A family trip to the New Forest.

Sunday 17th November 2024.

The seed put out for the birds included this Marsh Tit at Eyeworth Pond.

I had a lovely afternoon with my family, including our granddaughter Isabelle, in the New Forest this afternoon; first taking them to Eyeworth Pond in Fritham and then on for a lovely pub lunch at the Old Beams Inn at Ibsley. The weather was much better than yesterday with a lot of sunshine and blue sky above, but still fairly cool at 10 degrees Centigrade.

Above, a Robin greeted us first by the Car Park and below, a Marsh Tit feeding on the seed with a Moorhen below!

Above, just Mallards on Eyeworth Pond and below, a few Chaffinches also searching for the seed.

Of course, I took my binoculars and camera with me and as always, there were a variety of birds here. Someone had put out a lot of bird seed on the road beam near the Pond, which attracted good numbers of passerines that included Robins, Great, Blue, Coal and Marsh Tits along with Chaffinches and even a male Pied Wagtail dropped in too to pick off any spilt seed. However, it was unusual to see Moorhens next to Marsh Tits in the same field of view!

A selection of birds feeding on the seed by Eyeworth Pond. From top to bottom: Marsh Tit, Robin, Marsh Tit, Pied Wagtail, Marsh Tit, Great Tit and Blue Tit.

From the Pond, there were a number of Mallard present, but despite a good search around the area, there were no signs of any Mandarin ducks this time. A Nuthatch flew over the Pond into the neighbouring wood and a Treecreeper was heard nearby from the Car Park. Eyeworth Wood was very quiet, though Becky and myself watched a small flock of Long-tailed Tits in the trees above as we made our way back to the car. I think Isabelle thoroughly enjoyed herself today with her father walking in the woods and to finish off with a Sunday roast in a lovely country pub rounded our trip off nicely.

And to round things off, a delicious Sunday Lunch in the Old Beams Inn.