Willow Warblers were abundant in Matley Wood. Photo by Emma Parkes.
Another superb day’s birding, this time in the heart of the New Forest and taking in the wildlife of both Matley Wood /Heath and also Bishop's Dyke and Denny Wood. Kicking off with the Moths in both Andy’s and my Moth Box, we also met up with both Emma and Matt Parkes this morning on what was to be a glorious sunny day in the Forest. Andy and myself picked up two new birds species for the year and I caught up with two Moth species I have not seen for many years. What a day!
The Moth Boxes:
This Oak Beauty moth was my first for many a year.
When I awoke at 5.30am this morning, I soon discovered that it had been clear overnight and therefore, the moth total in my garden was going to be low as I soon discovered. However, at least I got some moths that included the following:
Early Grey
Double-striped Pug
Beautiful Plume
Common Plume
Hourglass Mompha
Despite a good search around the Moth Box (nothing inside whatsoever again!)I could not find anything else of note here. I always listen out for passing birds overhead and a low flying Redwing called and then watched it head off north over the houses.
A selection of Moths from Andy's Moth Box that included Hebrew Characters, Small Quakers and the Oak Beauty.
Meanwhile, Andy’s garden had attracted many more moths and a nice variety too. Best of all was the Oak Beauty; a species I have only encountered in Spring on just a handful of occasions. Geoff opened his Moth Box and it was here the moth was sitting at the bottom of the Moth Box. Among all the egg trays scattered around the Moth Box were up to 7 Hebrew Characters, 4 Small Quakers and a single Early Grey.
While enjoying a Coffee, I could hear a Chiffchaff singing briefly in the distance, while Chaffinches and Goldfinches were in the bushes nearby. A pair of Mediterranean Gulls flew high overhead, calling as per usual. Geoff caught sight of a Fox disappearing down the side of this garden and then quickly disappeared! We had a coffee once we got back to Andy’s house later in the afternoon and checking out his garden Pond, we could see both a Frog and Frog Spawn within the pond. Sadly, there was a dead Frog at the bottom of the Pond, upside down too! Poor bugger!
Matley Wood, New Forest:
Chaffinches were also abundant in Matley Wood including this singing male bird.
Earlier in the week, I had ordered a Pheromone Lure for Emperor Moths and so Emma Parkes had suggested trying it out at Matley Heath (between Lyndhurst and Beaulieu). That was to be our first destination today and it certainly paid off with some superb birds in and around the Matley Wood / Heath area. Sadly, though we put the Lure out on the heath, there was no sign here of any Emperor Moths. A bit early in the year perhaps, despite the sunny weather. Meeting both Emma & Matt Parkes within the Car Park at Matley Wood, I first gave the guys my Fathers Moth Box for them to enjoy and discover the wonderful world of Moth identification and then we set off into the woodland to see what goodies could be laying in wait for us. Our target birds here were Willow Warbler and possibly an early Redstart.
Above, several Stock Doves were within the woodland and below, Emma found this Speckled Wood butterfly.
Willow Warblers were in good numbers here with at least four singing males in different parts of the wood and though we never ‘clocked’ a Redstart, the superb Firecrests present made up for that. We found at least a dozen birds and a few individuals showed superbly in the sunshine including one bird that perched right out in the open, preening itself, for around ten minutes!
Above, this Treecreeper showed very well in the woodland and below, a March Fly sunning itself.
We were kept busy with many birds showing in the woods that included Chaffinches, a pair of Marsh Tits, both Nuthatch & Treecreeper (all showing superbly) and good numbers of Long-tailed Tits and Blue Tits. Overhead, there were small numbers of Siskins flying overhead and Stock Doves were high up in the Canopies. Emma found a butterfly on the wing and on closer discovery, it was our first Speckled Wood of the year, sitting on the leaf litter basking itself in the warm sunshine. Both Great and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker were heard, but only the former was seen within the woodland.
Firecrests were showing very well within the woodland.
We walked out onto the heath to put the Pheromone Lure safely out on the heath near some Gorse Bushes. I saw a soaring raptor over the opposite woodland and we all agreed it was a female Goshawk. A good start and further to the south, a couple of Common Buzzards were circling over the woods. It didn't end there with the raptors, for Andy (who was laying down at the time) found a Peregrine flying over at speed. I caught literally the tail end of the Peregrine disappearing into the distance; but at least I saw it. Suddenly, Emma shouted out that a Hirundine was flying over which turned out to be our first Swallow of the year. Excellent.
Above, Matley Wood viewed from the heath and below, several photos of the Stonechats on the heath.
By the Gorse bushes upon the heath, there were at least three, possibly four, Stonechats showing well along with around 6 Meadow Pipits seen flying over. Skylarks were singing over the heath as well as the occasional displaying Meadow Pipit, but to the north, a Woodlark was heard singing somewhere in the distance. Sadly, we had no luck with the Pheromone Lure to attract the Emperor Moths, but I was to try it again later in Bishop's Dyke. On our way back to the car, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was heard calling just inside the Woodland, but there was no sighting of the bird.
Above, the Pheromone Lure I used to attract the Emperor Moth and below, a Peacock butterfly sunning itself near the Car Park.
On the way back to the car, we had sightings of a pair of Green Woodpeckers flying into the woodland and also a Raven and Mistle Thrush before we said our Goodbyes. Emma and Matt were off to the Isle of Portland, while we made our way to nearby Shatterford Car Park.
This preening male Firecrest showed nicely within Matley Wood.
Bishops Dyke & Denny Wood, New Forest:
View of Bishop's Dyke from Denny Wood.
We found out that Shatterford Car Park was closed to the public, which was probably due to stopping people walking their dogs and disturbing nesting birds; hence the notices put up on the gate. So we had to park in the nearby packed Car Park opposite the Beaulieu Hotel and so had to negotiate the dangerous road over the Railway Bridge. I saw some motorbikes belting along the road and no way were they keeping to the 40mph speed limit. So we had to carefully walk along the edge of the road to make our way to Shatterford.
Above, a Green Tiger Beetle strolled across the footpath near Bishop's Dyke. Below, the large pond by Bishop's Dyke.
To be honest, birds seemed to be at a premium here. Walking to Bishops Dyke, there were several Stonechats seen from the footpath as well as a good number of Meadow Pipits. A couple of Kestrels were seen over the heath and a male Reed Bunting was seen singing from the small bridge out on the marshy area. As we neared the Bridge, something was fluttering around my feet and sure enough, it was a male Emperor Moth. I had the Pheromone Lure in my pocket and obviously, the moth could smell it! Unfortunately, the moth never settled so I could not get a photo of the insect. Still, this constituted my second ever sighting of this species. I shall try again next month to attract this species.
Water Crow-foot growing on a stretch of water near Denny Wood.
Apart from the big pool on the outskirts of Bishops Dyke that held several Mallards, a pair of Lapwing and a Curlew; it was very quiet as we made our way through Denny Wood and then back to the car. Apparently, a male Redstart WAS seen earlier today from the edge of Denny Wood, but we hardly saw any birds here. Still, a good day’s birding again and picking up two new species for our year list and two excellent moths as well. Happy days.
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