Autumn Beeches in the New Forest

Picked the best day of the weekend for a walk in the New Forest at Bramshaw. The leaves have turned shades of copper, yellow and brown and looked stunning in the autumn sunshine. We walked a five mile route recommended on the walk and cycle website:

Walk and Cycle Penn Common and Bramshaw Wood

It was a bit hard going at times through the muddy bits but nothing impassable. Finished off with a lovely lamb dinner at The Lamb pub, Nomansland.

Autumn Beeches in Bramshaw Wood

Southern Damselfly

Today I chanced a trip to a well known spot for Southern Damselfly in the New Forest, hoping to see one there for the first time. The breeze was getting up and as it is the end of their season (late May to August) I wasn't hopeful but luck was with me and as the sun came out, I spotted a total of four males  They were hovering low and resting on the bog myrtle and grasses. Once your eye is trained in on their slow up and down flight and what I can only describe as "stubby" appearance, they are distinguishable from the other blue damselflies such as the Azure and Common Blue. The key diagnostic feature is the mercury mark on the 2nd abdominal segment, just visible on my photo below:

Southern Damselfly on Bog Myrtle

Orchids

Today I went to Martin Down, a fantasic chalk grassland site and National Nature Reserve on the Hampshire borders. Despite the showers there was enough sunshine to see a few butterflies including marbled whites and dark green frits.  Yellowhammers and skylarks were also frequent, filling the air with liquid warbling song. The main event is of course the displays of orchids, which include common spotted, pyramidal, fragant, and frog, the picture below is of two frog orchids of different shades, a red-brown and lighter green.

Frog Orchids - Martin Down

Natterjacks

The natterjack toad is a rare and protected species in England, found only at a few sites in the south, so it was a real treat to hear them calling on a trip to a sandy heathland, last night. The toads rest in burrows in the day, then as the sun sets, move to preferred spawning ponds, where the males then call to attract the females. Their call is exceptionally loud, a fantastic rounded, chirping sound and only a few males can make a very impressive chorus.

natterjack toad with distinctive yellow eye

Bluebells

Not a great year for bluebells, dry and hot followed by heavy downpours. However, Hampshire has some of the best woods for seeing them and magnificent carpets can be found in some of our larger beech woodlands. The combination of new green beech leaves and lilac blue is a special spring sight; a natural magic unique to England.

Bluebell Wood

Blackthorn blossom

A walk through ancient hedgerows and farmland in the sunshine on Monday gave great views of the blackthorn, now in flower. Blackthorn is a thorny shrub from the rose family. It bursts into life in March and April, when sprays of bright white flowers appear en masse, Blackthorn has flowers before the leaves open out, unlike hawthorn, which has leaves and then flowers together, a key distinguishing feature in Spring-time.

Blackthorn Blossom

Great Crested Newts

By late February and into April, newts are becoming active and begin breeding in our ponds. I went on an organised survey with licensed professionals in search of the rather spectacular great crested newt. Luckily the temperature and conditions were just right and using torchlight we were lucky enough to see several male and female great crested newts, getting a clear view of their crests and distinctive tail flashes. They really are fantastic creatures, beautifully patterned and a good sign of a healthy pond.

Wild Daffodils

As Spring approaches our woodland flowers take advantage of the available sunlight, before the leaves form on the trees and darken the canopy. One of the first plants to flower are wild daffodils creating swathes of early colour, which can still be found in ancient woodlands, like the ones below. Smaller than cultivated  varieties, usually 20 to 25cm high, native wild daffodils have large, single, yellow flowers, pale outer petals and a darker yellow cylindrical trumpet.

Great Crested Grebe Courtship

A sunny March morning today and a visit to my local lakes to observe Great Crested Grebes performing courtship displays. I observed two pairs, one pair were simply following and turning away, then following and turning away but this pair were a bit further on in the charm stakes, performing an elegant display of heard turning and crest ruffling.

Goldcrests

A crisp but sunny winter day today. I was pleased I managed to get out for a walk at lunchtime. I enjoyed the fresh air and listening to all the birds calling and starting to sing out as they defend territories and pair up. On my short walk I saw treecreeper, nuthatch, long-tailed tit, robin, great tits, blue tits and best of all goldcrest. Through the tall trees I got a good view of a female goldcrest; I listened for a good five minutes to her call, amazed at how so much sound can come from such a tiny bird. You can hear a clip of goldcrest calling on the RSPB website:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/g/goldcrest/index.aspx