Hobby...

Sunday 25th May 2008

We spent a few hours in the New Forest yesterday, at Boldrewood and Shatterford. Had a really enjoyable time, there were lots of little foals everywhere. We saw two Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers and a baby Green Woodpecker on the walk near Boldrewood. Only managed to find one bird for the list - a Hobby at Shatterford.


I liked this foal with the white spot.....

I wonder if I'll see any different birds when I'm in Northern Ireland in a couple of weeks time. A Chough and a Tree Sparrow would be nice......

142. hobby

Garden Birds and Flowers...

Friday 23rd May 2008

I've been watching the back garden for baby birds and so far I've seen one baby Goldfinch. That was three days ago, it was sitting on the garden fence while the mother brought niger seed to it. No baby Blue Tits yet but a very scruffy looking adult bird was on the tree this morning........



aquiligia


wild geraniums - good for attracting bees


poppies

Glossy Ibis and lots more.........

Tuesday 20th May 2008

It’s funny how things turn out.....

Last week we had a Spoonbill on Keyhaven Lagoon. Then I heard a rarity had turned up at Blashford...a Black-winged Stilt. It didn’t stay for long and we didn’t rush up to see it. But lots of people did see it, so I’m pleased for them.


white blossom

On Sunday morning we decided to go up to Milkam Enclosure to look for Crossbills. Before we left the house, I had a quick look on Birdforum to see if there was anything interesting about. As it turned out, another rarity had arrived, a Glossy Ibis on Fishtail Lagoon, Keyhaven. Now what should we do? If we headed for Keyhaven would the Ibis still be there????


wall brown

We decided to stick to our original plan, and headed to the New Forest. It was nice and quiet at Milkham, but unfortunately no Crossbills to be seen. We did find a male Redstart which was a nice surprise. That’s exactly how things go in the bird world. You try for one thing and end up finding something else. I also saw my first dragon and damselflies of the year, lots of wood ants on the path and two fallow deer bucks.


common tern

After lunch we decided to pop to Keyhaven and try for the Ibis...... What a good move that turned out to be. Not only did we get to see the Glossy Ibis....but a Ruff with an actual ruff!!! in beautiful summer plumage, and two Velvet Scoters off the headland too!!!

137. redstart
138. glossy ibis
139. ruff
140. velvet scoter
141. bar-tailed godwit

The Swan's Nest......

Wednesday 14th May 2008

I do love this time of year, especially when the weathers good, and thankfully, this May we have had lots of good weather.


reflections of a black headed gull

We went to Keyhaven on Saturday morning, it was such a nice experience. Hardly anyone about..... which was fine by me. We weren’t looking for anything in particular. To tell the truth, I was happy just to be out walking by the sea, and if we saw some nice birds, well that would be a bonus.


keyhaven quay

It's not just the birds though.... This time of year you can’t help but notice the bright yellow gorse, all along the edge of the pathway, and lots of other wild flowers and grasses too.

forget-me-not

A Swan was sitting on it’s nest not far from the pathway. I was watching her, when she climbed down, revealing one egg. I had to laugh, she was only off the nest one minute, when her mate arrived and appeared to tell her off for leaving the egg.



We did find one bird for the year list, a Spoonbill on Keyhaven lagoon. Further along we saw, a Little Ringed Plover, some Shellducks, Reed Buntings, Whitethroats, Common and Little terns.....and heard some Cetti's and Sedge Warblers.


New Forest pony with foal

136. spoonbill

Terns, Gulls and Warblers.....

Friday 9th May 2008

Last Saturday morning Ian called me out to the back garden, where he pointed out some Swifts to me. Just two of them, but it was nice to see them back again, a bit later than last year. Then we went down to Titchfield Haven, the weather was warm and dry and we saw lots of nice birds. There were various Terns, Gulls, and Avocets...... and not forgetting the warblers.....Reed, Sedge and Cetti's..... all seen and heard.

126. swift

127. common tern
128. reed warbler
129. mediterranean gull
130. sandwich tern
131. black tern
132. cetti's warbler
133. sedge warbler

On Monday afternoon we did the walk at Farlington Marshes, it was very quiet down there. The best finds were some very brightly coloured male Linnets and some Whitethroats.

134. linnet
135. whitethroat