Birds from this morning’s walk along the River Itchen and Itchen Navigation near Winchester.
Sedge Warbler.
Reed Bunting. (male)
Grey Heron.
Goldfinch. (juv)
Goldfinch.
Chiffchaff.
Moorhen.
Blackcap (male).
Manderin Ducks. (juv)
River bird walk.
birdwatching
Little Egret.
Flycatcher.
A Spotted Flycatcher at Stoney Cross, New Forest.
Spotted Flycatchers fly from a high perch, dash out to grab a flying insect and often return to the same spot.
UK Conservation status: Red list.
Watering Hole.
As our heatwave continues, another hot walk across the open plain in the New Forest: a 4-mile round trip to Whitten Pond.
Cows drink 60 to 120 litres of water a day. Some of the ponds dry out in the summer, but Forestry England says there are up to 1000 ponds in the New Forest.
As we walked over Holmsley Ridge, Whitten Pond came into view, and a large herd of cows was also heading to the water. We arrived about the same time.
Ring Plover, which I am more used to seeing on the coast, were at the pond, and a small family were around the edge. They are one of our coastal birds that will breed inland.
A juvenile Pied Wagtail.
Stonechat {Male}.
Matley Bog.
A walk through Matley Bog and Heath ( New Forest) this morning on another hot day.
Fallow deer in woodland.
Spotted a Buzzard’s nest high in a tree, the young birds had already fledged.
Adult birds were still about.
High Flyer.
Grey Heron flying high in the New Forest.
Song Thrush.
Grey Wagatail.
Grey Wagtail parent and one juvenile bird catching insects at Eyeworth pond, New Forest.
Common Tern.
Common Tern Hill Head.
Heathland.
Today’s post is back to my current photographs. A walk across some of the heathland in the New Forest, lots of Orchids in flower – I am not a plant expert, and a lot of the Pink Orchids look very similar, and they also hybridise. I think these are Common Spotted Orchids, but I am happy to be corrected.
A nice specimen of Oyster Mushroom growing on an old tree.
Now that we are into June, lots of foals have been born, both ponies and donkeys.
Numerous Cuckoos were both seen and heard on our walk, but all too far off to film. The highlight spot of the walk was several Redstarts. A summer visitor, the male is a handsome bird which is pinky-red below with a black face, silvery-white forehead, grey back and striking red tail. They were formerly classed as a member of the thrush family, but are now known to be a flycatcher.
Continued Reflections from my World. 