Yo Tony. Any chance the partridges you saw could have been Red Legged Partridge?
Anyway, popped down to the New Forest early this morning, just on a whim, hoping to have more success than on the last visit. First I visited the Beaulieu Heath and woods, near the train station. A pair of Stonechats, Goldcrests and a Blue Tit were in the Gorse and Pine trees in the car park. Proceded to walk along the path through the heath where a Buzzard was circling (heart raced on first seeing it flying low, as I thought it was a Hen Harrier! Dont ask how I came to that conclusion. I guess thats the downside of visiting somewhere that you have heard is a regular haunt for something amazing. I also was optimistic of seeing Great Grey Shrike and Crossbill, but I guess I would have had to have luck firmly on my side for that! One of the rare occasions that I'll ever be dissapointed to see a Buzzard) Also saw a Kestrel and Mippets. A Green Woodpecker was also seen on the border of the woods.
I didnt see anything unusual in the woods. Just Blue, Great, Coal and Long-Tailed Tits, A few Treecreepers, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, and hundreds of Woodpigeons. I've never seen so many! Felt pretty dissapointed to be honest, as I had hoped to find Crossbills. My neck aches like mad now, as I spent ages looking up into the tops of the Pines, checking every movement. Oh well.
Was about 2 o'clock now, and I headed to Backwater Arbouretum to have another go at Hawfinches. Didn't dissapoint! There were 7 Hawfinches in total, 4 of which sat at the top of a Pine tree for about half an hour! There was a conveniantly placed bench about 100 feet from the trees, so I didn't even have to crane my neck. Just sat there admiring them through the scope. Must have stayed there for about 2 hours, during which time I had Siskins and Bramblings. First time I've seen them in ages, and often in the same field of view through the scope as the Hawfinches! It was also nice to see them somwhere other than on bird feeders, which is the only place I've ever seen them before. Also present were the usual Chaffinches, Tits and, later on, a flock of 30+ Redwings flew through, along with at least 100 Woodies.
An absolutely stunning afternoon.
J Moss
Anyway, popped down to the New Forest early this morning, just on a whim, hoping to have more success than on the last visit. First I visited the Beaulieu Heath and woods, near the train station. A pair of Stonechats, Goldcrests and a Blue Tit were in the Gorse and Pine trees in the car park. Proceded to walk along the path through the heath where a Buzzard was circling (heart raced on first seeing it flying low, as I thought it was a Hen Harrier! Dont ask how I came to that conclusion. I guess thats the downside of visiting somewhere that you have heard is a regular haunt for something amazing. I also was optimistic of seeing Great Grey Shrike and Crossbill, but I guess I would have had to have luck firmly on my side for that! One of the rare occasions that I'll ever be dissapointed to see a Buzzard) Also saw a Kestrel and Mippets. A Green Woodpecker was also seen on the border of the woods.
I didnt see anything unusual in the woods. Just Blue, Great, Coal and Long-Tailed Tits, A few Treecreepers, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, and hundreds of Woodpigeons. I've never seen so many! Felt pretty dissapointed to be honest, as I had hoped to find Crossbills. My neck aches like mad now, as I spent ages looking up into the tops of the Pines, checking every movement. Oh well.
Was about 2 o'clock now, and I headed to Backwater Arbouretum to have another go at Hawfinches. Didn't dissapoint! There were 7 Hawfinches in total, 4 of which sat at the top of a Pine tree for about half an hour! There was a conveniantly placed bench about 100 feet from the trees, so I didn't even have to crane my neck. Just sat there admiring them through the scope. Must have stayed there for about 2 hours, during which time I had Siskins and Bramblings. First time I've seen them in ages, and often in the same field of view through the scope as the Hawfinches! It was also nice to see them somwhere other than on bird feeders, which is the only place I've ever seen them before. Also present were the usual Chaffinches, Tits and, later on, a flock of 30+ Redwings flew through, along with at least 100 Woodies.
An absolutely stunning afternoon.
J Moss
