Trip reports

Coach Trip to the New Forest

Sunday, 18 May 2008

The New Forest offers a diverse range of habitats and magnificent scenic beauty: factor in a beautiful sunny day and you have all the ingredients for a great day out. We went on a 4 mile circular walk from Beaulieu Road Station, taking in wet bog, majestic broadleaved woodland and finally heathland, then finished off with a search for Dartford warblers close to the railway line. Each habitat produced different species, with the bog also being particularly productive for dragonflies, including broad-bodied chaser (see image). We had great views of redstart in the woodland and were also lucky enough to see a male crossbill feeding young during an abortive search for wood warbler. Fallow Deer and slow worm were also seen by some, before a female Dartford warbler finally showed just before we set off home, to end a most enjoyable visit.

Species List: blackbird, blackcap, buzzard, chaffinch, chiffchaff, coot*, common crossbill, crow, cuckoo, collared dove, stock dove, turtle dove, tufted duck*, little egret, goldcrest, goldfinch, canada goose, greenfinch, black-headed gull, lesser black-backed gull, heron, hobby, jackdaw, jay, kestrel, skylark, magpie, mallard, house martin, sand martin, nuthatch, red-legged partridge*, pheasant*, feral pigeon, wood pigeon, meadow pipit, tree pipit, redstart, robin, rook, house sparrow, starling, stonechat, swallow, mute swan*, swift, mistle thrush, song thrush, blue tit, coal tit, great tit, long-tailed tit, treecreeper, pied wagtail, Dartford warbler, garden warbler, willow warbler, greater spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, wren (60 species).
Curlew, dunnock and wood warbler were heard but not seen.
Species marked with an asterisk (*) were seen en route only.