New Forest walk for wildlife

On Saturday, 22nd July, we had a group out at Hawkhill Inclosure to look for wildlife, a new walk for Two Owls Birding.   We had a fairly early start and we hoped we would be able to get round before the forecasted rain started.  Bob had arrived just before us and had seen a Spotted Flycatcher on the fence in the car park, unfortunately it had disappeared as we parked up.    

Grayling © Nick Hull

Once everyone was ready we set off and soon we could hear Great Spotted Woodpecker and Mistle Thrush.  A Goldcrest was singing high in a pine tree but it was further on our walk before we actually saw one.  A Green Woodpecker was making a lot of noise out on the heathland and we took path into the open, a family of Stonechats and making their familiar "tac" call sat up on the small gorse bushes around us.  As I turned round to walk back to the main path I put up a Grayling butterfly, it landed just in front of me, it just blended in completely with the stone path.  Everyone had a good look and we found several more on our walk, though the Gatekeeper butterfly took the honour of the most numerous.

Silver-studded Blue © Nick Hull

Further on, my eye was caught by a bird in some honeysuckle, in fact two birds were here and the quick glimpse I had made me think it was a Marsh Tit.  Then a couple of Great Tits came in to view and wondered if I was mistaken.  However we only walked a few feet when I saw my bird again and it was Marsh Tit and its mate was close by and we all got wonderful views of them.  Moving on Nick called Redstart as a bird flew across the path, I just caught the back of it as it disappeared, unfortunately not everyone in the group got to see it.  A Stock Dove started calling and Chiffchaff, by the brook we had a little party of Blue, Great and Coal Tit, also Chiffchaff and Goldcrest.  

We then came back out on to the heathland and the sun was shining, so this brought out several butterflies with Small Heath, Meadow Brown and Common Blue.  However, it was the beautiful little Silver-studded Blue butterfly we were really pleased to see feeding on the bell heather.  Dragonflies were not to be forgotten with Keeled Skimmer, male and female also Common Darter.

Keeled Skimmer (male) © Nick Hull

We did have a walk on the opposite side on Beaulieu Heath and added a few more birds to our list including Swallows, Swift, Grey Heron, Little Egret and plenty of Linnets.   We also had our first and only bird of prey with a Peregrine.  Unfortunately the weather had deteriorated and rain set in, but it was a most enjoyable walk and one we hope to do again.

Juvenile Linnet © Nick Hull