Acres Down, New Forest

 Saturday 25 May

A beautiful, ever warming and sunny day for the meeting of the Hampshire Bird Society (HOS) meeting at Acres Down near Minstead in the New Forest. 29 of us ready for the five mile circuit led by fellow member and local birder Ian Hampson.  And even more rewarding to note that few members had travelled from as far away as Basingstoke and Petersfield plus even Poole across the Hampshire/Dorset border to the west.  The target birds were Hobby, Sparrowhawk, Honey Buzzard and possibly a Goshawk, so no pressure there! Whilst waiting for all to arrive, some of the earlier attendees had heard both Cuckoo and Wood Warbler in the near vicinity.

As we gathered and set off up the hill to the first observation area, we noted Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Robin and both a Firecrest and pair of Coal Tit. A number of Chaffinches were also singing away. Once at the summit with views over the distant trees and valley we found our first raptors of the morning with a couple of Common Buzzard.  Close by a Song Thrush and moving off recorded both Wren and Willow Warbler.  Approaching the main viewing point for finding soaring raptors I was surprised to find another score of birders waiting patiently for the same purpose.  Close by a couple o Meadow Pipits and then two Wood Lark.  Reward indeed, as not only a trio of Buzzards off to our left but in the far distance to our right, in and out of the cloud, a Goshawk.

Well concealed, distant Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis

Time to move on and ere soon we came across a couple of Greenfinch and a pair of Goldfinch came down to drink from the large puddle immediately in front of us. Havin found the first Stonechat of the morning no sooner had we taken a track off to our left when two more were quickly located along with a quartet of Linnet.

Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus

Continuing on round and making our way to a small pond we came across the first Chiffchaffs of the morning along with more Willow Warblers. Next it was back to the woods after our picnic stop and, almost immediately, a Mistle Thrush flew up into the tree in front.  No sooner had we all seen the bird than a Spotted Flycatcher was seen as it briefly landed immediately above the Mistle Thrush. Behind us a Stock Dove with its iconic call.  Continuing on we found both a Marsh and Long-tailed Tits before taking the final, long, path back towards the car park. This final stretch proved most rewarding as not only did we find both Goldcrest, more Firecrests and a Great Tit but, at last, our first Redstart. A juvenile Song Thrush was on the grass in front of us and not quite sure how to escape as it hopped away into the undergrowth!  And it was as we made our way home from the car park that we quickly added Dunnock, House Sparrow and Magpie.

Fledgling Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

Birds seen:

Goshawk, Buzzard, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Cuckoo, Wood Lark, Meadow Pipit, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Redstart, Stonechat, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Blackcap, Wood Warbler,  Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet.

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