MATLEY BOG INCLOSURE – DENNY WOOD CAMPSITE – BEAULIEU STATION AND SHETTERFORD CAR PARK – HATCHET POND ENCLOSURE – BEAULIEU HEATH – PIG BUSH ENCLOSURE
WEATHER: hazy sunshine in the AM, then cloudy with a cold wind and some rain PM.
We had a terrific day in the ‘New’ Forest visiting several sites in ancient oak-woodland and heathland areas for a different set of species. It was also a very long day, with a pre-breakfast outing and a post dinner Nightjar search, we started at 6am and I have just got back to my room at 10:15pm!
Our early morning outing was to Matley Ancient Woodland which is just a few clicks down the road. We had a quiet start, in some much as not seeing much, but it was a noisy start as far as the birds were concerned, bird-song came from all directions, we just couldn’t locate many.
watching the Treecreepers at their nest site
Eventually birds began to appear, we ended up seeing quite a few species and some of our most wanted. Spotted Flycatcher was nice to see as was a male Common Redstart. We watched Treecreepers bring food to a nest site, we saw Goldcrest, Mistle thrush, Stock Dove, Chiffchaff and we heard a distant Cuckoo. We managed to find two or three Firecrests but they were hard work and not easy to get onto. A Willow Warbler was found in the car park as we headed back for breakfast.
Common Redstart seen at Matley Woods
Our morning was spent visiting the various enclosures along the road to Beaulieu, we took short walks in Denny Wood Campsite entrance, Beaulieu Inclosure and Shatterford car park.
Common Crossbill,
New birds for our list included Meadow and Tree Pipits, Siskin, Stonechats and Crossbills. We also saw Ravens, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel and many common species.
Tree Pipit
We ate our picnic lunches whilst sitting on benches overlooking Hatchet Large Pool where a few species were seen but not many. We watched Pied Wagtails feeding their recently fledged youngsters.
Pied Wagtail being fed by a parent
Beaulieu Heath is a massive flat area, formerly an aerodrome and now covered in Gorse, heather and Horses. We tracked down a pair of Dartford Warblers after a fairly long walk. We found our first Common Whitethroat, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Linnets.
The wind had picked up and made it feel really cold, the sun hid behind clouds that threatened rain. So, we drove into Beaulieu Village and ahd a lovely hot drink and a various cakes.
Common Whitethroat
Our final venue was the small woodland at Pigs Bush Enclosure, the wind dropped the sun came out and we had a lovely hour walking in and around the woodland. We found two pairs of Common Reddstarts, a Spotted Flycatcher, a pair of Bullfinches, another pair of Dartford Warbler (the male was really showy), we had three sightings of a Green Woodpecker and lots of other species turned up.
Mistle Thrush - taken this morning
We got back to the hotel around 5:45pm and ate dinner at 7pm. Three of us went out again at 9pm to look for Nightjars and Woodcock. We heard a couple of distant Nightjars but that was all. The scenery, with a rolling mist and a largely clear sky, a setting sun behind the clouds, was breathtaking, just gorgeous.