Goshawk and other goodies at Woolmer Pond.

Saturday 19th February 2022.

Early walk through the woods by Woolmer Pond.

After Storm Eunice gave the south coast a battering yesterday, the aftermath was there for all to see! I, sensibly, remained indoors, though I did pop out once to the shops and nearly had a bin lid hit me in the head! So today nearly never happened, but thankfully, Andy (who was kind of celebrating his 59th birthday) and I made our way north to Woolmer Pond to spend a very good three hours there. The weather forecast did not look good from midday onwards and so made the best of the bright sunshine first thing.

A fluffed up Robin in full song beside the Pond. 

A male Chaffinch in full song north of the Cottage. 

Yes, the rain eventually did come in around 11am, but by then, we had seen some superb birds, mostly over the Woolmer Forest heathland area where we notched up 3 ‘year-ticks’ in a matter of minutes, plus another two more ‘year-ticks’ in the same area a little later! On arrival, we noticed how high the water level was on the Pond and there was a small flock of both Canada Geese and Tufted Duck taking full advantage of it. A little later, a pair of both Shoveler and Mallard also was seen on the water. 

There was a high water level on Woolmer Pond this morning. 

Tufted Duck on the Pond. 

We took a short walk anti-clockwise around the pond, enjoying the sunshine, but there seemed to be very little bird-life, bar a few showy Robins and what I have mentioned already. Therefore, we turned back and made our way to the Cottage area. We had a nice cup of coffee to warm up with (the large puddles were covered in ice!) as I picked out a pair of Red Kites drifting over the Pine trees to the north. A flock of Goldfinch landed in a nearby Birch Tree and a pair of Mistle Thrushes took off from the field to the north. There wasn't too much within the garden which was disappointing, but we did find a skull of a mammal which we believe was a small deer, though I am awaiting a correct ID.

Some of the storm damage from yesterday here at Woolmer Pond. 

I wanted to check out the heath land to the east of Woolmer Forest and it most certainly paid off when we exited the Forest. Almost immediately, our first Common Crossbills of the year, flew high overhead calling loudly and heading to the Forest. Around half an hour later, probably the same pair flew out of the Forest and headed east. Within seconds, I heard a Woodlark singing but could not locate the bird and then I heard and saw our first singing male Dartford Warbler of the year, seen perched on a small Pine sprig. After grabbing a quick view of the bird it then plopped down out of view and so I went looking for the Woodlark. The bird soon flew up and landed some fifty feet away, with just enough time to grab a few photos before it flew off again.

Our first Woodlark of the year just east of the Forest. 

The male Dartford Warbler on the heath. It sang several times while we there. 

I next wanted to check the heath to the east, where both Hen-harrier and Great Grey Shrike were habiting the area last winter and although there were no sign of these birds, a superb female Goshawk flew in high over the heath and then circled only to fly off below our viewpoint. We got a better view of the heath, but failed to locate the Goshawk again, which was really frustrating, but I was in no doubt it was a Goshawk and our first of the year. We settled down for another cup of coffee and then a Lesser Redpoll, again, our first of the year, flew high over calling in doing so. That was our 5th ‘year-tick’ of the year and it was only 10am and so what did the rest of the morning have in store for us?

A Coal Tit foraging for food by the Forest.

One of several Red Kites seen in the area.

I knew that rain was coming in around midday and the sky was now getting a lot cloudier and so we made our way back to the car. We got to see another pair of Red Kites soaring over the field to the north along with a Common Buzzard that was soaring below them and though the Buzzard drifted north, the Kites made their way south, heading towards Greatham village. Passing the gate near the Cottage, a flock of passerines included Chaffinch, Goldfinch and at least one Reed Bunting among them until they all flew off towards the Cottage garden.Though we checked the Pond for anything new, the only notable sighting was of a Grey Heron flying high over heading west and a small flock of Long-tailed Tits among the Silver Birch trees.

The view of the heath looking east. Here is exactly where the Goshawk was soaring.

The skull we found by the Cottage. 

Alas poor Roe Deer, I knew him well!

Not done with the day, we took a risk in doing a ‘sea-watch’ down at Hayling Bay, but not before treating Andrew with a nice late breakfast from Greggs as a Birthday present! Sadly, the rain did come in and though we managed to watch from the car, looking through the windscreen with the wipers going, we only noticed a lot of both Herring and Black-headed Gulls and a small number of Turnstone flying by the beach. OK, a Gannet or Fulmar was a possibility, but the weather really closed in and so I made the decision to head home, reflecting on yet another good morning's birding. Earlier today, a Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver and 2 Slavonian Grebes were seen at the harbour entrance from Black Point.