17th October - The New Forest, Hampshire

The middle of October is the time Ring Ouzels are on the move and coming through Hampshire.  I met Ian at the lay by at Black Gutter Bottom.  A pair of Raven were by the side of the road where there was a dead Pheasant, we disturbed them and they flew off to the pines a little back from the road.

We walked to the pines and the Raven flew off, but circled the area calling.  On the grass under the pines there were several Shaggy Parasols that were not yet fully open.

Walking down the slope the warm conditions and morning sunshine had brought the Dartford Warblers out and a few were singing in the gorse.

I counted five Dartfords as we walked down the slope to the Black Gutter.

A young male Red Deer was close to the stream, it stood to watch us.  This is only the second Red Deer I have seen in the Forest.

The plateau on Leaden Hall was flooded, and there were many Meadow Pipits chasing each other around the plateau.  There was also a Mistle Thrush, a couple of Song Thrush and fly over calling Redwing, but no sign of any Ring Ouzels.  The Hawthorn and Whitebeam trees were very devoid of any berries, this year has been very poor for berries almost everywhere.

We walked around the area chasing the birds as they flew around.  A male Chaffinch on the a sprig of Hawthorn.

Two Linnets.

The plateau with quite a bit of water after the recent rains.

Here looking down into Ashley Hole, this is usually a good spot for rutting Fallow Deer at this time of year, but there wasn't any sign of any deer at all.

We walked back to the plateau and scattered the Meadow Pipits that were foraging around the pools of water on the grass.  We decided to walk along Ashley Walk in the opposite direction, we normally come towards Leaden Hall, having skirted around the Ashley Hole first.

There were some more Dartford Warblers, Wrens and Chiffchaff in the bushes and in the Oaks several Goldcrests  We then went off the paths and yomped through the heather and gorse in the general direction of Black Gutter Bottom.  A couple of young male Fallow Deer were feeding around the gorse, maybe a sign that the rut has come and gone this year.

As we walked alongside the stream, my tree was distant on the horizon.  To be honest I had forgotten all about it until I saw it as we walked.

Another grassy area had some more Shaggy Parasols, this time fully emerged and showing the gills.

This just emerged showing the stipe ring where the parasol broke away.

Looking east along Black Gutter towards the tree.

We made our way back up the hill towards the cars.  A Red Kite drifted along the horizon and there were Stonechat and Meadow Pipit in the gorse and heather.  Back at the cars we had lunch.  These trees in the distance were showing some lovely colour.

From Black Gutter we drove the short distance to the car park at Deadman Hill.  Ring Ouzel had also been reported here and we decided to have a walk around.  The Raven were still in the area, this pair were rolling and tussling together overhead.

The view looking north from Deadman Hill.

We walked alongside the stream and then crossed a footbridge and the other side.  We could see Thrushes moving overhead and could hear Redwing.  We picked up a black bird ahead of the Redwing and watched as it flew towards a clump of trees.  As it dropped down with the trees behind the wings turned silver and it flew into a bush.  This could only have been a Ring Ouzel, the bird we had hoped to see, but not the best of views.

We walked to the area and searched the trees, once again there were very few berries on the trees and we could not relocate the ouzel.  Walking around though, there were more Redwing and a surprise appearance of a Goshawk, cruising above the tree tops.

We made our way back across the stream and then climbed the hill towards the car park.  We paused and viewed the distant horizon and found three Buzzards soaring with a Red Kite and the two Raven flew past once more.  As we were about to turn around five Swallow flew through heading south (of course).

Next stop was to be Eyeworth Pond.  It looked beautiful in the afternoon sunshine, the trees surrounding the pond just beginning to change colour.  In about a week the reflections in the water should be spectacular, if we get some sunshine.

The speciality of Eyeworth is the Mandarin Duck, but we couldn't see any out on the water.  A little encouragement brought a quite stunning drake out from the undergrowth on the far side.

It was calling as it cruised across the pond with its sails up.

If the weather is good, i.e., sunshine then these little duck can look quite magnificent in the dark water of the pond and you have to take the opportunity to get quite a few images.

It cruised around the pond moving from the different shades of water colour, here some green reflections from the surrounding reeds.

Then back into the black water of the pond, the best background to show off the amazing plumage.

This one my favourite.

Then to finish it was heading towards the little island and the bay behind it, but had to sail through some heavily reflected reeds which seemed to add to the colourful spectacle.

The other duck on the pond are Mallard, these stay close to the shore as they are fed.  The drakes though were also looking superb in the sunshine.  Because they are so common the Mallard are overlooked, but they are a stunning duck to look at up close.

A ring of bright water.

The perfect reflection.

There have been a few butterflies about during the day, Speckled Woo, Peacock and this nice Red Admiral settled amongst the autumn leaves.

Seed is put out by visitors for the small birds either for photography or just for the enjoyment of seeing the birds up close.  Blue and Great Tits were coming and going frequently, as was this Nuthatch.

The seed was out of sight which made for the opportunity to get some nice portraits shots.

The Nuthatch would take the seed away and we watched it caching the seed in other trees and bushes, not just eating it themselves.

To finish off our colourful time at Eyeworth a Kingfisher appeared at the back of the pond, then came closer, settling on the bush in the middle of the island.

It has been a while since I spent some time in the Forest, at this time of year it can be quite special.  The colour is not yet in full swing but should be in a couple of weeks time.  Great too catch up with a very beautiful Mandarin Duck and to walk somewhere different for once.