8th October - RSPB Arne, Dorset and Leaden Hall New Forest, Hampshire

Towards the end of the week there was a significant movement of Yellow-browed Warblers and Ring Ouzels around the south, and as a result there was a decision to be made, where to go to this weekend.  the initial plans were to try the RSPB reserve at Arne, I wanted to see the Sika deer rut, October being a good time for this.  Then on Thursday a Yellow-browed was reported so I decided to stick to the plan.  Setting off in the dark, as the light increased I was treated to not just one flyover of a Tawny Owl on the A31, but two.

Arriving just after sunrise in the car park at Arne there was plenty of activity in the surrounding trees, but I headed out along the trail towards Shipstall, stopping along the way to take in the view across the heath towards a distant misty Corfe castle.

It was overcast but not with the sort of cloud that would deliver rain, but rain it did, fortunately not to hard though.  As I walked along the trail through the woods, I was watched by young and female Sika deer.  Hopefully this would be a good sign

As I walked along the boardwalk I could hear plenty of Chiffchaffs calling, and every so often a short burst of what I though could be a Yellow-browed Warbler.  I stopped and waited, but apart from the Chiffchaffs and a few Great Tits, nothing else appeared.  I then later found out that there had been a Yellow-browed just outside the car park around 8.30!

I followed the trail to Shipstall, and as the path came out at the beach I walked up the cliff to get a better place to watch the water and mud.  A single Spoonbill was wading in the shallow water

Gun fire coming from wildfowlers in Middlebere upset a lot of the birds on the fore shore., but more dramatic was the large flocks of Avocet spooked by the guns, they flew from my left heading into Poole Harbour.

Three groups came past, and I estimated there must have been at least 300 to 400 birds.

There are about a 100 Avocet in the area, so I only saw about a third of them.

Back on the foreshore the Oystercatchers continued to feed and call annoyingly

While Little Egrets also paraded in the shallow water making lunges to catch small fish.

I walked around the path, and up to the viewpoint where there was not much of a view.  I then turned back and headed into the woods, stopping at one of the ponds to watch a group of Siskin feeding in the Birch trees.

Moving into the deeper woodland I came across another group of young Sika deer, they were happy to stand and watch me as I watched them.

I visited the hide, which looks out over the saltmarsh, and into the harbour.  On the far bank there was a group of 15 Spoonbill, something short of the number counted here in the week, 59 were reported on Friday.  Of the the 15 6 were feeding while the others were doing what all good Spoonbill do, sleeping.  They were though just too far for an acceptable photograph.

Leaving the hide, the path wound through a lovely dense silver birch wood, the white bark contrasting well with the dark branches.

The tacking calls of Wrens could be heard in amongst the bracken, and every so often one would appear above the brown leaves.

This one coming up above the fronds

Another feature of the walk was the constant movement in the bracken, chestnuts falling from the trees above onto the path.  Grey Squirrels were almost everywhere collecting the sweret chestnuts and scurrying away to cache them somewhere safe for the winter.

Chiffchaffs were calling from almost everywhere, and every so often they would appear out into the open.

The woods had been very quiet, I had expected to hear the strange calls of the Sika Deer stags, it is a loud piercing scream, and can be quite unsettling if you are not aware what it is.

Then as I came around a corner I found a single stag on its own. It does though look to be in good shape, and probably ready for a rut.

Sika were introduced from the Far East into Britain in 1860 with Arne hosting one of the largest populations in the south.  The preferred habitat is coniferous woodlands and heaths on acid soils.

The male deer has a much thicker neck than the Fallow and Roe Deer, the antlers are branched and similar to a red deer but usually with a maximum of eight points.These differ from the palmate antlers of a Fallow Deer.

I made my way back to the car park, and then had a coffee in the cafe.  Arne is going to be location for BBC Autumnwatch and Winterwatch and I am sure that the cafe is going to get some very good mentions.

After coffee I walked out onto Coombe Heath, and then out onto the raptor trail.  Green Woodpeckers had been calling all morning but I had not been able to see them clearly.  The main sight being the flash of a yellow rump as it flew away from me.  As I walked up the trail one flew onto the telegraph pole in front of me.  Of course it went around the other side away from me, but would then peer out every so often.

A little further on a Great Spotted Woodpecker called, and then appeared at the top of a dead tree.

Happy at the top of the tree it then proceeded to preen.

In the pines around the trail Mistle Thrushes and Redwings called and flew over, none though allowing any chance of a photograph.

Another stage Sika deer appeared in the gorse in front of me.

A small boardwalk crossed a boggy area, and despite the overcast conditions a female Common Darter was flying around settling on the gorse to warm up.

The trail ends with a small hide that overlooks a bog and open water.  There is also an Osprey platform.  On the water there were several Teal and Wigeon about, but close in a Little Grebe was giving some lovely close views.

The hide was also providing welcome shelter as the rain returned once again, the Little Grebe was not concerned though.

A big surprise though was the appearance of two Marsh Harriers over the back of the marsh.  

At one stage they were joined by a Raven and a Sparrowhawk that proceeded to mob the harriers.

I set off back to the car park, and stopped once again when the calls of Chiffchaff made me think there still might be the chance of something different with them.

I headed back to the hide overlooking Shipstall point, the tide was in, and hopefully the Spoonbills had collected in the roost.  I walked along the beach, there was a large group of Cormorants just offshore, and three Sandwich Terns fishing out on the water.
 
The hide was quite busy now, but fortunately I had some good views over the marsh at the Spoonbills.  The count today was of 60, all sleeping

A wider view trying to get a full view of all the birds.

I spent a little time scanning the marsh.  A very distant Kingfisher was hovering over the open water. the sun picking it out, the blue being unmistakable.  Redshank and two Black-tailed Godwits were also feeding amongst a large group of Curlews.

Back at the car park, the calls of a Firecrest led me to a group of holly bushes.  I only managed though to see one bird.

The entertainment came from a pair of Nuthatches, once one had been succesfully chased off, the other seemed to relax and started to preen

Quite extensively

This was the first time I have spent any significant time at Arne, visits go back some way into the eighties, then you would arrive and look for Dartford Warblers at the triangle just outside the reserve.

It was never considered a reserve to spend time at, just somewhere that was another part of the large area of Poole Harbour and Purbeck.  But today I saw it in a different light, walking around it reminded me of Minsmere, with the heath and bracken, woodland and open water in the harbour.  The Raptor trail added to the interest, with the surprise of the open marsh at the end, I am sure this will get better, it is a shame though that the trail is only open in the autumn.  The facilities have also improved significantly, as well as the hut in the car park there is now a superb cafe, and well stocked shop.  

It will be interesting to see how the reserve is portrayed on Autumnwatch, I imagine the stars will be the Sika Deer, followed hopefully by the Spoonbills and waders in Poole Harbour.  There is though the chance to watch the Firecrests, and then the wonderful fungi that can be found.

The reserve was by now beginning to fill up, so I decided to move on.  The next destination was the New Forest, and a walk up to Leaden Hall through Black Gutter Bottom.  As I walked up the hill I could see a distant Kestrel on a dead tree, and several Linnets and Reed Buntings were buzzing around the gorse. As I reached the plateau several people were already there watching the berry covered bushes.  I settled in by the side of the bushes, and at first watched a Blackbird eating the berries, but then the main event turned up, and the first one was a splendid adult male at the top of the tree, a Ring Ouzel.

They wouldn't stay long gobbling down the berries, then disappearing back into the bush, the only sign that they were there being the rustling of the leaves as they attacked other berries.

There would be a short intermission, then they would appear again, this time a possible juvenile of female bird.
 

There were Hawthorn  and Blackthorn berries available, but they seemed to prefer the slightly larger, reddish orange berries of the Whitebeam.  They would sit and wait, watching for any movement.

Then grabbing the berries, pulling them from the stalks and swallowing almost in one action.

There has been a large movement of Ring Ouzels this week, probably as a result of the easterly winds, and a large high pressure area settled over Scandinavia, one of their main breeding sites.  Leaden Hall is a regular site to see them as they migrate back to the south for the winter, the Whitebeam tree appearing to be a magnet.

I took a break from staring at the moving leaves and walked around the area, the short grass was an attraction to a pair of Pied Wagtails, and a very confiding Wheatear.
 

Back at the bushes a trickle of Swallows passed through, and more Reed Bunting appeared in the trees.  I had one more good final view of the Ring Ouzel before I decided to head back to the car.

Interestingly the Whitebeam, the berries of which the birds definitely preferred,

is commonly grown in parks and gardens, but is quite rare in the wild, the question therefore is how did it get here?

During the Second World War this area was used as a target for bomb testing, a target wall stood off-centre in the circular area and it was used to test bombs.  There was a concrete apron where now there is short grass, the concrete being removed in 1991, maybe the trees were planted then.

 

Walking down the hill a Kestrel flew low into one of the gorse bushes scattering a flock of Linnets, while overhead I could hear more Redwing passing.  I then decided it was time to head home

24th September - Keyhaven, Pennington & Normandy Marshes, Hampshire

Friday was a beautiful autumn day, this morning as I left home the skies were clear and there was a red glow away to the east.  With it there was a fresh southerly breeze that already was making it feel quite warm.  I arrived at the car park at the end of the lane in Pennington with the sky now much brighter but stiil the sun had not arrived.  Birds were leaving the night roosts, I could hear the Canada Geese calling from over on the marsh, and ducks were flying high as they arrived from different places around the reserve.  These I think were Pintail flying past the waning moon.

Away to the east the sky was a collection of yellows and oranges.

A party of fifteen Little Egrets flew from the direction of the caravan park, followed by two that passed through the orange sky.

While the calling geese on the marsh finally took off heading to the flooded pit on the reclaimed land.

In the distance the Lymington to Yarmouth ferry was heading out in the glow of the sun as the Canada Geese headed toward Oxey Marsh.

We headed down the path alongside Fishtail Lagoon, and stopped to look out over the small pools at the back of the main lagoon.  There was little about but the early morning sunshine was lighting up the marsh and a pair of Mute Swans.

As we reached the sea wall we stopped to watch and photograph a Black-tailed Godwit feeding on the marsh close to the pools.

Another bird flew in and called which obtained a response from the original bird, a call back and a flaring of the wings.

The tide was still high, and we scanned the islands that were covered in waders.  There were predominantly Dunlin, with Grey Plover, a single Golden Plover and a Bar-tailed Godwit.  We walked on to the Jetty Lagoon where there was a large roost of Black-tailed Godwits, a single Curlew Sandpiper and a very confiding Little Stint, that eventually came very close.

Giving some lovely views in the morning sunshine.

Picking a nice reflection in the shallow pools.

From the Jetty Lagoon we made our way back to Fishtail, there were three Spotted Redshanks feeding in the deeper water, and on the small pools there was a Little Stint and several Dunlin.  Standing watching all the activity was a Grey Heron, that hardly moved while we were there.

From Fishtail we headed around to Keyhaven, a couple had remarked that there was a Pectoral Sandpiper close to the path feeding in the pools.  As we approached we disturbed many Meadow Pipits, some perching on the fence wires.

We found a wader, but unfortunately as suspected it wasn't a Pectoral Sandpiper but a very confiding juvenile Ruff.

After flying around it returned to feed in the vegetation around the pools.

We walked to look over the lagoon, where there were several Black-tailed Godwits and out on the saltmarsh were five Knott feeding.

In all the pools it was noticeable that the numbers of Wigeon had increased over those present three weeks ago.  They are still though in eclipse plumage.

Back at Fishtail the number of Spotted Redshanks had increased to five, and they were all feeding furiously in the pools at the back of the lagoon.

We walked to the jetty where with the tide out there were many waders feeding amongst the exposed shingle.  Turnstone were present in good numbers, but also Grey Plover and A few Curlew.

As we walked back towards the car park a familiar "gronk" signalled the arrival of a Raven flying overhead.

We were intending to check Normandy Marsh but couldn't face the walk around the sea wall, so headed inland along the footpath.  In one filed there were several Swallows flying low over the grass, while on the wires above there were many others waiting.  There was through out the morning a steady trickle of Swallows, House Martins and Sand MArtins moving through the marsh heading south.

Just before we reached Normandy Marsh we found a Greenshank close in, but as we tried to get closer it flew off into the middle of the mud.

Where it joined another feeding in the shallow water.

It was quiet on the marsh, but with the cattle in the distance we could see several wagtails and decided to get closer.  The wagtails were Pied, but on the mud there were Grey Plover, Black-tailed Godwits, and two Curlew Sandpipers among the numerous Dunlin.

Of more interest were the Little Egrets, fishing in the shallow water, showing the yellow legs of the adults as they stalked through the mud.

As we walked back close to the path there were eight Curlew Sandpipers feeding in the mud giving some excellent views.

You can see the clean appearance, the longer beak, and longer neck and legs compared to the Dunlin.

These were all juvenile birds.

As we watched the sandpipers a pair of Little Egrets were engaging in some interesting behaviour.  One bird addressed the other by extending its head up as it walked towards the other.

The aggressive bird did not have yellow feet, but black ones which meant that this was juvenile bird, this though did not stop it from attacking the other egret that was an adult bird, with yellow legs.

It was not clear what the intent was, maybe the young bird was just trying to exert dominance, but the attacks were quite aggressive.

In the end they just went there own way leaving each other alone.

We decided to walk back around the sea wall, but were intending to cross the marsh at Moses Dock.  A small group of waders close to the old sluice turned out to include four Bar-tailed Godwits.  here you can see the key difference between the two godwit species.  The Br-tailed being paler, shorter legged and and with a shorter bill.

As we walked towards the dock a passerine flew past, across the hedge and then down on to the path.  I thought maybe a pipit, but it was large so maybe Rock Pipit but then the head was in a strange position, could it be, surely not?  I thought then Wryneck, and despite doubting me at firs Ian agreed.  We then proceeded to get pictures quickly.

We edged forward slowly, but it was off, across the water and into the bushes on the far side where we lost it.  We made our way around to the other side where we searched the gorse and scrub, but could not relocate the bird.

In Oxey Creek a Little Egret stood with its reflection in the dark water.

In the end we had to give up, and we set off along the path.  We stopped at area with concrete and scrub, looking to check the perfect place for the Wryneck to be.  As we looked over the gate a bird flew into the hedge.  I could just see it, the only thing immediately visible being a flicking red tail, a Redstart.  It then disappeared into the hedge.

We waited and finally it emerged flying over the far side, but then returned hovering around the edge of the hedge before returning out of sight, only to put in a brief final appearance of which I managed a very poor record shot.

We continued back along the sea wall where the Goldfinches were all over the teasels growing along the path.

Walking back towards the car park we came across four Yellow Wagtails at last, they were amongst a herd of cattle close to the footpath.

Back in the car park we were told of a Spoonbill that had been seen on Fishtail, so we decided to once again walk back there.  We stopped at the point where you can look over the pools at the back, and scanned across the marsh to look for a white bird, the only ones we could find though were several Little Egrets.

There were though quite a few small waders, of which we identified several Dunlin and a couple of Little Stint.  Then one slightly small wader appeared alongside the Dunlin, with a white belly different from the Dunlin, and a very distinct supercilium.  More importantly it was slightly smaller than the Dunlin, while definitely bigger than the Little Stint.  Overall appearance was of a grey bird.  We were satisfied that this was the White-rumped Sandpiper.  And watched it for at least twenty minutes before we lost it when all the birds flew up as a Kestrel flew across the marsh.

It was very distant, and at best the only photograph was a record shot.

So it turned out to be not a bad day after what was a quiet start.  We missed an Osprey, but did manage two year ticks including a self found Wryneck, and a life tick.  Not bad!