13th October - Leaden Hall New Forest and Titchfield Haven, Hampshire

Leaden Hall, a flat plain in the New Forest, it is known for its role in the training of bombers in World War II, and still bears the scars today with dips and craters now filled with heather and gorse dotted around the site, but ornithologically it is also a well known site to find Ring Ouzels in autumn.  These summer visitors that spend the breeding season on the moors and mountains around the country migrate south in autumn to their wintering grounds in the mountains of north west Africa, and en-route the berries on the hawthorn bushes at Leaden Hall provide an irresistible food source.

You can almost set the calendar by their appearance at this site, and it was with this in mind that Ian and I trudged down and up the valley sides of Black Gutter Bottom in a howling southerly wind, that was bizarrely warm, the temperature being 18 degrees at 7.00 am.  Away to the east there were breaks in the cloud just abover the horizon, and the rising sun sent colours below the cloud base.  At first a shimmer of pink that helped to turn the cloud a shade of indigo

Then the shifting clouds were lit up with the deep reds and oranges as the sun edged its way up towards the horizon.

One feature of the landscape here is the way odd trees stand out on the horizon, the only ones to grow above the gorse and heather and withstand the battering from the winds that blow across this open heath.  This scarcity of shelter in the openness is probably why the Ring Ouzels seem to target in on the trees and bushes and Leaden Hall.  As we descended towards the very shallow stream at the bottom of the valley one tree stood out against the dawn sky.

The beautiful scenes to the east were in stark contrast to the scene that greeted us as we reached Leaden Hall Plain, the wind was joined by a squally shower that saw rain coming at us almost horizontally, while away to the south the distant trees were being swallowed up by cloud that indicated further heavy rain was not far away. Walking around the bushes there was very few birds, or even their calls.  What we did see though was a pair of Redwing flying over.  Eventually the distant rain arrived and we sought shelter in the trees and bushes, using the gorse as a wind break from the strengthening wind.  There were Blackbirds in the bushes, but none bearing the distinctive white collar could be seen.

Every so often we would be given the false sense that the rain was easing, and we would venture out only to be driven back as the rain intensified once again.  Finally it eased sufficiently for us to walk around the two Hawthorn bushes.  There were soft "clucks" from within the tree, and finally they gave up a male Ring Ouzel, that flew out across the heath, dropping into a hole, probably an old bomb crater, and out of sight.  We headed out across the heath in pursuit, and were immediately heading into more rain, then the Ring Ouzel, appeared again and flew back over our heads and into the tree it had just left.

We returned and set up the vigil once again.  A female flew in from somewhere, and promptly melted into the branches.  After waiting for awhile we approached the tree once again, and a couple of Blackbirds came out then followed by both Ring Ouzels, they headed across the plain towards Ashley Hole, dropping down and into the gorse.

We walked around the gorse without any success in finding them.  We decided then to walk along the main path towards Ashley Walk, maybe in the hope of finding something, but the heath remained almost bird less except for a pair of Stonechat, the odd Meadow Pipit that flew over and of course a couple of Carrion Crows.

The rain would come and go, and every time you thought it was clearing up there would be a short sharp shower.  The wind though remained relentless, still from the south, and still unnaturally warm for the time of year.  In all this time the camera had not even been turned on.

We walked back to Leaden Hall and decided to give the Ring Ouzels another chance.  We focused on the main collection of bushes, and concentrated on the areas that were sheltered from the wind.  This proved to be the right decision as we disturbed the male, and I was able to get a record flight shot as it flew out over the heath.

The as we waited to see if the male would return, the female appeared in a bush along side us, then flew back into the trees.  But this time sufficiently in the open to allow some photographs.

These may look like the same photographs but there are subtle differences in the pose.

Not the best shots, but, hey, I didn't think I was going to get any when the rain was lashing down, or the birds was flying off across the heath.

This is the female bird that doesn't share the bright white crescent on the neck as seen in the male, but does have a band, that gets brighter with age, this probably meaning this is a female rather than an immature bird

They would always return to the shelter of the bushes, so the tactic was to keep circulating the bushes in the hope of finding them in the open.  I then stumble across the male in just that situation.

Here you can see the silvery grey lined scallops on the belly, and the silver lining in the wings, and of course the white crescent that gives the ouzel, its name.  The word Ouzel derives from Old German which literally means blackbird.

The male would fly out over the heath, and as we walked through the gorse, Ian came across the male on the ground, but it flew off just as he was to take the shot

On another circumnavigation of the bushes we found them together in the tree, the male the shyer of the two flew off and left the female in the tree.

And so another October searching for Ring Ouzels was complete.  Every year it seems the same, fleeting glimpses as they appear in the trees, grey sky backgrounds and obscuring branches, but they are on the list once more.  We decided that we had seen enough, and had enough of walking around and through the bushes so we made our way back down the valley, across the stream, and up the other side.  Birds seen on the way were a hunting Kestrel, and a pair of Stonechat, pretty much the normal Black Gutter Bottom fare at this time of year.

So where to next, we decided on Titchfield Haven, here it was still cloudy with the odd shower, away to the east it looked better, but we were looking for the ability to shelter should we need to.  Little did we know what was in store for us.

As we drove along the motorway, the weather significantly improved, the cloud giving way to sunshine, and as we drove towards Hill Head, the thermometer in the car was recording 23 degrees.  Once parked we were greeted with many walking on the beach and a sea full of wind and kite surfers.

There had been a Black Redstart reported about amongst the chalets all week so after a quick lunch we walked down the private road, scanning the roof tops. 

The tide was rising and a small group of Oystercatcher flew over calling.

I found it right at the far end of the row of beach chalets, sitting on top of the roof.

Again a regular spot for what can't be the same birds.  I saw one here last December, in almost the same place.  We edged closer for a better view.

Then it dropped behind the chalets, on to the beach.  Walking around we found it again, but then it was off and out of sight.  I returned to the road, and walked back.  A pied Wagtail was walking on one of the roofs, maybe a sign as to why the Black Redstarts turn up here.  Pied Wagtail like roof as the warmth attracts insects.

Then I found the black Redstart, again on a roof, and again with a very bright background.

The Black Redstart has adapted to live in urban and industrial areas, and can be seen quite commonly in industrial sites and farmland in Continental Europe, Here in the UK it is restricted to around 100 breeding pairs, and is on the Red List of Birds of concern.

Leaving the Black Redstart we walked to the visitor centre, their were two target birds at the Haven, the Black Redstart and a Dartford Warbler that had been seen by the wet entrance.  As we walked I remarked it would be highly unlikely to us to see the warbler in the wind, and as I finished the words, Ian pointed one out at the top of a bush.  It then dropped out of sight, only for us to find it again in bramble to the east of the entrance.  This time it showed really well.

There were also a pair of Stonechats present, and the warbler would appear with them, in between flying off into the reeds and the scrub close to the road.  However it would always return to the bramble.

The tide was really high now, even with still 2 hours to go before the official high tide.  There were plenty of duck around the harbour, mainly due to the fact that the sunshine and unseasonable warmth had brought our a lot of people, and the one thing to do was to feed the ducks.  The drake mallards were looking quite splendid in their new winter plumage, the bottle green head feathers catching the sunshine.

At the bridge a Southern Hawker dragonfly was paused on one of the reed stems.  There were plenty of Common Darters about around the reserve as well.

From the visitor centre we walked down the east side.  The hope was that the warmth and sunshine would bring out a few butterflies, and the hope was rewarded when we came across a very elusive Red Admiral, and this Speckled Wood which was a little more confiding.

We followed the boardwalk, and headed to the Meadow Hide.  Inside the hide was like a sauna, exasperated by the fact I was dressed more for cold weather than the temperatures we were experiencing today.  Last week I was in hat and gloves and shivering as the rain was delivered on a northerly wind, this week I could have been in shorts and a T shirt.

Looking out across the meadow there was little happening.  There was a good number of gulls on the frying pan, and a single Mediterranean gull flew across.  A Buzzard scattered the gulls when it drifted over to settle on a fence post, where it was attacked by a couple of Magpies.

A female Marsh Harrier drifted over the tree tops, it is always difficult to work out exactly where they are in relation to the water and reeds, but her presence did not seem to bother the birds on the ground.

I moved from the hide to the boardwalk to watch the harrier, it moving back and forth, but never coming really close enough to the hide.  It seemed that the best place to watch it would be from the Spurgin Hide on the western side.

We walked back, intending to walk around to the western side.  In the harbour there was a Little Grebe close in, and this gave us a rare opportunity to photograph this usually timid grebe close up as it swam amongst the yachts and avoided the attention of the bigger Mallards, and even bigger Mute Swans.

They really are quite endearing close up.

Just around the corner on the beach there was a small high tide roost consisting of mainly Turnstone, but with a few Ringed Plover.  Moving down the beach it was possible to get in close to the waders, and at beach level.

Crawling along the beach I was able to get some ground level views with a blurring in the foreground and the sun on the groynes behind.

As we walked to the west entrance the Dartford Warbler showed briefly, but this time it was the Stonechat that stood out.

The view from the Meon Shore Hide has changed.  The reeds have been cut in front of the hide, The islands cleaned up and the grass on both sides of the scrape has been cut.  This will make viewing the scrape easier, but it would seem that as the work was only recently carried out, all the birds were still getting over the experience and staying away.  What waders that were present were all mostly at the back of the scrape, and the only birds in front of the hide were two of both Moorhen and Teal, plus a Little Egret.

I took many photographs of Little Egret last week, and was not interested in the bird today, but then it started to preen and in the wind it transformed the bird, ad I couldn't resist it.

Those exotic plumes don't look after their selves.

Portrait

All done on one foot

From the Meon Shore Hide we walked around the west side, again with plenty of Common Darters about, and a few more Speckled Wood butterflies.

We could see the Marsh Harrier above the Spurgin Hide, so made our way there.  On entering the hide the harrier was gone, and out in front were Gadwall and Moorhens once again.  After a short while the marsh Harrier returned, and came closer to the hide, with better views than we had from the other side earlier.

It flew around the area, heading into the southerly wind, and then turning back, and drifting over the hide.  At one point it was mobbed by Lapwing.

It just seemed to ignore their presence, not even turning to chase the Lapwing away.

October is not only the month to see Ring Ouzel, but is the month when Jays become abundant.  We watched two flying back and forth across the reserve. I caught this one coming back with an acorn, which apparently I shouldn't get too excited about at this time of year.

While we were sitting in the hide the numbers of Gadwall increased with several birds flying in over the time.  The Gadwall is an overlooked duck, immediately appearing grey, but you need to look closer and see the intricate detail, the waved patterns on the breast, and lovely dove grey scapulars feathers, and russet brown speculum.

 

Time was moving on and we decided it was time to leave.  Back at the entrance the Stonechat was showing really well.  They are a lovely little bird, ad so photogenic.

Back home the buddleia in the garden were still in the sun when I got home.  They have been a huge attraction to the Red Admiral this autumn, and over the last few weeks during the sunshine and warm weather there have been up to two Red Admiral nectaring on the flower heads.  This afternoon there was just one, but it gave the chance to get in close.

Moving around the buddleia, it was possible to get some lovely backgrounds.

As I chased the Red Admiral around the flower heads I noticed a large bee, which was in fact a Hummingbird Hawk Moth.  It has been a really good autumn for seeing these moths, with as many as two individuals being present through October. 

This is the latest I have seen them in the garden.

The weather was due to get bad on Sunday, and looking at the long term forecast, while it will not be freezing cold, the temperatures will not reach the highs of the last few weeks, so it is likely that this will be the last sighting of the moth, and probably the Red Admiral too, this year.

A strange day, at the time it seemed like it was a quiet day, but looking back at the photographs it was definitely better tan that, two year ticks and some good shots, plus sunshine and warm weather, something we have not enjoyed on a Saturday for some time