings:-

One young, Common Adder

One Golden-ringed Dragonfly

One Muntjac Deer, 10-20 Fallow Deer.

Heath Spotted Orchid

Early Marsh Orchid





Further photos to follow..




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