3rd October - The New Forest, Hampshire

Today this was much about assessing the area from Bramshaw Telegraph to the Pitts inclosure, an area that includes Leaden Hall, a regular destination, later in October.  I was also hoping for sightings of Fallow Deer in the rut in the area around Ashley Hole.

Helen and I set off from the Telegraph car park with beautiful blue skies in front of us while to the north a very dark cloud moved east.

The same scene in Infra Red black and white.

Lone trees are dotted about amongst the heather and can provide some nice landscape pictures.

I wasn't expecting much in the way of birds, it never really is busy here in this area.  The big hope though as always ids for some birds of prey.  Over the years I have sat in the office watching reports of Hen Harrier and Merlin in the forest during the week and now I have the chance to find my own in the week.

But it was mostly Meadow Pipits and skylarks bursting from the heather and in and around the gorse plenty of Stonechats.

The path lead on towards the Amberwood inclosure which we didn't walk through, the sky though continued to impress.

And again in black and white.

Helen found this Fox Moth caterpillar on the path.

I kept scanning the heather and gorse and if there were birds there I saw them.  This Dartford Warbler flew from the gorse and perched briefly on the top of the gorse before dropping out of sight.

We turned towards the Pitts Inclosure and along the path there was an elusive Wheatear with Skylarks.  As we reached the inclosure there were views of Ashley Hole to our right and the east of our walk.

One more time in black and white.

There was activity in the inclosure with Siskin calling overhead and Long-tailed Tits and Firecrest calling in the bushes and scrub.  Red Admirals had been constant for all of the walk heading mostly south with a few Swallows.  The butterflies that did stop were this Peacock.

And a Speckled Wood.

October is the start of the fungi season and there were signs all around asking people not to pick them.  There wasn't an awful ot visible as yet, but did manage to find this Saffron Bolete.

The commonest fungi to be seen were good numbers of Meadow Puffball.

More Firecrest as I came out of the inclosure and we turned right on to Ashley Walk heading towards Leaden Hall.  Again very quiet bird wise although this Linnet showed well.

A New Forest Pony hiding amongst the bracken.

What was of interest was the amount of berries at Leaden Hall.  The Ring Ouzels usually stop over at the Hawthorn and Whitebeam that can be found on the plateau.  Over the last few years the berry crop has been low, bur as we walked by it was clear the trees were covered in many berries, fingers crossed the Ring Ouzel come.

The walk then crosses the heather running along the south ridge of Black Gutter Bottom a roost site for Hen Harrier, but there were no birds of prey today.  

As we approached the car park we came across the Stonechat families once again.

It was a lovely walk in some very welcome sunshine.  All seems to be well and I will be back later in the month.