11th April - Pig Bush New Forest and Posbrook Floods, Hampshire

The glorious weather continues and I had decided to come back to Pig Bush in the New Forest.  The last time I was here it was dry, but a little fresh, this morning it was pleasantly warm, amazing, considering we are not yet at the middle of April.  The warm weather of late has also brought out the leaves and the woods and the in particular the birch trees were looking beautiful.

Another view across the heath.

I crossed the stream and headed into the wood.  I could hear a Redstart singing, it was the Redstart I was here to hopefully see, but it was high in the oak trees and I wasn't able to find it.  A little further along I heard both Lesser and Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming, the former and much faster beat than the larger Great Spotted.  I did manage a glimpse of the smaller Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, but that was all.

I crossed the heath and headed for the wooded corner close to the bridge over the railway.  Just before a Willow Warbler was singing and on the outskirts of the copse a Blackcap.  Redstart were also present and I could hear their song and I also saw at least six, four males and two females, but neither one stayed still for a photograph.

I headed for the area close to the railways line and came across another singing, this time dropping to the ground and then returning to the lower branches.  At first it was obscured by branches.

But then came out into the open.

I managed to move a little to get some better light and it was now possible to appreciate this stunning summer visitor.

I was quite close and it didn't deter the bird from singing.

It then moved once again, but stayed low in the branches and continued to sing and show well.

Redstarts are easily identified by their bright orange-red tails which they often quiver. Breeding males look smart, with slate grey upper parts, black faces and wings and an orange rump and chest. Females and young are browner with some chestnut tail feathers and pale bellies. Redstarts 'bob' in a very Robin-like manner, but spend little time at ground level.

Redstarts are real tree-dwellers, nesting and feeding in mature oak woodlands and sometimes hedgerows in western parts of the UK.  Nests are built in tree cavities and sometimes also nest boxes where the female lays six or seven light blue eggs. Chicks hatch after two weeks of incubation and spend another 16-17 days in the nest before fledging.  

For me there is nothing better than the first Redstarts to arrive and their stunning plumage.

Walking around the copse I came across a Nuthatch, calling from the bough of an oak.

And a mouse like Treecreeper, they only work their way up the tree trunk and once reached the top fly back down to the base of another and do it all over again.

Always a pleasure to watch as they creep over the bark inspecting every crevice for insects.

I then received a call with news of a Black-crowned Night Heron that had been found at Posbrook Floods.  I was done here with plenty of Redstart photographs so decided to head back to the car.  I did though pause to get some shots of the Willow Warbler.

Coming out of the wood a lone Swallow was circling the heath, it flew around me and I took quite a few shots but only found this one to be acceptable.  The first good view of a Swallow I have had this spring.

It took forty minutes to get to Posbrook, parking at Bridge Street I set off along the Canal Path.  A Whitethroat was singing along the path but flew off as I tried to get a shot.

Unfortunately I didn't have my wellies as I had decided it was now dry.  In order to get to where the Night Heron was I had to wade through calf high water, so I couldn't.  Luckily there were quite a few about so we decided to wait and watch from a bench on the canal path.

A Red Kite and Marsh Harrier flew over and the hope was that they may flush it.  This didn't happen but eventually it flew up and dropped again out of sight.  One or two then decided to wade along the path to see if they could see it.  My frustration increased when a phone call was received telling us they had eyes on it and were taking photographs.

But then it was found from the canal path and could be watched by scope.  I was also able to get a photo with my phone through the scope.

It was an adult bird in breeding plumage with lovely head plumes.  It was a shame I could get better views, but it was great to see the bird, a first in Hampshire and the UK for me, but I have seen many in Europe and the United States.  A great day with some stunning Redstart views and then some icing with the Black-crowned Night Heron.