A Cuckoo called from north of the track, and there was plenty of bird song about. It didn't take long to come across the first of the specialties, a male Redstart singing from the top of a pine tree.
In late April we had been here in high winds hoping we might find the Wood Warblers. We were not successful then, but convinced ourselves we were too early, and that this was the date to find them, as we crossed the bridge over Highland Water with Firecrests singing we clung on to that hope, but as we approached what is normally the best spot to find them, the hope started to evaporate. You can normally hear them singing as you walk around the path but today there was nothing. The song of the Chaffinch and Wren would have you hoping, and distant Song Thrush too sounded as if it could be one, but in the end it was plainly evident that they were not returning to this part of the forest.
We stood, we listened but all in vain, and eventually we decided it was time to walk back. As we did so a Crossbill sang from the top of a pine alongside the path.
It turned out there was a pair, and they flew off with the familiar chip chip call.
A Dandelion seed head by the side of the path took my eye, beautiful, but not really compensation for the lack of Warblers.
One bird that was about in plenty was the Firecrest, and in consolation we stopped to photograph one individual male that was singing close to the path.
As it sang it fed, buzzing around the branches and leaves catching small insects and spiders that hang beneath them.
Unlike the Wood Warblers the number of Firecrests now present in the New Forest seems to have increased over the years. It was always a surprise to come across a singing bird, but now they seem to be everywhere, their song seemingly outnumbering their close relative the Goldcrest. This male continued to entertain in the Spruce trees.
Always a stunning bird to see, and brightened the malaise around failing to find the Wood Warblers.
The dead tree close to Highland Water is a familiar site, and with the overnight rain the trunk and bark took on a completely different look. Turn you head and imagine, and you have the ye of Humpback Whale!
Ian had called out a brief sighting of a Woodcock just before we reached the bridge, but as we now walked up the hill towards the car park I saw in the distance what I thought were two Stock Dove fly from the path. They flew to the side of the path and out of view, then almost immediately one flew back, it wasn't though a Stock Dove, it was brown with a long bill, and I had no doubt it was a Woodcock. It flew across in front of us and then into the bracken. I tramped around in the hope of finding it but without any luck.
A little further and another song stopped us. The area to the left of the path, or north was cleared sometime ago, and over the years the Birch trees have grown. Earlier there had been a Willow Warbler singing, but now there was another specialty the Tree Pipit. It took some time but eventually we found, or rather it showed as it burst into the air in its parachute flight display, and settle back down on the edge of a spruce tree.
We were able to get close as it sang unconcerned by us.
Then another display flight and this time it settled in the middle of a birch tree where it continued to sing.
Finding the Tree Pipit here meant that we did not have to go in search of them on the down which was a result as we were wanting to set off for Keyhaven. Before we got back to the car we stopped to chase a Cuckoo around the area, getting only a brief glimpse, and had another chance to see the Redstart.
There were quite a few Redstart about with at least half a dozen singing birds.
Back in the car park we loaded up and set off for Cut Bridge, pulling up there were quite a few cars about, but mostly people taking kayaks into the water or just hanging around feeding the swans. By the rocks there were three other birders and we were relieved to find out that we hadn't missed much.
High tide was at 10.30, the conditions were a little misty with hardly any breeze, but what there was coming from behind us, the east, while the water was dead clam, would these be good conditions? It was difficult to say. Looking out to sea there were several Gannet about moving around the Needles and up and down the narrows. A very distant auk on the water started debate on a possible identification. Razorbill or Guillemot, the favourite was Razorbill but it was far to distant to be one hundred per cent sure, so it was left to drift.
All three terns flew past, Sandwich, Common and Little, the Little Terns fishing just off the beach.
A distant skua was picked up around the green buoy, ad we were able to watch it chasing terns and getting them to drop their catch, flying down to the sea to pick it up. A dark form, streamlined and with white wing flashes every so often clinched this as an Arctic Skua. It would sit on the water, and then appear again to chase the terns.
A single Whimbrel flew past and over the beach and onto the marsh, but that was probably the sole passage migrant. As the clock approached midday we decided to call it a day, once again the Saturday had proved to be not a match for the events of the week, one year we will get the ideal conditions, and I will catch up with a Pom once again.
After a quick lunch we drove into Keyhaven, where we parked at the harbour and then set of around the sea wall. The sun was out once again, but looking to the north inland the skies were very dark, it would seem we were having the better conditions of the day.
A little further on we came across a small group staring down into the cow parsley by the side of the path. On reaching them we could see that they had found a resting Small Copper.
It sat motionless and looked immaculate, probably having just emerged, the orange copper contrasting stunningly with the dark background of the bank.
Slowly it turned the wings looking to catch the warmth of the sun that was coming through some hazy cloud.
The sea wall here at Keyhaven is always a good place to find Small Copper, the southerly aspect and a mixture of plants and open ground is seemingly an attraction to these beautiful butterflies in the spring.
Leaving the Small Copper we were admiring the patches of Thrift where a White-tailed Bumblebee was enjoying the profusion of flowers.
Then just after Ian remarked that there were no blue butterflies I found a Common Blue sitting in amongst the grass. We were not sure if the curled wing was due to the fact that the butterfly was just emerging, or that it was slightly worn. In hind sight I believe it was the former.
As well as Small Copper the area is also good for Green Hairstreak, they seem to prefer the gorse that lines the path, and as we watched the Common Blue One flew past us. In flight they look very dark, the upper wings being a brown colour, but when they settle they show off the brilliant green on the underwing.
Another feature of this butterfly is the black and white hoops on the legs and antenna, the legs looking like rugby socks.
A group gathered, and inevitably someone always remarks that hey have never seen one before and are they rare. The Green Hairstreak is probably one of the more widespread hairstreaks in the UK, the problem is seeing them as they do blend in with their habitat. However once you know what to look for they do become easier to find.
They are also quite approachable, allowing the opportunity for some close shots, and some lovely bokums
The hairstreak though did finally become disturbed by the attention and flew off over the path heading towards another patch of gorse. We moved on and soon came across another Common Blue that crossed the path and joined several others in amongst ta large patch of thrift. The usual duels ensued as butterflies met each other, but one duel involved another orange butterfly, but this time it was a Small Heath, another first for the year. Here a distant record of the first for the year.
We walked around to Keyhaven Lagoon, where a pair of Common Terns were once again using a post and box as a resting place. The box is used regularly each year, and it would be nice to think it was the same pair returning.
Little Terns were also present much to the dislike of the Common Terns that took turns to chase them away should they come too close.
Common Tern
The main event on the lagoon though were the Spoonbill, as we walked up there were six birds but one flew off in the direction of the tip and the balancing ponds, leaving five birds feeding on the far bank.
With Spoonbills it is always hit or miss, they are either fast asleep with the head tucked under a wing, or quite animatedly feeding as was the case to day.
Moving past the cattle on the bank it conjured up images of the Carmargue and other Mediterranean sites, the presence of this large white birds still not yet accepted as a common occurrence like the Little Egret.
Then they too flew off, the black wing tips confirming their immature status, and the fact that they are not breeding yet.
At the back of the lagoon there were several pairs of Avocet, and over the time we were there we saw several fly over towards Fishtail Lagoon.
Making our way to Fishtail a male Stonechat posed on the wire fence by the lagoon.
Fishtail Lagoon was quite busy, the most active were the Avocets, but scanning through the pools and islands there were quite a collection of wildfowl, not in the quantities that are present in the winter, but several different species such as Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal, Tufted Duck and a couple of drake Wigeon that looked like spending the summer here.
Dunlin were hidden on the islands, mostly all were in summer plumage and sporting the black bellies, high tide must have brought them in, and I counted 61 which is a good count for this time of year.
A couple of pairs of Black-tailed Godwits fed at the back, all showing partial summer plumage, while a Common Sandpiper was pointed out by a lady wishing to know the identity. A really poor shot here, but confirms the identity
At the back of the lagoon were two pairs of Little Ringed Plover. They were distant even for the telescope so unfortunately no photographs but nice to see, and the first of the year too
A Little Tern dropped into bathe by the side of the island.
Then sat on the shingle in the sunshine.
But the main interest came from the Avocets On the island there were five pairs with birds sitting on the nests. At the back of the lagoon there were two small Avocet chicks, looking at first like Sanderling, but clearly chicks. The alarming thing was that these chicks seemed to be far away from any of the adult birds, so were not being afforded the protection that they would get from their parents.
The calls of the Avocet could be constantly heard as they interacted. This bird approached another on the nest and raised the wings and stuck the neck out towards its partner on the nest.
The partner then moved off the nest to allow the displaying bird to come in and settle down on the nest. Unfortunately we could not quite make out the number of eggs.
Then everything went up, the reason at firs not clear, but then looking behind us a small sail boat, with a bright red sail was sailing up the channel close to the sea wall, and while it was not on the lagoon, the presence of the red sail was enough to spook everything. All the Avocet took off and when they did settle they did not return immediately to the nests. Overhead a Great Black-backed Gull cruised past, and a couple of Black-headed Gulls were chase away.
After what seemed an age the Avocet finally returned to the nests, however they will not survive much longer if they keep up this behaviour, the Great Black-backed Gulls know they are there, and will be back.
In the mean time a peace settled over the colony, those not sitting on the nest took the opportunity to preen.
While other flew around looking to feed on the water.
There had been a Temminck's Stint found yesterday, and reports from the morning had stated that it was still about but difficult to find, the best viewing being from the Old Tip on the eastern side of the lagoon. We had come in the hope that it might be found but were not really actively looking for it. However a small wader on the end of a long thin spit in the middle of the lagoon caught my eye and then quickly disappeared, we walked back to a point where the sea wall was closest and waited. It didn't take long before it appeared from the rushes and fed along the edge of the water. It was the Temminck's Stint, a nice surprise.
We had seen one last October, a first for a longtime then so it was a bit like London Buses, but welcome.
More horizontal in appearance and with a sharper defined breast band and white underparts than a Little Stint. It also has longer wings that reach to thetail
It was still distant, and photography not easy, these as it came out of the rushes and moved along the edge of the water probably being the best of the record shots.
A small group gathered taking advantage of our find, and one birder remarked that he was made up what with the stint and a Wall Brown along the Ancient Highway. There was no hesitation from Ian and I, after confirming that we had heard right and getting some idea of where it had been seen we were off around the lagoon and over the Old Tip to the car park from where we started a slow walk along the path. Unfortunately the sun had gone behind the clouds, but we continued the walk, checking the stone path and bramble covered bushes for any movement.
A Reed Bunting sang from a nearby bush.
After a while the sun came out, we continued our "good the bad and the ugly" walk along the path. Reed Warbler and Whitethroat sang from both sides of the path but apart from this Small Heath no butterflies.
The sun was out when we reached the balancing pond, and the diagonal footpath. A little more sheltered here we came across a Small Copper sunning on a bare branch.
Then another Common Blue that had a confrontation with the Small Copper but settled on the path.
A little further on we came across another Common Blue that settled in the grass and kindly opened the wings to show the lovely blue upper wing.
We had one more walk up and down the Ancient Highway, on the way back the sun slipped behind the clouds once more. Just before we reached Keyhaven, we walked a little way up Iley Lane and came across this electric green bug.
This is a Green Sawfly, the green being contrasted by black markings. The female has a saw like ovipositer that cuts into the plant stem to lay its eggs. They are seen mostly during May to August but mainly as a larvae, the adult form not being commonly seen.
At Keyhaven harbour we stopped to reflect on the day, a pair of Mute Swan had six cygnets out on the Pans, always a lovely sight.
A great day with just the one disappointment of no Wood Warblers, but plenty of year ticks and special birds. As we drove north we passed through areas where heavy rain had fallen recently, we had definitely been lucky with the weather, and also the birds and butterflies today.
