Bolderwood.

We went looking for deer in the New Forest today but were not very lucky only distant Fallow Deer. However, on a small pond, several dragonflies were buzzing overhead.

A female Stonechat.

Bee Hives are out in the Forest – As the Heather comes into flower Bee Hives are placed to take advantage of these nectar-rich flowers.

A lone Fallow Deer.

Favourite spot.

At the Little Bridge at Titchfield Harbour where the River Meon reaches the sea, there is a favourite spot under the bushes where a Grey Heron likes to fish. Often people miss him! If you wait for a while he may come out into full view.

Dragons in the sky.

Yesterday we spent time at Titchfield Haven around one of the small ponds looking for Damselflies and Dragonflies.

With a warm morning, there were many to see.

Four-spotted chaser dragonflies out in large numbers.

 

Female blue form Emperor dragonfly “tail dipping” – egg laying.

Azure damselfly mating.

Black & White in Colour.

The sun was out yesterday and so were the butterflies although not in large numbers at Seafields Park a small park behind the beach at Salturns beach near Lee on Solent. Unlikely to be mistaken for any other species this easily recognised butterfly the Marbled White is a distinctive and attractive black and white butterfly, found in unmanaged and unimproved grassland. It shows a marked preference for purple flowers such as Wild Marjoram, Field Scabious, thistles, and knapweed.

Family.

A first for me Little Grebe chicks. Returning to where we had seen a Little Grebe last week it was a real surprise to see a family with 3 chicks. We had not noticed a nest deep in the lily pads. There is one egg still in the nest given the chicks are around 2 or 3 days old it is unlikely that the last egg is fertile.