Tuesday, 20 May 2025

17th May - Pig Bush and Standing Hat, New Forest, Hampshire

Back into the United kingdom, I was meeting Ian originally at the Standing Hat car park, but with overcast conditions early on I called Ian and we changed the plans and met at Pig Bush.  As I waited for Ian there was a Woodlark singing on the other side of the road.  I went after it but it never stayed and I missed out.

Ian arrived and we set off heading around the path towards the area where the Nightjars had recently been seen.  A stream runs across the path and Swallows were flying through and dipping into the water to drink. 

We reached the two Oak trees, but after an extensive search we couldn't find the Nightjar, maybe too many people have known about them and have moved away, its a shame, but I am not surprised.

We headed towards the copse alongside the railway in search of Redstart.  They were a little elusive to start with, but with patience they will appear and that is what happened this male showing very well.





A couple of birders told us of Spotted Flycatcher by the gate that leads to the railway bridge.  It didn't take long to find them, there was probably more than two present as they were calling constantly.





As well as vocal they were quite mobile moving around the trees and not necessarily finding suitable perches, this one in the shade.


They kept on calling.



An iconic songbird of the forest and it was nice to have sometime this morning with them.



We headed back towards the car park, checking the oak trees for the Nightjar without any luck.  There was also a pair of Redstart carrying food with what looked like a nest in a hole in another oak tree.

From Pig Bush we drove around to our original destination the Standing Hat car park.  We were here for the Pearl-bordered Fritillary, a butterfly that is slowly declining in the county.  This spot is probably one of the last real strong holds for this lovely butterfly.  It likes open rides around bracken and appears from late April until the end of May.

It didn't take long to find one as we turned off the path onto a grass ride one flew up and settled on the bracken.

As well as the Fritillary there were two female Broad-bodied Chasers, a dragonfly that too likes these conditions.


A Cuckoo had been calling almost constantly while we searched for the butterflies.  As such we were distracted from the butterflies to chase the Cuckoo and finally I managed to get a clear view as it sat on a branch calling.


It would swing from side to side as it called with its wings drooped down and tail held high.



Another vocal bird amongst the scrub was this Wren.


Then we were distracted from the Cuckoo, when there was a what sounded like a Wood Warbler singing.  We waited and then heard the full song of this little warbler, the rising crescendo that is unmistakeable.

The area was not one that we would have expected to find this summer visitor that has been very difficult to see over the last few years, their numbers reducing in the forest.  We walked through the pine trees and found the bird where the pines met a few oaks.  We had the usual views as it called above us, not the best views, but it would come a little lower and it this shot I was able to catch the legs which were covered in bling, two rings on both feet.


But it did show well in the oak tree searching through the leaves for insects and singing and calling as it went.


It is a little more lemony than its cousins the Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler and has a much whiter belly which provides a contrast.  The legs are pink and there is a defined supercillium.




One of those photos taken against the sky.


And in the gloomy parts of the area.




This was completely unexpected, I do not recall any reports of Wood Warbler form this area before, but its such a vast area, there is no reason why they couldn't be here.  We left the Wood Warbler singing and made our way back to the path where we found the Pearl-bordered Fritillaries, and it didn't take long to find some more.  In total we counted at least seven which is quite respectable.


Then one on the path.


Something I hadn't noticed before. on either side of the back there is what looks like two eyes, which could be interpreted as a bird looking back, maybe some protection, although this butterfly has suffered some wing damage.


A close up of the butterfly.

We missed out on the Nightjars, but had some great views of the Redstart and Spotted Flycatchers, good to see a good number of Pear-bordered Fritillaries and then of course there was the complete surprise of the Wood Warblers.  

Post Script:

I have received information that the Wood Warbler was ringed as a nestling below the Boulderwood car park on the 6th June last year.  This was from one of the protected nest sites.

No comments:

Post a Comment