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Eyeworth Pond & Woods, nr Fritham, New Forest, Hampshire.
After the jubilation of seeing the Scops Owl on Sunday evening, it was back down to earth by getting some more month ticks and I chose the New Forest to add a few more. Yet again, another glorious day with bright sunshine and clear blue skies. I
kicked off with a stroll through the woods by Eyeworth Pond, hoping for both Treecreeper and Nuthatch within the woods and the Mandarins on the Pond.
A good scan on the Pond revealed no Mandarins whatsoever and apart from some overhead House Martins hawking for insects, there was nothing else of note, though the Pond was swarming with damselflies, notably Common Blue Damselflies.
Through the woodland, I stopped occasionally to scan the woodland. It paid off with two-month ticks in a space of minutes. Firstly, a pair of Treecreepers was searching a potential nest site with a dead branch within an Oak. Secondly, a Goldcrest was seen searching for food within the branches of a Beech tree. A male Blackcap showed well singing from various perches along the footpath, but didn’t hang around long enough to be photographed.
As I walked out of the woodland, overhead, I watched a soaring Peregrine in the clear blue sky, high over the woodland and above the Peregrine, a pair of Common Buzzards was also soaring together, with one bird displaying. The walk back produced nothing of note despite both Redstart and Nuthatch being audible.
After having my lunch by the bridge at Ibsley, I took a walk to the waters edge, overlooking the River Avon, but was disappointed to find that the path has been closed off to the general public. Some fishing authority now owns it and therefore I couldn’t get close enough for some dragonflies to photograph. I must admit, it was tempting to climb the gate but do we need some grumpy, miserable old git giving it what for.
So, from the gate, I watched patiently to see what would come by. Immediately, I was pleased to see good numbers of Banded Demoiselle damselflies perched on reed leaves close to the gate of which I managed to get a few photos. A calling Kingfisher flew past which was a complete surprise and flew off over the water and over the fields. I was hoping for a Grey Wagtail and one duly obliged as it flew upstream calling in doing so. The bird disappeared under the bridge and out of view.
Over the fields, both Corvids and Black-headed Gulls were chasing insects high in the sky and were joined by a Common Buzzard. At least three Little Egrets were seen including one bird that flew right over my head. A male Reed Bunting was holding territory near the roadside amongst the reeds and at least two singing Reed Warblers were present north of the bridge with one seen flying over the reeds. Somewhere in the distance, a Cetti’s Warbler was heard singing but the bugger wouldn’t do the honours of flying over the River.
On the water, north of the bridge, both Gadwall and a Great Crested Grebe was seen swimming on the river. A Jay flew overhead heading south towards the clump of trees behind me and a lovely pair of Common Terns fished the River just south of the bridge. Finally, as I was just getting into my car, a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew past and headed to the roadside trees. So, five more month ticks under my belt today with just a few more days left to the start of June.
A couple of interesting birds in Hampshire today include a pair of Spoonbills at Titchfield Haven and a Temmincks Stint at Needs Oar Point. The American Golden Plover is still on the Lake at Farlington Marshes today. There was no sign of the Woodchat Shrike by Siddlesham Ferry Pool today but a Common Rosefinch was found at Lands End, Cornwall but that would be too far to go and I am hoping for one on Portland anyway! Hopefully!
I had planned to do a bit of dusk birding at West Walk for my annual pilgrimage to West Walk for Nightjars and tonight, it paid off. I took Becky along with me for company and by around 9.20pm, we were watching our first Nightjars of the year. I heard of several being seen flying in off the sea at various south coast locations, so I was itching to see one this month.
I didn’t fancy watching the conclusion of Liverpool’s demise in the European Cup on telly, so I opted to watch Nightjars instead. The evening kicked of well shortly after I arrived, with a flyover Woodcock ‘roding’ over the road and heading west over the woods. Around 15 minutes later, the first Nightjar began ‘churring’. So, Becky and I joined another fellow birder and my first male Nightjar obliged by perching on a conifer and began singing. After a short spell, it took off and began ‘clapping’ as it chased a female over our heads and out of view into some woodland. Unfortunately, the birds never reappeared again. We were compensated with a sighting of a Tawny Owl flying into a roadside tree where it remained for a few seconds until flying off deep within woodland behind our car. Though I have heard many Tawnys' within the woodland, I have never seen one here, so that was a big bonus. Three Owl species in one month too!
The heath on the outskirts of Eyeworth Wood today.
A male Banded Demoiselle damselfly by the River Avon today.
Ibsley Bridge, Ibsley, nr Fordingbridge, Hampshire.
