A cracking morning in Bolderwood and Blashford Lakes.

Saturday 28th May 2022.

This cute female Chaffinch greeted us once we got to Bolderwood car park.

We were to spend the day in the New Forest area today, though traveling to Kent to see the Eleonora’s Falcon was mighty tempting, with a female Red-footed Falcon in support! Though I knew I had to be back some time in the afternoon to help Becky finish off with the garden, I plumbed for a trip to the Forest and hopefully picked up a few more ‘year-ticks’. The weather was a little cold at first when we arrived at Bolderwood car park, but the heat eventually arrived as we were reduced to t-shirts by midday.

Rusty Shoulder-knot moth. Probably the best moth in Andy's small selection this morning. 

A check of Andy’s moths in his garden at Cowplain Marsh was a bit of a damp squib, seeing that I had over 60 moths earlier this morning. I could only find a few, which included a Rusty Shoulder-knot, Common Pug, Vines Rustic, Bee Moth, Common Marbled Carpet, Eudonia angustea and a Light Brown Apple Moth. Whoosh! So, I drank my coffee and then headed off westbound to the New Forest for some goodies.

This stunning little stream that ran through Bolderwood always attracts Damselflies & Dragonflies in high summer. 

Now, I must find a quicker route to Bolderwood as it seemed to take ages in arriving at the car park, but we did see a few Stonechats along the way on the heath near Milkham Inclosure and also a Skylark hovering just by the roadside. Red-footed Falcons had been reported yesterday in the area and also over the Beaulieu Road area as well, so we carefully scanned the heath as we made our way to Bolderwood. Yes, it was a bit chilly at first when we arrived at a near deserted car park and as we were getting our birding gear out of the car, we were treated to a male Chaffinch hopping about by our feet; no doubt it regularly gets fed by the public!

I found this giant Wood Ant's nest near the main path. Colossal was an understatement. 

We followed the footpath down by the Deer Watch platform and into the woodland where we were quickly onto our first Firecrest of the trip. I have to say, we probably heard so many that it must have been into double figures and at least four birds were seen as well. Our target birds were Wood Warbler, Garden Warbler, Redstart and Spotted Flycatcher and we managed to grab two of those species this morning. Unbelievably, we saw no Redstarts whatsoever, which I found incredible. I suppose on another day, we might have seen 5+? Our first ‘year-tick’ didn't take too long to materialise, when I heard the distinctive call/song of a Spotted Flycatcher and eventually it gave itself up as i spotted it flicking about from branch to branch high overhead in some Oak trees; though grabbing a half decent photo of the very active bird proved difficult.

One of two Spotted Flycatchers seen this morning in Bolderwood and our first of the year.

A Treecreeper was seen by Andy, which I had missed by too busy trying to photograph the Flycatcher, but we saw an adult feeding a juvenile on the way back out of the wood later on. There were plenty of young birds within the wood, with Coal and Blue Tit youngsters being fed by their respective parents. A pair of Common Buzzards drifted over one of the clearings and I was pretty sure a female Sparrowhawk drifted lazily over the woodland. Siskins and Crossbills were constantly heard on our walk through the wood, but it was only the former that we got to see occasionally, including a lovely male doing its display flight. 

One of a few Treecreepers seen this morning.

After checking out a giant Wood Ants nest, Andy was onto a gorgeous Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly and quickly gave me the shout. I managed to grab some lovely photos of the insect, which was my first of the year. I was hoping for some more dragonflies within the woodland, famed for its good numbers of Golden-ringed Dragonfly, but I guess it is still too early for them yet. The only butterfly species seen this morning here were Speckled Woods, but there was a healthy number of them here. I did find a micro moth fluttering about by the main track and as I had a moth pot on me, I quickly potted the said moth and eventually identified it as Musotima nitidalis, a particular moth that enjoys bracken.

The stunning Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly seen by one of the paths this morning. 

After crossing the small stream and then taking the large footpath to the left, we made our way slowly along this track, avoiding the many Cyclists going through the woodland. This is a very popular woodland for both Cyclists on the mountain bikes and Ramblers and we saw many this morning here. The track we were taking was always good for Wood Warbler and was always a reliable site for them, but all was quiet at first. I soon picked up the distinctive song of a Garden Warbler within the woodland, but the bird proved elusive, but we did get to see our second Spotted Flycatcher of the morning and this time, the bird stayed still for me to grab a photo or two. Also present here was a Marsh Tit, seen and heard calling within the woodland and showed well for a while as it went about searching for food. Then, somehow, with my ‘bionic’ hearing, I picked out the delicate song of a Wood Warbler some distance away.

The beautiful Wood Warbler in full song. Arguably, one of my favourite Spring birds.

At first, I thought my ears were deceiving me, but as we walked further along the track, I heard it again and sure enough, we were watching our first Wood Warbler of the year. We never got to see one here last year and this bird most certainly made up for that. Walking very carefully into the woodland, we waited patiently for the bird to show and eventually, we picked it up within the canopy of some trees. In one superb moment, the sun came out behind a cloud and lit up the bird that was perched nicely right out in the open until it moved to a different perch to sing. It then virtually remained high up in the canopy and proved more difficult to photograph; but later on today, I read that Wood Warblers actually nest on the ground and so I was glad we didn't spend too much time in its territory.

This juvenile Goldcrest was waiting for its parents, nearby, to feed it.

Well happy with this sighting, we made our way back through the woodland to the car and although we heard a very distant Garden Warbler, we could not see the bird. After having a quick and well-deserved Ice-cream in the car park, a quick check on Birdguides revealed that yesterday's Long-tailed Duck was still on Ibsley Water, Blashford Lakes. So we made our way there to hopefully notch up another ‘year-tick’.

It was a good idea to go to Blashford Lakes where we were quickly onto our first Garden Warblers of the year.

Parking up within the car park near the Tern Hide, as I brought my telescope, I decided to make our way from the viewing platform where we bumped into one of the ‘Lazee Birders’, James Cutting and his two offspring! As per last year, the area was surrounded by singing Garden Warblers and it didn't take long for at least three birds to show reasonably well and climb onboard our year list! But it wasn't all good news as James said there was no sign of the Long-tailed Duck, but the female Red-crested Pochard was still showing well, which I glimpsed briefly while swimming on Ibsley Water. He kindly also gave us the location where the Dipper was in Romsey and so I shall probably pay that area a visit next week.

This stunning Hobby entertained us to make up for the no-show Long-tailed Duck.

After a good chat with James, who went off to check out the Woodland Hide with his kids, I got about checking the water for the Long-tailed Duck, but proved unsuccessful. However, there was plenty to look at including a superb Hobby overhead, flying back and forth over the Lake and into the woodland behind us and giving us some great views and Andy’s first of the year. 

One of at least 5 Common Terns on Ibsley Water this morning.

Even a pair of Common Buzzards soared low above us and in this bright sunshine (and it was certainly warming up now), we saw at least 5 Common Terns, probably about a dozen Great Crested Grebes and good numbers of Tufted Duck on Ibsley Water. I was trying to find a Little Ringed Plover for Andy’s year list, but no diamonds there, but there was a Lapwing and Oystercatcher along the small spit. A few Swallows were noted and a Sand Martin flew low overhead, calling in doing so. 

Common Blue Damselfly by the Info Main Building at Blashford Lakes.

After around half an hour, Andy was desperate for the toilet and knowing they had one by the main centre, we made our way to the car park there. Andy went off to do his thing while I had a quick chat with the two Voluntary wardens who pointed out the Hobby overhead, which was most likely the same bird we had seen earlier. Good numbers of Common Blue Damselflies were zipping about the place, especially around the edge of the woodland, enjoying the very warm sunshine. Once Andy came out of the Portaloo, we went around the back of the Main Building to check if any of the moths seen this morning from their moth box were perched on the building wall. Sure enough, I found three moths including a Tawny-barred Angle (NFY), Pale Tussock and my second ever Brussell's Lace moth.

Above, a Tawny-barred Angle moth behind the Info Centre and below, only my second ever Brussell's Lace moth.

Realising it was now 1.30pm, I decided to make tracks for home and so took the drive back through the New Forest instead where we had lovely views of three very young Donkeys with their Mums! Aaah! Some interesting birds in Hampshire today including a Stone-curlew at the Fishtail Lagoon in Lymington. The Iberian Chiffchaff was still singing in Otterbourne Park Wood and close by, a Black Kite was reported flying over there in the early evening.