New Forest Birding

Stonechat Saxicola torquatus

Tuesday 30 April

The promise of beautiful sunny weather and no rain so of the New Forest for the morning with an early start getting me to Normandy Lagoon a few minutes before 7.  A couple of departing Carrion Crows as I parked up near to the entrance on the bend and sitting in he car noted the Jay drinking from the large puddle on the road in front.  The bird, and a second, arrived once again when I returned to the car and then the how to photograph through the windscreen or try and open the door without distracting the birds.  Only limited success as I was actually facing the birds head on.  But, no sooner had I started the walk to the sea wall I had both Magpie and Jackdaw in the field along with a trio of Blackbirds and, calling a short way away to my right, the first Cuckoo of the year. To complete the early list a couple of Woodpigeon and singing Robins.

Magpie Pica pica

Jackdaw Corvus monedula

Once at the sea wall very breezy so thank goodness I had put on my thick birding coat but with the low sun coming straight at me very difficult to check the few visible birds other than the many Black-headed Gulls.  However on round he far corner and along the straight so that I could look back at the lagoon much clearer evidence of what was actually about.  I had started with a resting Whitethroat on the corner post but a poor photograph given the the low sunlight. Immediately obvious that there were numerous breeding Black-headed Gulls but also very many Common Tern with always one or two fishing close by.  At the nearest water's edge a solitary Ringed Plover in he company of a pair of now moulted Dunlin and a little beyond the first of the four Redshanks seen on the site.

Fishing Common Terns Sterna hirundo

Looking at the back of the site I could make outa couple of Canada Geese along with a handful of Avocet, Little Egret and a pair of Shelduck.  But it was once at the end of the straight to take the steps down to the bottom of the path out of the strong, cold breeze that I get chance to see the very many breeding pairs of Avocet.  A Linnet popped out of the bushes above as I made my way westwards and then, at the very back , a pair of Lapwing.  topping further along the path to check the far side I added a trio of Turnstone and noted the half-dozen Tufted Duck and a Mute Swan.  Scoping a small, resting tern on the front bank of a small island I was able to confirm Little Tern.

Three of the many Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta

The final lower path took me back to start and here I found not only a second Whitethroat but also both Stonechats and a Reed Bunting. A light coloured wader had flown over me and away to the west and I assumed a Redshank but later reports revealed that the recent Marsh Sandpiper was still present in the area and a birder had reported the sandpiper flying off towards Butts Lagoon so, who knows, perhaps my departing wader was the Marsh Sandpiper?

Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis

Rather than straight back to the car I followed the path round to take the exit along side Acre Pond and, therefore, added many more Oystercatchers, Curlew and Mallard plus scores of Canada Geese but no grebes.  Back along the road to find Robin, Wren and Chaffinch before getting into the car to see, once again, the above mentioned Jays and head off via Lyndhurst in to the New forest.

Jay Garrulus glandarius

Rather than straight to Blashford Lakes I decided to make a brief stop on the way at Acres Down, and very productive it proved to be. Arriving at 8.50 I only stayed for 25 minutes to enable me to walk down to the pair of old trees favoured by the resident Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers.  Lots of Blackbirds seen on the way along with the occasional Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Tree-creeper and Blackcap. Then, reaching the final bend in the road, to the right I could distinctly hear the close drumming of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and, at the same time, see both the nearby Chaffinches and Great Tit.  Once at the observation point opposite the old tree I noted a pair of foraging Song Thrushes on the ground in front and many singing Chiffchaffs along with passing Woodpigeons.  And, as an added bonus, as I made my way back to the car a second Cuckoo heard calling off to my right.

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

Arriving at Blashford Lakes at 9.45 I was greeted by a Magpie as I parked at the Tern Hide to check out Ibsley Water.  But before entering the hide my attention was given to the opposite side of the area near the observation platform where Garden Warblers could be heard singing and, ere long once at the platform, a brief glimpse of an individual as it flew across the path an into the thick bush cover. Then into the hide which revealed very little bird life if you ignored the large gathering of mainly Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls.  Diligent searching, however, also produced many Common Tern along with a couple of Herring Gulls and a number of Canada Geese towards the back of the water.  A pair of Greylag Geese flew off from my far left and to the right I caught sight of an immature Egyptian Goose. A very pleasant surprise to find a Hobby quartering the far bank off to my left and then, on the opposite side, a couple of Oystercatchers.  Finally, checking the bay off to my right in front of the Goosander Hide, I noted the scores of newly-arrived Sand Martins feeding over the water in front of the artificial sand bank nesting holes.  Also present as I left the hide, a pair of Roe Deer on a spit a little to the left of the hide.

Common Tern Sterna hirundo at Ibsley Water

Time to move across to the main reserve and immediately many Robins and Chiffchaffs plus the occasional Carrion Crow. The Woodland Hide seemed devoid of birds other than a feeding Goldfinch on the feeder but then the appearance of a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Suddenly, on the opposite feeder, the arrival of a quartet of Siskins, Greenfinch and a Great Tit.

Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major

The Ivy South Hide was very quiet with just a trio of Great Crested Grebe and a few Black-headed Gulls.  The, at the back of the water, a handful of Tufted Ducks.  making my way back to the car a couple of Blackbirds followed by a juvenile Song Thrush apparently sunbathing on the ground. At the car park a Goldcrest above me in the tree and, then, time to head off back home. Deciding to take the scenic route vis Fordingbridge, I had hardly left the site when I observed the Red Kite above the road and driving trough the Forest approaching the turn to Fritham, a soaring Buzzard to complete the morning's birding, giving a final tally of 54 species for the visit.

Sun-bathing Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

Birds seen: 

Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Little Egret, Red Kite, Buzzard, Hobby, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Little Tern, Woodpigeon, Cuckoo, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Sand Martin, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Great Tit, Tree-creeper, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Siskin, Reed Bunting.

Male Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus

Greenfinch Carduelis chloris (left) with female Siskin C.spinus

Siskins Carduelis spinus

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula (left) with Dunlin Calidris alpina

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

Redshank Tringa totanus

Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus

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