Another great day in the New Forest & to finish off at Posbrook Floods.

Friday 11th April 2025.

One of the many male Redstarts seen in Pig Bush woods today.

I arranged to meet up with both Emma & Matt Parkes at Fareham to arrange a trip into the New Forest. The plan was to go to both Pig Bush and Acres Down, but because the news filtered through that an adult Night Heron had been found by Posbrook Floods this afternoon, we scrapped the Acres Down trip to make our way there after a superb trip to Pig Bush. It was so hard to believe that we had a frost this morning and this afternoon, the temperature got up to at least 73 degrees Fahrenheit! 

Pig Bush, New Forest:

A lot of the Redstarts were in the tops of the trees.

I had brought along my Emperor Moth Lure to try out on the heath and we were successful with at least three moths attracted to the Lure, but the moths simply wouldn't settle and no photos were obtained, which was really frustrating. From the Car Park, we made our way around the outskirts of the wood, where we heard the likes of both Redstart and Blackcap singing deep within the woodland. Meanwhile, out over the heath, Emma found a Common Lizard but it was too quick for me to grab a photo. A pair of Stonechats were out on the heath near some Gorse bushes. A pair of Common Buzzards soared overhead and a Tree Pipit was heard flying over and another singing on the opposite side of the road. A Large Red Damselfly was seen fluttering about over the old bracken and trying out my Lure for the first time, it didn't take long for the first Emperor Moth to arrive, but as mentioned earlier, the moth would not settle and eventually flew off over the heath.

Above, a male Sparrowhawk soaring over the woodland and below, we found a few of these Click Beetles flying around or walking on the floor.

Above, a male Stonechat on the heath and below, a Redstart on the edge of the woodland

There were plenty of Brimstone butterflies on the wing and a few Peacock butterflies, whereas within the woods, a few Small Whites and Speckled Woods were noted. Rounding the first wood we came too, we found our first Redstart singing high up in the branches and had to go within the wood to finally get some reasonable photos. Above us, another Common Buzzard was seen soaring over and was joined by a male Sparrowhawk of which Matt exclaimed they fly like a miniature Spitfire!

Above, one of many Brimstone butterflies seen today and below, this male Stonechat showed well by the Car Park.

We made our way south across the heath and came across more Stonechats and Redstarts, but best of all, we came across at least three Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. I shall not name the area of which we saw these delightful birds for they are a Schedule One species and need protection at all times. The New Forest is probably the last stronghold they have in the UK and watching them this afternoon was very entertaining and afforded us some nice photos of the bird too. What was memorable was when the female was calling and flapping her wings to attract the male birds present; something none of us had seen before. Memorable to say the least.

Above, the female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker seen today.

Above, film footage of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.

Making our way back to the car, we had sightings of a Kestrel hunting over the heath and a Red Kite was also seen soaring overhead. Up to four Common Buzzards were seen soaring over the heath and a Swallow was actually flying quite close to one of the Buzzards! A Curlew was heard calling over the heath in the distance to round off a memorable trip here at Pig Bush.

Posbrook Floods, Titchfield Haven:

Our first Common Whitethroat of the year.

We managed to get to the small Car Park by the Canal Path around 4.30pm and then made our way south to hopefully see the Night Heron. However, our first Common Whitethroat of the year stopped us in our tracks as the bird showed well in some brambles by the main footpath; exactly where I saw one last year (same bird?). As we made our way down the Canal Path, I could see up to 5 Black-tailed Godwits on the Bridge Street Floods along with a few Teal, Mallard and Gulls. 

Common Whitethroat.

We came across birding pal Pete Appleton along  the footpath and he said he did not manage to see the Night Heron and the last time it got reported was around 3.30pm. However, while we were talking to him, Emma saw some Hirundines high over Posbrook Floods and on closer inspection, one of the three birds present was most definitely a House Martin; my first of the year. The other two birds were Sand Martins and all three headed off northbound.

Common Whitethroat.

We spent a good hour checking thoroughly the Willows and Bushes over on the far side of Posbrook Floods, but to no avail. Another male Stonechat was seen and on the Floods, there were two drake Pochards among the Teal and Mallard. A pair of Red Kites were seen overhead as we made our way back to the car, which rounded off a cracking afternoon's birding. Shame about the Night Heron for there were some great photos of the bird that were taken today. Apparently, the Night Heron reappeared just before dusk and then flew up north towards the Bridge Street Floods. Hopefully, it could be refound tomorrow? Here's hoping!