Martin Down then New Forest Birding

Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba

Sunday 1 June

Having met a couple of members on my last HOS meeting I drove over to Martin Down in the far north-west of Hampshire beyond Fordingbridge on Sunday for a walk over same with the RSPB Winchester group.  Lovely warm sunny weather but still a cool breeze whilst walking up on the chalky downs.  The target bird was the Turtle Dove, sadly very much in severe decline in Britain, but being regularly reported in the immediate area over the last week.  And in luck we fourteen attendees were as not one but two individuals recorded.  Very, very close to the first Turtle Dove in a small, thick copse up above the car park and its song booming out just like a Seventies warbling phone with the volume up high and waiting to be answered.  Wonderful.

Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria butterfly

But other birds too on display, especial the almost hundred Rooks along with a core or more jackdaw, a couple of carrion Crows and a single magpie, all happily foraging among the large flock of sheep. 

Rooks Corvid frugilegus

Also not to be missed the many Skylarks plus the continual calling and sighting of Blackbird, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Wren and Robin. A Red Kite almost immediately overhead and a distant Buzzard before a single Barn Swallow sped by at low level and once on the top, for us, the sight of two Swifts passing overhead.

Skylark Alauda arvensis

Making our way on a narrow track through the final series of bushes as we looked in vain for a sight of the Turtle Dove we recorded a Whitethroat and on the return walk to the car park finally caught up with more Skylarks and a quartet of Yellowhammers, the only close shot being that of a female well-concealed in a small bush.  In addition, many stops during the walk to check on the butterflies and moths as we moved along.

Well concealed female Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella

Rather than stay for the afternoon walk I made my way back to Blashford Lakes to check out Ibsley Water where I found a large number of Egyptian Geese, Great Crested Grebes and many gulls, mainly Lesser Black-backed but also good numbers of Black-headed Gull.

Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca

Just a couple of Common Tern then chance to follow up with both Mallard and Tufted Duck.  On the gravelly edge in front of the Tern Hide both a trio of Little Ringed Plover and Lapwing plus a couple of Pied Wagtail.  Meanwhile, scores of feeding Sand Martins over the water and a dozen Greylag geese at the far left-hand side of the water.

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

Moving over to the main reserve for a quick walk round I found many Chiffchaff and Blackcaps along with Robin, Song Thrush, Garden Warbler and Willow Warbler. The cob was on the water at Ivy lake South whereas on the scrape I found the pen Mute Swan along with her five goslings and being watched by a solitary Heron.

Heron Ardea cinerea watching over the Mute swans Cygnus olor

Making my way back a handful of Reed Warblers in the reeds alongside the scrape and then a Jay that walked out onto the grass in front of me.

Jay Garrulus glandarius

Next on to Cadnam's Pond where at least ten Canada Geese along with a total of eight goslings plus a handful of Mallard and the single long-staying Muscovy Duck. Robin, Carrion Crow and Blackbird as I made my departure.

Muscovy Duck 

A brief stop at Eyeworth Pond in Fritham produced a score of Mallard plus a single Moorhen along with a number of Chaffinches and House Sparrows. Best sighting probably the Nuthatch but also Magpie and Collared Dove.

Nuthatch Sitta europaea

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Muscovy Duck, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Heron, Red Kite, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Turtle Dove, Collared Dove, Cuckoo, Swift, Skylark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Nuthatch, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Yellowhammer.

Blackbird Turdus merula

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus

Common Tern Sterna hirundo

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum

Small Heath Coenoympha pamphilus butterfly

Large Skipper Ochlodes venatus butterfly

Six-spot Burnet Zygaena filipendulae moth

House Sparrow Passer domesticus

Jay Garrulus glandarius

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba

Skylark Alauda arvensis

Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca

NB:  I trust I have correctly identified the butterflies and moth by using "Google" camera.  Please let me know if not.

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