A good trip into the New Forest.

Saturday 2nd July 2022.

Beautiful Cottongrass growing along the track opposite the railway bridge on Beaulieu Road heath. Do not ever try walking across this area is one will sink up to their head! 

If I was after a ‘year-tick’ for my bird year list, I was going to have to try the New Forest for Honey Buzzard seeing one was reported by Pig Bush yesterday by one of the Lazee gang. True, the chances are quite slim in seeing one, but it's a chance I was willing to take as we made our way into the New Forest this morning. In fact, a quick change of direction as we went to one of our old haunts, Beaulieu Road, instead. It has been many years since we have been here and it brought back a lot of old memories for both of us; remembering the days when I caught the train here as a teenager and times when we would spend all day at the infamous ‘tumili’ to search for raptors over the woods. Some really good times there with great friends. 

Andy surveying the superb woodland at Bishop's Dyke. Again, a lot of good memories here from the past. I remember going on a Little Swift 'twitch' at this very location and some stroppy bloke came storming in moaning about no-one telling him it was here. It wasn't! But he was promptly told to 'do one' which had everyone laughing at his expense. Then we all saw a superb Nightjar perched up in the daylight to make up for the Swift.

As like last Saturday, I shall let the photos do the talking as the day began at Andy's house (Cowplain Marsh) with breakfast and checking his moths by his moth box. Though nothing particularly exciting, there were the following moths present: 

• 1 Buff Ermine
• 1 July Highflyer
• 1 Heart & Dart
• 1 Anania coronata (NFY)
• 2 Eudonia lacustrata
• 1 Ephestia woodiella
• 1 Endotricha  flammealis
• 2 Bee Moth
• 1 Twenty-plume Moth
• 1 Common Plume

Sorry, not the sharpest of photos, but it was high up. The Anania coronata.  

So after checking the moths, we made our way westbound down the M27 and then off to Beaulieu Road. On arrival, we noticed the car park at Shatterford Car park was closed due to the fact that a lot of car parks within the New Forest are closed due to helping the breeding waders on the heathland and to reduce the number of disturbance to the birds at this most important time. Therefore, we parked nearby opposite the Beaulieu Hotel instead and then made our way to Shatterford car park and walked south to Bishops Dyke and then onto Denny Wood and then finally back to my car, which took in some superb wildlife and bird sightings along the way.

Andy finally got his first House Martin of the year as at least four birds were flying by the houses by the railway line. I, however, found at least two nests of this species under the eaves of this house. Sadly, it has been a very lean year for this summer visitor as numbers around the UK have plummeted, especially here on the south coast.  

Arguably, the Stonechats are the most numerous species on the heathland. We saw at least 15+ on our trip here with many being juveniles. Hopefully another good season for them this year. 

Above, a male Reed Bunting was seen singing on its territory near Bishop's Dyke. The bird was some distance away hence the lack of sharpness of the photo, but always a delight to see. Below, there were good numbers of Hirundines around Bishop's Dyke. Not only the House Martins were present, but also a few Sand Martins, good numbers of Swallows and also, at least a dozen Swifts over the woodland.

  

Above, there were a few interesting flowers on show around the heath including this stunning Bog asphodel growing in the damp areas along the footpath. Below, the delicate Round-leaved Crowfoot.

Above, a juvenile Redstart hopping on the ground within Bishop's Dyke. The adult bird was not too far away and not too happy with us being there either. Below, this active Spotted Flycatcher showed well for us perched high up in a dead tree. 

Above, a Treecreeper showed well near where the above were within Bishop's Dyke. There was also a Nuthatch nearby, but that was a no-show that was somewhere deep within the canopies of the trees. Below, there was a small flock of Starlings between Bishop's Dyke and Denny Wood that contained quite a few juveniles. This youngster was hitching a ride on one of the Ponies!

 

Above, this Silver-washed Fritillary butterfly gave us a merry dance in trying to photograph it within Denny Wood, but, eventually, it rested and showed very well. Large White, Large Skipper, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and good numbers of Silver-studded Blue's (below) seen on our walk today.  

There was just the one Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly seen today, this one within Bishop's Dyke and good numbers of Black-tailed Skimmers around Denny Wood and the walk back to Shatterford Car Park along with a single male Emperor Dragonfly. While in Bishop's Dyke, I did spot my first male Common Darter of the year.

Above, this Hobby flew low over the heath as Andy spotted it hunting after dragonflies near Shatterford Car Park. 

Above, there was a small group of Edible Frogs below the small bridge leading into Denny Wood. We counted at least 5 individuals below the bridge. Below, this Nursery Web Spider was by Shatterford Car Park entrance.