Decided to take a last minute short break in the New Forest,so we set off on friday for a little certified location at Mill House on the A337 about a mile north of Lyndhurst.
The site has its own lake and woodlands which produced Mallard,Moorhen,Songthrush,Jays,GS Woodpecker,Nuthatch,Wren,Robin,Woodpigeon,Blackbird,BlueTit,Great Tit,Coal Tit,Jackdaws and Crow.
A few Ruddy Darter Dragonfly were skimming the lake and a late flowering Buddlea attracted a few Red Admiral and one late Brimstone.
Saturday Joy wanted to spend a bit of quality time with her new Grandaughter so I meandered through the forest toward Shave wood where I found much the same as friday apart from the Ducks and Moorhen.
Tawny owl heard from tree behind the camper van tonight.
Sunday saw me heading to the North Solent Nature reserve that was marked on the tourist map.Joy dropped me off at Lepe country park and proceded to Southampton.
Just as she got out of sight I spotted a sign saying no public acces to the reserve!Why put the site on a tourist map if we can`t visit it Grrrr!
Anyway I decided to walk to Exbury and was rewarded with good Views of a Buzzard and a covey of Red Legged Partridge,with the weather being so nice I carried on to Beaulie stopping for lunch by the river,very pretty in a manicured sort of way, a large flock of Swallows and House Martins were Hawking over the water as I ate my sarnies accompanied by an audience of blackheaded gulls and New forest ponies. Finished the day at Beaulie Roads where Joy picked me up, only other bird of note was a stonechat.
Monday saw us at Keyhaven Marsh,What a brilliant place this is!After a wander round the lagoon by the caravan site we walked to Hurst castle and took the ferry back to Keyhaven.
The lagoon produced Little Egret, Mute Swans,Grey Heron,Swallows,BH Gull and a flock of house Sparrows gorging themselves on Blackberries.
The walk along the shingle bank to Hurst Castle turned up Wheatear,Rock Pipit and a small flock of Linnets.
After a look round the castle,very impressive,the ferry trip on a falling tide came up trumps for waders with Curlew,Dunlin,Redshank, Godwit,Oystercatcher,Brent Goose,LBB Gull and more that I have to identify yet.
An excellent site that I will definitely visit again.