Friday 5th November 2021.
The stunning view from Old Winchester Hill. This is one of the views from the footpath leading to the Fort.
It was a beautiful crisp day with near unbroken sunshine and virtually no wind whatsoever. It must have been very cold last night with my moth box only attracting just a Light Brown Apple Moth. Boo! I suppose with it being so cold, I was probably lucky to get that. This morning, I got on with a lot of household chores before I headed off out; less to do over the weekend.
A Wild Marjoram plant which attracted a Tapered Drone Hovefly on the hill.
Wild Basil growing abundantly on the hill.
Checking the usual websites and even Birdguides, I noticed there were now TWO Snow Buntings at East Head! So where had the other one been hiding? The bird at on the beach near Warsash was still performing well to the admiring crowds and the Great Grey Shrike (tomorrow’s target?) was still present at Backley Bottom, New Forest. Even the female Velvet Scoters were seen in Chichester Harbour again!
One of many Common Buzzards soaring overhead today.
I decided to take Scruff for a good walk around Old Winchester Hill and arriving just after midday, we had a good 3 hour walk around one of my favourite places in Hampshire. There wasn't a cloud in the sky when I arrived and so photographing birds in the bright sunshine should be pretty good. I noticed the warden (or someone pretending to be for he looked so young!) was sitting in his Land Rover having lunch by the round Info building near the main entrance.
Above and below, I found this Roesel's Bush Cricket on the footpath.
Passing him, I took in the superb view looking west over the countryside and the Fort to the south west. Buzzards were calling down below in the valley and one individual sailed high overhead; one of many this morning. Walking along the perimeter fence, I noticed several flowers still in bloom along the footpath including Wild Basil and Wild Marjoram, of which attracted a few insects (see photo). Also Yarrow and a few Hawkbeards were also springing out of the withering/seeding remains of the summer's plants. I also found on the footpath, with my ‘bionic’ eyesight, a superb little Roesel’s Bush Cricket, of which I picked up carefully and took a few photos of it in my hand.
Looking east into the valley below from the Fort area.
And now looking north from the entrance of the Fort. A large bank of cloud on the horizon was making its way towards us and after an hour, it had arrived but patchy with lots more sunshine. Bliss.
Carrying on, a Marsh Tit was heard calling near the roadside and was seen briefly flying between bushes and trees; though I got a much better view of it on the way back to the car on my return journey. On the subject of insects again, a Red Admiral was fluttering high up above me and didn’t seem to be going anywhere until it eventually flew off. A Nuthatch flew from the roadside trees and landed in vegetation by the footpath and out of view before calling loudly deep within the bushes.
My poor photo of passing Fieldfare's going overhead heading north over the Hill.
Walking along the footpath to the Fort, over the fields there was a large flock of Skylarks fluttering about in one big flock. I counted at least 40 birds among these, but I expect there were many more including the ones flying overhead, including one singing bird! The stubble fields to the south also attracted a lot of Corvids and Wood Pigeons and eventually, all took flight, but what put them up never revealed itself. On reaching the Fort entrance, I picked out a male Stonechat perched on the wires by where they grow the Hops opposite the Fort. Two more birds were seen, both females this time and posed nicely in the sunshine. A few Linnets came in to rest and then flew off again as did a small flock of Goldfinch. Best of all were my first Fieldfare's of the season. I heard their distinctive call at first as they passed overhead, with at least 30 birds in the flock. Sadly, my photos of them were rather poor and so Scruff and I carried on and rounded the Fort, carefully keeping Scruff on his lead close to me so as to not frighten the many Sheep here.
Above photos, top is a female Stonechat and then two photos of the male Stonechat near the Fort.
I could of simply sat here for at least an hour in this gorgeous sunshine looking over the distant fields, but I knew that time was against me and so i made my way around the Fort, flushing a couple of Meadow Pipits as I passed and enjoying a superb distant Red Kite flapping lazily high over the countryside heading north. A lone male Goldcrest was exploring the small bushes along the footpath until flying off south down the hill.
I could not resist taking a photo of the Wild Clematis vitalba (or affectionately known as Old Grandfathers Beard), which was growing abundantly along the hedgerows and out in the Hop Field opposite the Fort.
The resident Sheep keeping a wary eye on both Scruff and myself as we walked by along the Fort.
The Green Woodpecker that showed well in the woodland below the Fort.
Looking down into the woodland below, a Green Woodpecker was seen flying into the trees and perching nicely for me to take a photo or two. It eventually flew off low north over the fields to the north. A swirling flock of Jackdaws took flight as a Common Buzzard sailed overhead, quickly escorting the raptor on. My first Yellowhammer of the day, a nice male bird, flew past overhead and headed off south as I made my way back to the car. Another Red Kite sailed overhead in the clear blue sky as I neared the car park and this time, I was quite pleased with my photo of the bird.
One of the Red Kites flying over the fields below the Fort.
This individual was sailing overhead near the car park before I left.
Well, that was a nice three hours of birding and a nice variety of both plants and with a few insects to look at too, a splendid afternoon. What does my day hold in store tomorrow?
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