I had arranged to meet Ian at the Telegraph car park in the New Forest where we were going to walk through to Leaden Hall. On previous trips we would park at the road sign on the main road and then walk down through Black Gutter Bottom. This way we could watch the Bottom from the top of the valley. However as we set off it was still fairly dark, the main track littered with huge puddles, not surprising really given the rain through the month
Many of the craters, formed many years ago after the whole area was used for bombing practice in World War 2, have filled with water providing many sources for reflections.
Birds were waking up, we could see Robins in the gorse, and overhead thrushes flew, probably Redwing but there were not any confirmatory calls. The path took us through the outskirts of a copse, the light in the east now brightening the flooded path.
Above us the moon was very evident, and this was a source of concern, clear moon lit nights are good migratory conditions, and these can result in birds arriving, but they need something to encourage them to land, it also means those that have arrived could also leave, and our pessimistic nature leaned more to the latter as maybe happened. The birds we were hoping for had been here all week.
We turned off the track and headed north. A single birch tree stood out amongst the heather, and contrasted nicely with the dawn sky, now turning an orange red as the sun began to edge towards the horizon.
A little further on there was sufficient light to get the first view of Black Gutter Bottom, a small amount of mist hanging over the stream at the point where normally we would cross the stream and walk up to Leaden Hall.
Meadow Pipits and Skylarks were the dominant species seen as we made our way to the plateau at Leaden Hall. We were greeted with a large amount of standing water around which we could see more Meadow Pipits and a few Pied Wagtails.
It was well past sunrise, but cloud on the horizon had obscured the sun, finally though the sun emerged above the cloud and sent light scattering across the plain. Visiting here has become something of a ritual for Ian and myself.
We would have been here last weekend if the weather had been kinder, but we had managed the pilgrimage today, and we made our way to the bushes on the north side of the plateau. With so many visits I don't feel I need to recall once again the history of this site in World War 2, however It is regular spot for migrating Ring Ouzel, the blackbird of the mountains that spend the spring and summer in the upland areas of the United Kingdom, and then moves back to North Africa in the autumn. Its not clear what the attraction is here, there are berry laden trees but not in quantity, it can only be the open spot at elevation that lures them in.
We walked around the Hawthorn bushes, and very soon heard the distinctive "chucking" alarm call, which was quickly followed by a large thrush bursting from the bush and flying to another, heading straight into the middle and out of sight. And so it began, the search and watch approach to try and get that view of the Ring Ouzel that allows you to successfully tick it for another year. We were joined by a few New Forest ponies grazing on the grass around us.
While Pied Wagtail number swelled with them feeding around the edge of the large puddles collected on the plateau.
Patience is required, something that is very difficult here. Staring at bushes and red berries and waiting is hard work, and we started to drift, walking from bush to bush. There were glimpses of thrushes moving between bushes, mainly Blackbirds, but every so often a fleeting glimpse of a Ring Ouzel. From this we determined that there were probably two individuals, but we craved some good views.
Walking around the plateau there were good numbers of Linnets, a few Greenfinches and Reed Buntings, while Chaffinches sang from a couple of the bushes.
A female Blackbird appeared in one of the bushes in the way we would have loved a ring Ouzel too.
The numbers of Pied Wagtail continued to increase, mostly gathering around the puddles.
In the bushes a Goldcrest was busy fighting off another.
A call from Ian on the other side of the plateau had me scrambling over. He had seen Ring Ouzel there and once again we picked up one flying into a tree, but once more only fleeting views. We walked around the area, and flushed out two birds that flew around the area, and I was able to get one acceptable shot as they flew past us.
They ended up in a tree, but getting closer was difficult, and we managed to crawl through some burnt gorse bushes only to find when coming out that they had gone. As always trying to see Ring Ouzel was very frustrating.
From the time we arrived on the plateau to now we were hearing calls from down in the valley of Ashley Hole. At first I was confused as to what these calls were, but later realised that these were the grunts of the Fallow Deer Stags. It is rutting time, and the stags were calling to warn off suitors coming close to their hinds.
We left the plateau and headed down to Ashley Hole. A couple of hinds watched us as we made our way through the heather and swollen wet moss.
With the grunts continuing to our right, a group of Fallow Deer moved along the ridge to our left. There were two stags, with one seemingly chasing the other away, the stag leading its hinds.
A swallow flew through the valley as I watched the deer and headed south
As we moved into the valley further, we picked up a large stag standing in the bracken. This one though was not the individual calling, but it was looking and not at us, however once the camera clicked it turned to look at us.
We then picked up the calling stag, hidden amongst some trees by the stream. As it moved away from the trees the first stag we saw started to make itself away from the calling stag.
The other stag appeared calling as it went, showing off the thick set neck of what was probably a very dominant male.
He then slowly without any rush made his way along the side of the valley, one hind staying close.
But continuing to call maintaining his authority.
They then stopped, the sound of the camera clearly attracting their attention.
But not enough to pause the calling, probably seeing us as a threat..
He then moved away again heading off towards the east, the hind with him, and then stopping again.
Coming together for the perfect portrait.
Then gracefully moving away following the hinds as they made their way eastwards along the edge of the valley.
Leaving us they headed into the shadows.
It was time to consult the map and attempt to locate the path that runs north south to Godshill. This took us through the heather and bullrushes. We stopped at a small copse where very mature oak trees framed the golden brown bracken.
The colours were beautiful all around us.
A pair of Nuthatches called from above in the Oak tree, and some time was spent trying to get a suitable view, but eventually we walked on, climbing a hill and looking back down to Ashley Hole.
And having found the path, a landscape away to the west, the ruddy brown bracken dominating the colours.
We picked up the path known as Ashley Walk, and started to head back to Leaden Hall. A short way into the path a Dartford Warbler stopped us. It gave us a bit of a run around and consequently there were no pictures. A pair of Stonechat were also present and of course one of the many Meadow Pipits.
Back at Leaden Hall there was still plenty of Pied Wagtails, and the blackbirds were flying about. We decided to wait and stare at the bushes. The Goldcrest we had seen earlier was still around and provided some wonderful views in the gorse and hawthorn bushes.
It probably gets looked over due to the rarity and brightness of its cousin the Firecrest, but this little sprite has a beauty all of its own.
The sunshine was throwing shadows from the branches making the exposure difficult.
As we were distracted by the Goldcrest a Ring Ouzel finally flew out and promptly disappeared once again, we left the Goldcrest and continued the walk around the bushes. There were definitely two birds and we finally surrounded one bush where we knew they were inside.
We waited, a Swallow flew through, the bush was circled and one came out and flew to the next. I circled that one and it came out and went straight back to the first bush. Finally one flew out and landed in the next bush, but this time stayed on the outside, at last an acceptable picture.
A male bird, with the grey scallops on the under side on the black, and the silver white flashes in the primaries. We edged closer, stopping to take pictures just in case it flew.
The name "ouzel" refers to the old word for "black bird", which in turn originates from the german "amsel" which means black bird. Getting ever closer it turned its head losing the white patch on the throat which provides the other word in its name. However you can get a clearer view of the light grey scallops on the vents
Then it flew, but to the top of a bush close by, still showing well, if a little distant.
Then it was gone, followed by the other that came from somewhere close by, we were not sure. They flew away east and were seen to drop into one of the bushes we had passed on the recent walk.
We decided then that we had enough to satisfy this years needs and so turned to make the walk back to Telegraph and the cars. As we walked the main track through the heather, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks rose from the heather. The two species do not get on and could be seen taking turns to chase each other off. Here a Meadow Pipit.
Here a Skylark with no wings! Incidently, why do they associate the name skylark with pleasure boats at the seaside? Its definitely not a sea bird.....
The heath was so much different from the walk early this morning. Once again the bracken stole the show casting the ground that deep rusty red against the blue sky and white fluffy clouds
Black Gutter Bottom too looking much different now.
A Buzzard appeared from above the trees and soared over our heads and joined up with another. The two of them then drifted away across the valley.
Back at the car we debated where to next. With Ian having to leave early we opted for a trip back to Titchfield Haven. There were several options there, maybe we could search for the Wryneck that has been around a while, or hope the Sanderling were on the beach roost, and then there was always the Kingfisher, they have brightened a few visits this year. Little did we know what we would find.
Walking along the sea wall a Common Gull passed us, one of the first I have seen here for a while. After checking in and receiving the day-glo permit that always falls off we set off down the east side. Red Admiral and Speckled Wood butterflies were along the board walk but other than that it was quiet. On reaching the Knight's Bank Hide we could hear Chiffchaffs in the bush and a few long-tailed Tits. We didn't go in the hide but viewed from outside. A large flock of Canada Geese included a single Barnacle Goose, but there was little else.
We headed back to the Meadow Hide where the highlight was four Stonechats.
And four Grey Heron, one of which flew left to right in front of the hide.
And then back, right to left.
From the Meadow Hide it was to the Suffern Hide, scene last week of a session of hide and seek with a Kingfisher. Today the wind was blowing the reeds quite strongly, and there was no way we would have been able to photograph the Kingfisher on the post. Out on the river was another Common Gull and a Black-headed Gull.
We picked up a few Swallows heading across the reserve towards the sea, but then it was a case of where to next, we set off without any clear plan, pausing to photograph the rather pleasing scene of Black-headed gulls on the roof of the visitor centre.
In my mind we were heading to the chalets at the Meon Marsh to search for the Wryneck, but I suggested to Ian that we pop into the Meon Shore hide on the way. On entering the hide we were met with a question from two of the occupants on how good were we with skuas. At first I was confused, but it quickly became clear that there was a skua on the scrape, but that it was partially hidden from view. One of the occupants had seen the bird fly in, and knew it was a skua but was unsure if an Arctic or Pomarine. They had set the scope up on where the bird was, and this was the best view we could get. The arrow shows the location of the skua
I was shown digi-scopes of the bird, and at first sight looked very much like a Pomarine Skua. All I could make out was the head and bill. There was no light patch at the base of the bill, and what I could see of the dark cap it extended below the gape of the bill. It was obviously a light phase bird, and showed an ochre colouring below the cap. It was now a case of waiting the bird to move, while willing the few gulls and lapwings on the scrape to go and mob it.
After about 40 minutes there was movement, the skua stood up giving much better views.
Again it was possible to see the bill and gape, I was getting surer it was a Pom. Then a bit more movement and the breast band was visible
Then the moment we had been waiting for, it flapped the wings, and then took off.
In both the above pictures you get a sense of the barrel chest that is one of the main features of a Pomarine Skua, Identification was complete a Pomarine Skua and with the dark underwing without any distinctive barring, an adult bird.
It took off over the scrape, flying past the island identifier just to confirm this was Titchfield.
With it finally in the air it became a target for the gulls, and everything went up with it surrounding the skua as it climbed up over the reeds.
Banking here to show the underwing and sides.
Then it disappeared around the visitor centre, but we considered it might be on the water by the bridge. We rushed out of the hide, me almost forgetting my phone. The last time I had seen a Pomarine skua with any detail was at East Tilbury in the nineties. There they would come up river and gain height before turning back. Then we would get good scope views but nothing like this. Since then it has been extremely distant individuals. This had been something special.
As we rushed around to the bridge I thought about the name Pomarine. Only recently I had read that this refers to nasal coverings on the bill, and has nothing to do with "marine" and the sea. Just one of those bizarre facts that you remember.
When we reached the bridge there was nothing to see on the water, but the gulls and Lapwings were still swirling around above our heads. Then from behind us a shout went up "its there" and we turned to catch the Pom coming at us being pursued by Black-headed Gulls.
As it cruised past without any urgency or concern of the approaching gulls I just stood a shot away.
In these two shots the barrel chest is very evident.
The extended tail feathers while not being in full breeding plumage condition still showed the "spoons". This is where the extended tail feathers are turned through 90 degrees to form a spoon shape.
It headed away from us and we thought that was it.
But then it circled back around, and passed by us one more time.
Coming close with hardly any effort in the wing beats.
Then as it glided over the scrape the Lapwing became quite animated.
And one Lapwing took up the challenge.
and for the first time the Skua looked agitated.
But the Lapwing backed off as the skua headed to the sea.
But then the Lapwing came back for another go, this time actually giving the skua a bit of its own medicine by dive bombing it.
And so it headed out towards the sea wall.
And low over the cars, walkers and fishermen who were probably none the wiser of its presence.
Reports later were of it turning up at the Oyster Beds at Hayling Island where it managed to drown a Little Egret before consuming it. It stayed there until Sunday, but has not been seen since.
We were really made up, what had been a very quiet afternoon was suddenly transformed. I doubt I will ever get so close to an adult Pomarine Skua again, and along with the experience I had with the Great Skua at Pennington in February and in Iceland this May, it has been a good year for Skuas.
After confirming the sighting in the visitor centre we were buzzing. Ian now had to go but before we did so we decided to have a quick look for Sanderling at the beach roost. There was no sign of any Sanderling, but a single Ringed Plover.
Along with, of course, plenty of Turnstone.
An up and down day, the beauty of the New Forest through the morning, the frustration of trying to get an acceptable view of the Ring Ouzels, followed quickly by some good views. The quietness of the Haven, and then the absolute high of finding a Pomarine Skua right in front of you! That's nature and birding, frustrated one minute, elated the next! A fantastic day to be remembered for some time
