A female Redstart in the New Forest. I did spot some Male birds but did not get any photos. The male bird is more striking and more colourful
Redstart.
New Forest
Chats.
Male Stonechat New Forest.
7 UP.
Not the well-known fizzy drink but the number of relatively newly hatched Mute Swan cygnets on Hatchet Pond in the New Forest.
I will say no more and let the photographs do the speaking – the only words I could find were ” just so cute.”
Cuckoo.
Wordless Wednesday.
“Tree duck”.
What is odd about Mandarin ducks? They nest in trees often high above the water. Two drakes spotted today but no female ! not even up in the trees so they must be well camouflaged.
The Mallards on the pond were not amused!
Vocal Oystercatcher.
Trail camera footage.
OK it is not a David Attenborough production but our trail camera footage from the New Forest has griven us some interesting results. This post gives further clips of life around New Forest badger Setts, I hope you have time to take a look.
One clip shows good interaction between 2 badgers I hope some youngsters may be about later in the season. There is also a clip in day time of a passing herd of Fallow deer.
Camera collection.
A few pictures that I took while walking in the New Forest to collect our Badger sett trail cameras which had been out in the forest for a week.
A juvenile Fallow deer Buck. He will be a magnificent beast in a few years.
A small herd of juvenile Fallow deer hinds.
It was nice to see a Grey wagtail they are a relatively rare bird with a population of just 38,000 breeding pairs in the UK. They are, subsequently, classified as Red Status bird due to this low number.
Night time in the woods.
Badger sett trail camera stake out deep in the New Forest – Return visit to a couple of Badger Setts we found last year.
Good or not so good.
The grey squirrel was introduced into the UK in the 1870s from North America as an ornamental species to populate the grounds of stately homes. Introductions occurred until 1930. At this time the damage caused by the grey squirrel was recognised and it was made illegal to release a grey squirrel into the wild. Grey squirrels have rapidly spread and colonised much of mainland England with detriment to our wildlife, especially the native red squirrel, and tree species.
However, watching Grey squirrels is a pastime for many and despite their negative effect on native wildlife.
Continued Reflections from my World. 