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.
Badger sett trail camera stake out deep in the New Forest – Return visit to a couple of Badger Setts we found last year.
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.
Fallow Deer New Forest. March 2023.
New Forest Roebuck in velvet.
In a quiet New Forest location is a monument to an incident where King William the second was killed while hunting in the Royal Hunting Forest (New Forest) in 1100. The monument inscription tells the story on its 3 sides.
Here stood the oak tree, on which an arrow shot by Sir Walter Tyrrell at a stag, glanced and struck King William the Second, surnamed Rufus, on the breast, of which he instantly died, on the second day of August, anno 1100.
King William the Second, surnamed Rufus being slain, as before related, was laid in a cart, belonging to one Purkis, and drawn from hence, to Winchester, and buried in the Cathedral Church of that city.
That the spot where an event so memorable might not hereafter be forgotten, the enclosed stone was set up by John Lord Delaware who had seen the tree growing in this place. This stone having been much mutilated, and the inscriptions on each of its three sides defaced. This more durable memorial with the original inscriptions was erected in the year 1841, by WM Sturges Bourne, Warden.
Male Stonechat.
Sika deer with New Forest pony and Roe deer within a Sheep field.The less wild forest today!
South coast line through the New Forest.
Raptors on film, a short film of recent local raptor encounters. Buzzards – Kestrel – Marsh Harrier.
Buzzard from trail camera others from standard digital camera. All wild birds.
Continued Reflections from my World. 