A return to the New Forest. We Parked up again at Eyeworth Pond – watching the pond with a cup of tea until the rain stopped before heading into the forest to the North-East following the track from the old Gunpowder Mills this road was built to allow the explosives to be transported away from the factory safely avoiding the small village of Fritham.
A little way along the track you pass a fenced spring. Known as “The Iron Wells” shown on maps dating back to the late-18th century. Marked on today’s Ordnance Survey maps as “Irons Well (Chalybeate)”. The water is impregnated with iron salts and is the colour of rust.
The waters are said to have curative properties particularly helpful for sore eyes, gout and other ailments, including leprosy. The spring was also known as Lepers’ Well, it is rumoured a house of rest for those suffering from leprosy was close to the well. Looking at the spring I decided not to take the waters on this visit!
No deer to see on our walk today.
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Back at the pond lots of birds as always – but the Mandarin ducks steal the show with their bright colours there seemed to be 5 males and 3 females present again. – lots of photographs at the end of this post.
Male Blackbird.
Song Thrush.
Pied Wagtail.
A first for me today was a Brambling. Not the best picture of this female bird but given I have never seen one before I am happy with this attempt.
A Male House Sparrow.
On the way home, we spotted lots of Snow Drops an early sign of spring.
Continued Reflections from my World. 
Brambling is unknown to me although they might see a few in Alaska during migration.
Jet Eliot presented another bird I’ve never even heard of — a Southern Cassowary. She captured some images of a male and three chicks. The chicks are knee-high which sort of gives you an idea of how big the adult is. While in Australia, she also saw flying foxes. Flying foxes? But the cassowary is one of the strangest birds I’ve ever seen. Here’s a link to her post:
https://jeteliot.wordpress.com/2022/02/04/aussie-backroad-thrill/
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thanks David will take a look 👍
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Such a collection of beautiful photos, Andy! As much as I love the snowdrops, and the colorful ducks, I think my favorite is the horse, backlit by bright sunlight. What an amazing place to visit!
Wise choice, not drinking that water! Amazing the things people over time have considered “healthful.”
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The Horse is a New Forest pony – it was just in the right place with the sun behind it.
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I wonder how many experienced cures from the “Iron Wells.” Interesting history.
Nice nature and bird photos!
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I have tried some iron waters in various Victorian spars but these were from spar towns During the mid-18th century, the ‘healing qualities of the local spring waters attracted visitors to the area resulting in an economic boom “taking the waters” was the thing today. the water I have tried a sip is enough!
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hahaha, yes, a sip would be enough! I’ll just stick with hearsay and believe that it’s good for your health.
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A great walk. I see by those snowdrops that Spring definitely has started in your area – just like you told me. Those ducks are so gorgeous. Interesting story of the area. That well water did not look inviting
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Yes Peggy a nice walk think taking the water would not be wise!
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I always like those Mandarin Ducks – I likely won’t ever see one, so have to enjoy them vicariously through your photos. The horse is enjoying those rays of sunshine on its head. I think the male Blackbird is giving you the side-eye. All that moss – we likely won’t see color like this for another two months – it is a snowy vista out there right now. We had 9.2 inches (23 cm) of snow over two days last week. Since haven’t shoveled out where the plow dumped at the end of my driveway as it was icy and heavy. I am ready for Spring.
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My brother told me when he worked in NY there was a bit of a flap when Mandarin duck turned up. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Park_mandarin_duck#/media/File:Mandarin_duck_in_Central_Park_(30122).jpg
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I remember that story Andy – yes, it caused quite a stir for birders. I would love to see such an exquisite duck, though I’ve never even seen a Common Merganser or a Wood Duck, which we do have here, but I’ve just never been lucky enough to see them. There was a sighting of a Rose Spoonbill, which is usually only found in tropical or warm climates. It was in Michigan and later in New York. Birders were practically camping out in the city in Michigan where it was spotted.
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When my brother worked in NY he said there was a big flap in central park when a Mandarin duck turned up!
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