The New Forest Naturetrek Tour Report

18 - 20 May 2012

Click Beetle - Ampedus sanguinolentus

Yellow fungi – Bog Beacon

Pearl Bordered Fritillary by Simon Wells

Woodchat Shrike

Report compiled by Jon Stokes Images by Simon Wells and Jon Stokes

Naturetrek Cheriton Mill

Cheriton

Alresford

Hampshire

SO24 0NG

T: +44 (0)1962 733051

F: +44 (0)1962 736426

E: [email protected]

W: www.naturetrek.co.uk

England

Tour Report

The New Forest

Tour Leader:

Jon Stokes

Participants:

Elizabeth Taylor Richard Harvey Simon Wells Ade Wells Ian Buckle Karen Buckle Mike Meadway Bridget Wyn-Jones Peter Maslin Ian Harris Denise Harris Michael Keeling

Day 1

Friday 18th May

The group met at the hotel and after dinner we set off into the New Forest. The evening was mild but foggy, and indeed visibility was down to a few hundred yards. As we set off to walk through the Forest, the stillness of the air allowed us to hear the evening chorus clearly, although it comprised only Blackbirds, Song Thrush and the occasional Redstart. In the distance Tawny Owls hooted and the odd Lapwing and Snipe called. We passed over heath and bog, but the damp foggy air stopped us from seeing the view. Close to the woods the Tawny Owl were calling as they fed their young. Overhead Woodcock called like small pigs in the dark but unfortunately the Nightjars we hoped to find weren't present probably due to the odd spring we have had this year. In one of the clearings in the woods we saw two bat species, Pipistrelles and Brown Long Eared Bats. However what was most striking about the evening was how quiet the Forest was, as the fog enveloped us. Returning to the hotel we retired to bed, for a well earned rest.

Day 2

Saturday 19th May

After breakfast we set off for the day. Fortunately last night's fog had lifted and the morning was dry but chilly. Our first stop on Beaulieu Heath began well, with fantastic views of 4 Dartford Warblers squabbling about territory close to the path, whilst Tree Pipits parachuted overhead. Next up was a very obliging Slow Worm, followed by a much less obliging Wood Warbler who sang from cover, not allowing us to see him. The normally reliable hornets were also absent as the cold morning developed, but a Woodlark showed well to some of the group as we walked. In the relative warmth of the woods, Blackcaps sang their hearts out and a pair of Redstarts displayed beautifully to admiring eyes. Under a log, Wood Crickets were found scurrying around and on the Heath were the first signs of this year's Wild Gladioli.

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May 12

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The New Forest

Tour Report

Once we had rejoined the van, we made a quick side tour to the Reptillary where the live Goshawk camera was showing a mother tearing up a squirrel for her young. In the trees were the faint calls of Firecrests, but only the Siskins were visible. Following a pub lunch we went into the northern half of the Forest. As we walked, overhead Buzzards soared, whilst the calls of Woodlark drew us on, until one showed itself beautifully. At this point a beautiful red and black beetle landed on one of the group, allowing its picture to be taken. Later research identified it as a Click Beetle with the Latin name: Ampedus sanguinolentus. Feeding on Birch this species should perhaps sport the name, the Birch Click beetle, but with or without an English name this very beautiful beetle is classified at nationally notable A. This means that the species is restricted to between 16 and 30 sites in the UK, so a great find for a Saturday afternoon. A Hobby whizzed past at height, but wasn't a great view for most of the group, but the bubbling calls of nearby Cuckoos soon took our minds off it. We then travelled south across the Forest via an ice-cream stop and soon arrived at our next destination. This was a woodland to the east of Brockenhurst, where the rapid fire machine gun drumming of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, interspersed with its call, made for a frustrating 5 minutes as we couldn't see it. However a very cold Pearl Bordered Fritillary allowed close views, and we found a bright yellow fungus in a wet pond, which turned out to be the uncommon Bog Beacon. Suddenly a large female Goshawk swept through the woods. As it passed, it disturbed a female Cuckoo hiding in the trees, which flew a few feet and sat in a tree quite unconcerned. What made this Cuckoo stand out, was that it was a beautiful hepatic form Cuckoo. These rich brown female Cuckoos are an unusual variant on the normal Cuckoo and this bird allowed superb views. From this beautiful bird we wandered out onto the amazing Balmer lawn. This lawn habitat is one of the most unusual in the forest, known locally as 'the moonscape', because its surface, covered in the ant hills of a red ant, looks so otherworldly. Our final stops of the afternoon were to see some rare plants, firstly the beautiful Wild Service Tree, followed by the extremely rare Hampshire Pursleine, Birdsfoot Fenugreek and Clustered Clover. Finally a large and unknown puffball drew our attention, before we returned to the hotel for dinner. Following a tasty repast, some of the group adjourned to watch the European cup final, some to bed, and others went back out to look for Nightjars. Whilst the Nightjars remained non existent, Long Eared bats, Pipistrelles and what was almost certainly a Barbastelle bat flew around our heads and a herd of Fallow Deer passed by. Bed then beckoned and we retired for a good nights sleep.

Day 3

Sunday 20th May

A pre-breakfast outing started this day, and we found ourselves on the coast near Lymington. Here on the lagoons and marshes, Swifts, Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins wheeled around at extremely low levels. They were in part avoiding the freezing north easterly wind, but also fuelling up after their long migration to the UK. Sedge and Reed Warblers called in the reeds, whilst around us masses of birds of many species called, fed and flew. Highlights included a beautiful Little Ringed Plover, loads of Little Egrets and some spangly summer plumage Dunlin.

2

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May 12

The New Forest

Tour Report

After breakfast we set off out again. This time we headed northwest towards Fordingbridge. Just beyond this market town is a superb National Nature Reserve called Martin Down. Our targets were some rare plants and birds. Upon arriving we rapidly found the rare bird - a beautiful male Woodchat Shrike that had been found an hour earlier. Amazingly it had spent last weekend on the coast where we went before breakfast and had been relocated by the same birder a week and 40 miles later. After watching this beautiful Mediterranean bird feeding on beetles and bees, we set off to explore further. Despite the poor weather and no sun, we found Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper and Small Copper butterflies and Mother Shipton and Burnet Companion day flying moths. We also found a great display of Early Purple Orchids, Burnt Tip Orchids and not quite out yet Greater Butterfly Orchids. Overhead Ravens cronked, Skylarks sang and still the sun didn't shine! Finally we went into the heart of the Forest for a cream tea before leaving the Forest at the end of a great weekend.

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May 12

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Tour Report

The New Forest

Species List Birds Common name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47

Little Egret Grey Heron Mute Swan Canada Goose Mallard Shoveler Goshawk Common Buzzard Kestrel Hobby Pheasant Coot Lapwing Little Ringed plover Curlew Redshank Dunlin Woodcock Snipe Black-headed Gull Herring Gull Woodpigeon Feral Pigeon Collared Dove Cuckoo Tawny Owl Swift Green Woodpecker Great Spotted Woodpecker Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Skylark Woodlark Swallow Sand Martin Swallow House Martin Tree Pipit Meadow Pipit Pied Wagtail Wren Dunnock Robin Redstart Stonechat Blackbird Song Thrush Mistle Thrush

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Scientific name Egretta garzetta Ardea cinerea Cygnus olor Branta canadensis Anas platyrhynchos Anas clypeata Accipter gentilis Buteo buteo Falco tinnunculus Falco subbuteo Phasianus colchicus Fulica atra Vanellus vanellus Charadrius dubius Numenius arquata Tringa totanus Calidris alpina Scolopax rusticola Gallinago gallinago Chroicocephalus ridibundus Larus argentatus Columba palumbus Columba livia Streptopelia decaocto Cuculus canorus Sytix aluco Apus apus Picus viridis Dendrocopos major Dendrocopos minor Alauda arvensis Lullula arborea Hirundo rustica Riparia riparia Hirundo rustica Delichon urbica Anthus trivialis Anthus pratensis Motacilla alba Troglodytes troglodytes Prunella modularis Erithacus rubecula Phoenicurus phoenicurus Saxicola torquata Turdus merula Turdus philomelos Turdus viscivorus

18

May 19 1 1

1 10 1 1 5

2

10+ 1 (Heard)

7

1 1

2 2 10+ 1 10+ 10+ 10+ 10+ 1

1 10+ 5+ 10+

20 10+ 1 2 1 10 10+ 5 1 1 10+ 10+ 1 10+ 2 5 1 10+ 1 1+ 10+ 10+ 10+ 10+

1 1 2 (Heard) 10+ 3

10+ 1 1

10 (heard) 10 (Heard)

2 1 10+ 10+ 1 10+ 5

1 10+ 10+ 10+ 10+ 10+ 10+ 1 10 10+ 2 1

6 10+

1

The New Forest

48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78

Common name Garden Warbler Whitethroat Dartford Warbler Lesser Whitethroat Blackcap Wood Warbler Willow Warbler Chiffchaff Goldcrest Firecrest Blue Tit Great Tit Coal Tit Long-tailed Tit Nuthatch Treecreeper Woodchat Shrike Starling Jay Magpie Jackdaw Carrion Crow Rook House Sparrow Chaffinch Siskin Greenfinch Goldfinch Linnet Crossbill Reed Bunting

Tour Report

Scientific name Sylvia borin Sylvia communis Sylvia undata Sylvia curruca Sylvia atricapilla Phylloscopus sibilatrix Phylloscopus trochilus Phylloscopus collybita Regulus regulus Regulus ignicapillus Cyanistes caeruleus Parus major Periparus ater Aegithalos caudatus Sitta europaea Certhia familiaris Lanius senator Sturnus vulgaris Garrulus glandarius Pica pica Corvus monedula Corvus corone Corvus frugilegus Passer domesticus Fringilla coelebs Carduelis spinus Carduelis chloris Carduelis carduelis Acanthis cannabina Loxia curvirostra Emberiza schoeniclus

May 19

18

20 1 3

4 10+ 1 10+ 1 1 Heard 10

1 5+ 10+ 10+ 1 1 10+ 1 3

3 2 10+ 10+ 1 1 1 10+ 1 10+ 10+ H 1

Heard

4

1 10+ 3 10+ 10+ 10+ 10+ 10+ 10+ 10+ 10+ 10+ H 6

Other Taxa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

2

Common Pipistrelle Soprano Pipistrelle Barbastelle bat Brown Long Eared Bat Broad Bodied Chaser Keeled Skimmers Grizzled skippers Dingy skippers Small copper Pearl Bordered Fritillaries Wood Crickets

Pipistrellus pipistrellus Pipistrellus pygmaeus Barbastella barbastellus Plecotus auritus Libellula depressa Orthetrum coerulescens Pyrgus malvae Erynnis tages Lycaena phlaeas Boloriaq euphrosyne Nemobius sylvestris

1 1 1

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Many

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May 12