June 06, 2006
Saturday 3rd June
HAMPSHIRE DOWNLAND
This afternoon we walked on the same Hampshire downland that we walked on the 29th April, Apart from permanently singing Skylarks, there weren't many birds, but what were there were some good ones; Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat, Hobby, Cuckoo, Grey Partridge and Stonechat.
Bird species were outnumbered by butterflies, which included Small, Common and Adonis Blues, Small Heath, Marsh Fritillary, Brown Argus, Dingy and Grizzled Skippers, and a Painted Lady.
The Pasque Flower I photographed on the 29th April now shows some very attractive seed heads.
Marsh Fritillaries
Small Heath
Whitethroat
Pasque Flower Seed Heads
In the evening we drove down to the New Forest to wait until dusk, hoping to see Nightjars. We were rewarded by some very close churring and excellent views of a Nightjar flying around, and settling in a lone Pine tree, where it continued to churr. A Woodcock was also flying around.
On the way home, a Tawny Owl flew across the road in front of the car in the Forest, and perched on a roadside branch; a Little Owl was on a telephone pole near Fordingbridge, and a Barn Owl on a roadside fence at Squirrels Corner between Cranborne and Handley Cross.