11th January - Martin Down and the New Forest, Hampshire

Another very cold night saw the snow still around at home.  The morning dawned clear with the lovely winter colours of pink and grey as the sun came up.  I was meeting Ian at Martin Down and crossing the Forest there were signs of snow, but on arriving at the car park at the end of Sillen Lane, you could see snow on the north facing slopes of Martin Down.

We set off towards the Dyke in the same way we would do in the summer when looking for butterflies and orchids, but this was new ground once again for Martin Down, the first visit in January and the first in snow.

As we neared the Dyke, the low winter sun was breaking through the dappled clouds.

We reached the Dyke and looked back in the same way we would in the summer, today though a very different landscape.

We made our way along the Dyke with very little about.  A Red Kite appeared from behind the Dyke.

Gliding over the top of the Dyke and out of sight.

Then another appeared, this time away below us along the hedgerow that leads from the car park, the new crops providing an interesting background.

There is an area penned off for the sheep, it is here we were searching for Short-eared Owl, we were using thermal cameras, but unfortunately there was no heat source that matched what we were looking for.  The view of the sheep in the area with the snow and clouds.

We walked through the scrub looking for the other possible owl here, the Long-eared Owl.  The area is perfect with the scrub and the open grassland they like at this time of year, but again there was no sign of anything with the thermal cameras.

We walked up to the footpath that leads alongside the woodland and headed into the wood, searching again with the thermal cameras.  This time we did find a heat source, close to the base of a tree.  A closer look and this is what we saw.

A Brown Hare, and I moved around to get another view.

We were very careful not to disturb the Hare as it was cold and it looked very snug amongst the leaf litter.

The field alongside the footpath would have Hare in the spring and summer, but today it was covered in winter thrushes.  It was Redwing mostly and they were feeding on the sun lit area and in amongst them were a few Fieldfare, quite a rarity this winter.

We came back out and on to the Down once more, this time walking around the scrub, through the gorse and long grass.  It was in the gorse that I caught a very brief glimpse of an owl as it flew up.  I couldn't identify but it was either a Short-eared or Long-eared Owl.

Walking down to the bottom footpath the Red Kite was about again.  The line of hedgerow being of great interest to the Red Kite.

We stopped at the gate and watched the Song Thrushes feeding in the field, also present were several Roe Deer.  The thrushes would fly back into the hedge and the deer would look around wondering what was going on.  Then a Sparrowhawk came out of the hedge carrying prey, but went back intot he hedge and shortly came out once again this time with no prey.  It was then followed by a Buzzard that flew after it, but returned to go back to the hedge.

We had lunch and then a short walk around the area once again, but quickly realised that we were not going to see anymore, so we headed off to a special place in the New Forest.  We walked down the slope and crossed a frozen stream.  We stood around watching the scene that was emerging around us, blue skies and a low sun.

Around 14.00 we walked up to the view point where we settled in to wait for the main event.  

First up was a distant Merlin on a dead branch.

It took awhile but around 15.30 I picked up a male Hen Harrier coming over the ridge.

It flew along the ridge and seemed to drop into the gorse where I lost it because attention turned to a Goshawk that flew across in front of us.

Then another Merlin was found on what is known as the Merlin tree.  They arrive here as a pre-roost perch before going into the full roost.  It was very dark now so no prizes for this photograph.

We hung around to see if there would be any more harriers and we treated to some lovely scenery.

We decided to leave, but walked to get a little closer to the Merlin, although the picture wasn't much better.

Not a day for photography but some great birds and I reached 100 for the year with the Hen Harrier.

19th December - The New Forest and Martin Down, Hampshire

The arrangements were to meet Ian at Martin Down this morning, but as I drove through the New Forest I saw his van parked on the side of the road so I pulled over.  Once ready to find him, he appeared and we decided to spend a little more time around the area before heading off to Martin Down.

Despite the fact it was just past 9.00 am the sun was still low and the clouds were stretched across the sky.  Heading down the valley the tree stood out on the horizon with some spectacular clouds above it.

A little further along and the clouds presented an interesting scene around the tree.

We walked up to Leaden Hall where there were Blackbirds and Meadow Pipits on the grass, but no sign of the winter thrushes, Redwing and Fieldfare.  We crossed the plateau and looked across Ashley Hole, some ponies were catching the sunshine on their manes as they galloped on the other side of the valley.

It was very very quiet so we headed back across the plateau and then down the slope to the stream.  Once again another interesting sky framing the tree.

As we started up the other side Ian picked up a raptor and at first our hopes soared, then we realised that it was a Red Kite.  Interestingly I don't recall ever having seen a Red Kite here.

So it was off to Martin Down, somewhere I have never visited before at this time of year.  Parking at the end of Sillen Lane we walked off up the slope towards the ditch armed with the thermal cameras to scour the grass in the hope of finding Short-eared Owl.  A Red Kite drifted over and there were plenty of Sheep in the area we were looking for them, but there was no heat source around that screamed Shortie at us.

We headed for the Flycatcher wood and walked through the middle scanning the leaf litter for possible Woodcock, but like the owls they were not present.  As the path opened out as we passed the wood we did find some Pheasants.  It was though a glorious day even if the wind was now quite strong and cold.

We walked back down the tracks to the cars where we had lunch and then decided to head back to the New Forest once again.  We walked down the slope in sunshine.  We are now close to the winter solstice which will take place on Saturday.  The sun was at its highest but was sending the glorious winter sunshine across the bracken and heather, that hopefully later we would see Hen Harrier crossing.

We stood at the bottom of the valley and could scan all around the ridges.  Distantly we picked up another Red Kite and several Buzzards.

The view looking east along the stream

And then turning around to look west.

A distant Raven's call soon became the actual bird and it flew around us calling.

The classic diamond shaped tail.

To look for the harriers we walked up the side of the valley to a spot where it was possible to scan the distant ridge.  The sun was quite bright and low, but at the same time was lighting up the valley below.

At 14.25 I picked up a Hen Harrier on the ridge heading west, I followed it with binoculars before trying with the camera.  The arrow helps point out a very poor record shot

We then had another sighting of a Hen Harrier on the ridge heading east, this time another Ring Tail.  At the same time Ian picked up a bird of prey that as it banked above the ridge looked very much like a Goshawk.  The skies were menacing behind us and a rainbow appeared above the distant copse.

Then from nowhere a male appeared in front of us.  The Grey Ghost came down the slope and then banked away to the east.  Distant still but I was able to get some better images.

These the best two images.

So two views of Ringtail and one of a male.  Then another Ringtail appeared with a male along the ridge, this time heading west.  The male dropped below the horizon and was then seen being mobbed by a small falcon, probably a Merlin.  The female continued above the ridge and I managed a record shot.

They hung around just below the setting sun that made things a little difficult for viewing.  At one point it looked like the two were displaying, flying up and down in the air.  So to summarise the afternoon.  Two views of a male and three of Ringtails, whether they were the same birds and we saw a male and ringtail or there were two and three respectfully remains to be seen.  However it was a great end to a day that struggled early on.

13th January - The New Forest, Hampshire

Early starts are reserved for Saturdays, so it was at just before eight I pulled into the car park at Acres Down.  I was meeting Ian to search for some of the New Forest specialities.  It was overcast, but while the thermometer said it was just above freezing, there was no wind and it wasn't horrendously cold.

We set off down the main path with plenty of bird calls around us, we heard the chipping call of Crossbill, but never saw them as we scanned the top of the pines.  The main path bends away to the right and just past the gate is a dead tree.  The reason we were here was because of reports of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in and around the tree, but despite plenty of effort we could not see any.  We thought we heard drumming, but there was also a Great Spotted Woodpecker about and this was drumming too, so we could not be certain.

In the leaf litter below the Beech Trees nearby there were large flocks of Chaffinch and we did manage to find at least two Brambling in amongst them, their white rumps giving them away as they flew out of the leaves.  We spent two hours in the area for very little return.

We decided to walk up to the down and then around to Highland Water  We saw a few Redwing and Fieldfare in a Holly tree, and down at the bottom of the hill we had three Hawfinch fly over, but that was about all.  Walking down to the main path there was a pair of nuthatch in the beech trees.

A Jay was the first photograph taken after about two and a half hours, and that didn't stay around for long.

At Highland Water we hoped for Grey Wagtail, but it wasn't there.

The only bird of note a Redwing.

As we reached the car park there was a Marsh Tit in a Holly Bush.

Whilst we had managed a few year ticks it was a disappointing morning.  So where next?  We decided to go to Mark Ash Wood.  Once again it was quiet, but I did find a Treecreeper, avery poor record shot.

Once again there were a lot of birds in the leaf litter and once again we saw Brambling flying away from us, flashing their white rumps to tease us.  We would use the thermal camera to see where there were birds in the litter, we also would use it on holes in the trees.  One interesting find was in this old branch.  There was a hat source to the left of the hole, and looking into the hole there were leaves and some soil, so we had to presume the heat was coming from a hibernating dormouse.

From Mark Ash we drove around to Eyeworth Pond.  As we turned into the car park I was horrified to see the pond was frozen, there was some open water though near to the place where the ducks are fed.  We were here for the Mandarin Duck, but once again there was no sign.  We scanned the area where the low branches cover the water at the back of the pond and also walked around there, but couldn't find any Mandarin.  We decided to walk along the path, as the stream that feeds the pond winds through areas that Mandarin would like and the water and pools were ice free.  Nothing other than this Song Thrush.

We walked back to the pond and gave it one more go, this time Ian found them, tucked away on the island.

We don't think they were there when we arrived and that they must have decided to move.  Wit a little encouragement they started to come out of the cover.  Drake and duck.

The female, whilst not having the bright colours of the male is quite a smart little duck in its own right.

In this one, the male looks a bit like Gimli, the dwarf warrior from Lord of the Rings.

The pair were standing together.

Then swam out together, the male stretching and bobbing its head while the female seemed to look all around.

While the male continued his bobbing, the female lay stretched out on the water in some kind of submissive pose.

They ten moved apart and went on their own way.

Before we left I had to take this Nuthatch coming to the seed that had been put out, there was also a Coal Tit that evaded my efforts.

We had always intended to finish in one location.  When we arrived we had two hours of light left.  From the cars we walked down the slope and of course I was drawn to the tree on the horizon.

Ian then picked up a male Hen Harrier flying above the ridge, heading west, we lost it as it dropped below the ridge.  However, minutes later another appeared coming from a distant location.  I managed to get onto this one.

It banked and then flew along the ridge to the south of us and eventually out of view.

Then about five minutes later Ian picked up yet another male, this time coming from the direction of where the first harrier had disappeared and came past us a lot closer.

It crossed the valley and over to the ridge south of us and gave some great views.

Over the gorse

The flight is unmistakeable, a few flaps and then a glide as it watches the ground below for possible prey, it appears almost effortless.

It even flew around the tree.

It then turned and was lost to view over the ridge.

We decided to stay in place to see if they returned or the other birds would come into roost later.  Towards sunset the sky started to turn blue as the cloud thinned.

Just before four we had a brief view of a male and assumed it dropped into the bracken on the other side of the ridge.  With the gloom setting in we decided it was time to go.  The morning had not been good, but the afternoon made up for it and seeing male Hen Harriers is always a great day.