Three Counties Birding

Wednesday 28th June

MARTIN DOWN

It was a lovely evening, so after tea we went to Martin Down. We parked at the Sillens Lane end and walked an anti-clockwise circuit of the Down. A Sparrowhawk flew up Sillens Lane in front of us, and we were never out of earshot of purring Turtle Doves. Other birds of the walk included Yellowhammer, Blackcap, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat, Cuckoo, Red-legged Partridge, Bullfinch and Willow Warbler.

We saw our first Dark Green Fritillaries, Marbled Whites and Ringlets of the year, as well as Common Blue, Meadow Brown, Small Heath and Grizzled and Large Skippers.

Hedge Bedstraw

Knapweed

Marbled White

Ringlet

Skylark

Garden Update Monday 19th to Sunday 25th June

The Greater-spotted Woodpecker returned again to the garden on Monday morning, other Monday birds included Lesser Black-backed Gull, and Long-tailed Tit. Swallows and Swifts were over the Village on most days, the Skylarks were singing over the back field, and Goldfinches turned up on a couple of days.

Black-headed Gulls were over the Village on Friday, and among Saturday birds were Great Tit, Pheasant, and Song Thrush, but the most bizarre was a Stone Curlew which called as it flew over.

Saturday 24th June

MOTHS

These were among the moths in the trap this morning.

Buff Tip

Elephant Hawk Moth

Small Elephant Hawk Moth

Garden Tiger Moth

Privet Hawk Moth

Saturday 24th June

NEW FOREST - CROCKFORD BRIDGE & CALSHOT

After a morning working at home, in the afternoon we went to Crockford Bridge in the New Forest for Dragon and Damselflies. We saw Keeled Skimmer, Common Blue damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Broad Bodied Chaser and Golden Ringed Dragonfly.

Butterflies included Silver-studded Blues in good numbers, Small Heath, Large Skipper, and our first White Admiral of the year. We saw some birds as well, Buzzard, Jay, Willow Warbler, Kestrel, Mistle Thrush, a Sparrowhawk, Yellowhammer, Bullfinch, and a very vociferous Cuckoo.

In the evening we drove down to Calshot, where we added Sandwich Tern, Rock Pipit, Little Egret, and Reed Bunting among others to the day list. On the way home we saw a Tawny Owl between Red Shoot and Mockbeggar, and a Barn Owl near Handley Cross.

Broad Bodied Chaser

Golden Ringed Dragonfly

Keeled Skimmer

Large Red Damselfly

Heath Spotted Orchid

Friday 23rd June

NEW FOREST - SHATTERFORD & KEYHAVEN

We had another Friday afternoon off, working Flexitime certainly has its advantages, certainly in the summer. On a glorious afternoon we went to Shatterford in the New Forest, specifically for a butterfly, the Silver-studded Blue. We saw one, just the one. Birds there included Kestrel, Stonechat, Curlew, Hobby and Greater-spotted Woodpecker.

Later in the afternoon we went on down to Keyhaven, where after a warm afternoon, it was decidedly chilly. From the car park opposite the Gun Inn we walked the sea wall as far as Pennington, returning along the inland path. Birds of the walk included Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Reed and Cettis Warblers, Common and Little Terns, jay, Gadwall, Eider, Reed Bunting and Whitethroat. On the way home we saw a Little Owl near Fordingbridge, and a Tawny Owl at Handley Cross.

Common Tern

Linnet

Garden Update Monday 12th to Sunday 18th June

The Skylarks are still singing, the House Martins are in and out of the nest boxes, and the numbers of young birds about the garden are increasing almost daily. A Raven cronked over on Monday, Lesser Black-backed Gulls were flying over on Wednesday, but it was quiet until Sunday when among the twenty garden birds were a Greater-spotted Woodpecker, and a Sparrowhawk.

Blackbird

Meadow Brown

Song Thrush

Sunday 18th June

DOWNTON

After a morning working at home we were looking for a quiet walk this afternoon, and for quiet walks, the riverside north of Downton fits the bill. There was nothing spectacular, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Treecreeper, Grey Wagtail, Cettis Warbler, Reed Warbler and Kingfisher being the highlights. There were a few butterflies, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, and our first Gatekeeper of the year.

Banded Demoiselle (Female)

Banded Demoiselle (Male)

Gatekeeper

Saturday 17th June

WILTSHIRE DOWNLAND

It was a very warm day, Wiltshire Ornithological Society had a field trip, just the day for a long walk on the Wiltshire downland between Marlborough and Swindon. The highlight of the drive to the meeting place at Hackpen Hill, was a Red Kite which drifted lazily across the road above us.

It has to be said that it was very quiet on the bird front, which included Stock Dove, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Grey Partridge, Goldfinch, Sparrowhawk, Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer and Greater-spotted Woodpecker. We fared slightly better with butterflies, with Painted Ladies constantly dashing past, others included Red Admiral, Small Blue, a Clouded Yellow, and Large Skipper. We went on to Savernake Forest where we added Treecreeper, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.

Buzzard

Pheasant

Poppy

Swallow

Friday 16th June

MARTIN DOWN AND LYMINGTON

We had the afternoon off, so we started at Martin Down. We parked off the A354, crossed the main road, and walked on the Kitts Grave side. Butterflies outnumbered birds, with Small Heath, Common, Small, and Adonis Blues, Large and Dingy Skippers, and Meadow Brown being the pick of the former; birds included Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Yellowhammer, Greater-spotted Woodpecker, and Bullfinch.

Later in the afternoon we drove on down to Lymington, where from the Bath Road car park we walked the inland lanes and paths towards Pennington, returning along the sea wall past Moses Dock and Eight Acre Pond. Birds noted on the walk included Oystercatcher, Cuckoo, Little Egret, Black-tailed Godwit, Little and Common Terns, Ringed Plover, Eider, and Reed Bunting.

On the way home there was a Little Owl on a post near Fordingbridge, and a Tawny Owl near Cranborne.

Pyramidal Orchid

Greater Butterfly Orchid

Fumitory

Black-headed Gull

Garden Update Monday 5th to Sunday 11th June

A Song Thrush has been singing in the back garden early most mornings, but the real villains have been the neighbourhood cats, which upset the Blackbirds, who make free with their alarm calls - at 4.30 in the morning. We do our best to dissuade cats from our garden, but we can't be out there all the time.

The House Martins appear to have occupied only two of our nest boxes this year, which is disappointing, but there are youngsters in at least one of them. There have been young Great Tits in the garden this week, but nothing can compare with the noisy young Starlings.

Garden butterflies this week have included Peacock, Brimstone, Large, Small and Green-veined Whites, Common Blue and Painted Lady.

Greenfinches

Starlings

Juvenile Starling

All Digiscoped

Sunday 11th June

NEW FOREST - MILLERSFORD BOTTOM

It was another sunny afternoon and we went to the New Forest, this time we parked at the Ashley Walk car park, crossed the road to walk in Millersford Bottom.

There were very few butterflies, only Small Heaths, one or two dragonfly species, more damselflies, mainly Beautiful Demoiselles, and some spikes of Heath Spotted Orchids.

Birds included Willow Warbler, Green and Greater-spotted Woodpeckers, a Kingfisher, Linnets, Yellowhammer, and a family of Redstarts.

Female Beautiful Demoiselle

Funnel Web Spider

Heath Spotted Orchid

Petty Whin

Saturday 10th June

MARTIN DOWN

England were playing their first World Cup match, so making the most of a very quiet afternoon we drove to Martin Down, where we parked in the car park off the A354 and walked on the Kitts Grave side of the Down and in Vernditch Chase.

The sun was still shining, and it was nowhere near as windy as yesterday, and butterflies outnumbered birds. We had fifteen species of butterfly which included Green Hairstreak, Small, Common and Adonis Blues, Grizzled, Dingy, and our first Large Skipper of the year, Painted Lady, Red Admiral and Small Heath.

The pick of the birds were Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Bullfinch, and Jay.

In the evening we drove through the New Forest, seeing and hearing Woodcock once again, and three different Little Owls.

Common Spotted Orchid

Green Hairstreak

Large Skipper

Friday 9th June

KEYHAVEN

After work this evening we drove to Keyhaven once again. As usual we parked opposite the Gun Inn, but as there was a very strong south-easterly wind we walked the inland path as far as Pennington, returning along the sea wall.

Birds of the walk included Grey Heron, Little Egret, Shelduck, Shoveler, Pochard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Eider, Common, Sandwich and Little Terns, Curlew, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Cettis Warbler, Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting. The highlight of the walk however was a Peregrine, which we disturbed eating prey on the coast path. The lowlights were two pairs of intellectually challenged dog walkers who appeared to think it great fun for their animals to race around on the saltmarsh, one chased a female Mallard, which was trying to distract it from her ducklings. These people probably consider themselves to be normal human beings, and Fido was only playing; in my world, they're not.

On the way home through the New Forest we saw and heard both Nightjar and Woodcock, and heard a Cuckoo, still Cuckooing at dusk.

Thursday 8th June

HAMPSHIRE DOWNLAND

It was another glorious evening, so we walked on our favourite bit of Hampshire downland. Birds we saw or heard on the walk included Yellowhammer, Turtle Doves, Red-legged and Grey Partridges, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat, Stock Dove, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap.

The Common-spotted Orchids are now at their best, and Fragrant Orchids are just starting.

Dropwort

Fragrant Orchid

Quaking Grass

Small Blue

Wednesday 7th June

FONTHILL LAKE

After a hot day at work, an evening walk alongside water was called for, unfortunately the water in question - Fonthill Lake - was suffering from some kind of algae infection, being a greenish blue in colour.

We parked at Fonthill Bishop Church and walked the length of the lake to the Dam and back. The feature of the walk were the number of singing Song Thrushes, we were never out of earshot of them for the whole walk. There were good numbers of Mandarins on the lake, but apart from Mallards, the only other ducks we saw were Gadwall and Tufted Duck.

Other birds of the walk included our first Spotted Flycatcher of the year, Mistle Thrushes on the cricket pitch, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Blue, Great, Long-tailed and Marsh Tit, Goldcrest, Sparrowhawk, Garden Warbler, and at the Dam end, a pair of Grey Wagtails.

Sunday 4th June

NEW FOREST - ACRES DOWN

We went on the Wiltshire Ornithological Society's field trip to Acres Down in the New Forest, as well as an opportunity to see raptors it was also an opportunity to catch up with old friends. We started at the viewpoint overlooking Holmhill and Highland Water Inclosures, and immediately had good ,if distant, views of a Goshawk soaring with Common Buzzards. This was soon followed by closer views of two Honey Buzzards also keeping company with a Common Buzzard enabling direct comparison.

A pair of Crossbills were in a conifer in frot of the group, and a male Redstart flew all around us. Among the other birds seen or heard in the two hours or so we spent at the watch point were Cuckoo, including the lovely bubbling call of a female, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, Stock Dove, and Green and Greater-spotted Woodpeckers.

The walk continued through Holmhill and Highland Water Inclosures, where singing Wood Warblers, Siskin, Tree Pipit, Treecreeper, and Jay were added to the day list. While having our lunch, a Honey Buzzard soared low overhead, and a Hobby dashed through. Later on the walk we had even better views of a Honey Buzzard.

Moths

We ran the Moth trap again, here is a selection of the catch.

Garden Update Monday 29th May to Sunday 4th June

Swifts and House Martins are over the village in good numbers, the first House Martin eggs hatched this week, and there has been much to-ing and fro-ing with food. Young Starlings, Greenfinches, and House Sparrows have all made their presence heard in the garden this week - especially the Starlings.

The Cuckoo which was calling around the village at the weekend was still calling on Monday, when a Kestrel drifted over. The new month started with 23 species on Thursday, which included Lesser Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls, Song Thrush, Goldfinch, Pheasant and Buzzard. A surprise on Friday was a Mallard flying over the village.

Great and Blue Tits were in the garden and on the feeders, they were collecting food for their young from the Pear tree, it's interesting to watch the cycle, on to the feeder to refuel themselves, into the tree for food for the young, and off to the nest, repeat as required.

There have been a few butterflies in the garden, Brimstone, Holly Blue, and Small and Green-veined Whites

Saturday 3rd June

SMALL BLUES

While walking on the Hampshire Downland we came across a muddy puddle on a track. There were fifty or so Small Blue butterflies settling on, and flying around the puddle. Curiously, the only other butterflies there were single Common Blue, and Grizzled Skippers.

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.

Friday 2nd June

BARTON ON SEA & KEYHAVEN

We had this afternoon and went for a walk on the beach at Barton on Sea, hoping to see Glanville Fritillary butterflies. No luck I'm afraid even though we walked quite a long way along the base of the cliffs.

In the evening we went on to Keyhaven where we walked the sea wall as far as Pennington, returning along the sea wall. The glorious English weather showed its true colours this evening, the Isle of Wight was bathed in sunshine, similarly the New Forest, but the coastal strip was under a permanent cloud; it was windy, and flippin' freezing, a complete contrast to a warm and sunny Barton on Sea.

A Jay flew across Avon Water, Common and Little Terns were vocal, Eiders were on a sandy spit, Little Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, and a single Little Stint were on one of the lagoons, I managed to get a poor photo of the Stint in indifferent light and a blustery wind. Other waders included Ringed and Grey Plovers, Redshank and Curlew.

Common Vetch

Jackdaw

Little Stint
(Digiscoped)

Wall Brown