birds

1st October 2026.

/ Andy Finnegan / 2 Comments

First of the month, and a walk in the New Forest: fungi are starting to show not sure how the season will be given the dry conditions through the summer only time will tell.

We had 6 Ravens flying over our heads as we were on our walk today. Ravens are our largest corvid; they’re often seen in pairs, but particularly in the winter, young birds can come together to roost in big groups. Ravens are mostly carrion eaters, but they will eat insects and hunt small live prey.

  • Length: 60–68cm 
  • Wingspan: 120–150cm 
  • Weight: 800–1,500g 

Another interesting spot was a Lesser Stag Beetle.

and some Caddisfly eggs.

Just one Raft Spider seen.

Wheatear.

/ Andy Finnegan / 2 Comments

A UK robin-sized chat, the wheatear is a summer visitor, arriving here in early March and leaving in September for its African wintering grounds. There were several of these good-looking birds on Hurst Spit today. They are mainly ground-dwelling birds. It hops or runs on the ground looking for food.

Tidal stretch of the Hamble.

/ Andy Finnegan / 2 Comments

Along the River Hamble from Warsash, a favourite short walk for Sunday morning. Nothing new today but some old favourites

The tide was on the turn and starting to come in.

Blacktail Godwitts – there were good numbers of these waders, which have now lost their summer breeding plumage.

A high number of Little Egrets were on the river and in the surrounding areas.

Turnstone

Ring Plover.