Broxhead Common

Woodlark Lullula arborea

Saturday 9 May 

Up early and away 37 miles north to Broxhead Common near Borden in the far north of Hampshire.  Here I joined 20 other members of HOS along with our guide for the morning, Chairman Keith Betton for the 9am start.  Just the one 2km circuit in beautiful weather and lots of singing birds.

From the start many Garden Warblers and Blackcaps along with Robin, Great Tit, Greenfinch and Chiffchaff. Very soon the first Stonechat and then followed a series of brief sightings of Dartford Warblers. Next up a quartet of Linnet along with Blackbird and a fly past of a trio of Mistle Thrushes which were to be seen again later on n the walk.  Overhead a circling Buzzard and, again, later in the walk a quartet of Buzzards above us.

Buzzard Buteo buteo

Continuing over the heath and though small of forested areas we saw the corvids including many Jackdaw, plus Rook, Carrion Crow and Magpie.  A Dunnock was foraging in the nearby bushes.  The sudden finding of a Treecreeper by one of the group was a welcome addition to the species list.

Treecreeper Certhia familiaris

We had heard both Tree-Pipit and Woodlark, as well as Skylark, and eventually we found a good sighting of a Tree Pipit at the top of a tall tree in front of us.  We even had the typical parachute flight as the bird returned to its former resting point.

Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis

Passing through a shady spinney we came across a Woodlark on the path in front us rather than the previous very distant views.  Time for all to get a closer look at the bird and then no sooner on the higher, open ground another Woodlark resting on the wires for many minutes to let all get even better views and photos.

Woodlark Lullula arborea

Al in all a very enjoyable couple of hours in good and experienced company.

Distant record shot of a Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata

Birds seen:

Buzzard, Woodpigeon, Woodlark, Skylark, Tree Pipit, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Dartford Warbler, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Tree-creeper, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Linnet.

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