Trip reports

OWN TRANSPORT TRIP TO ACRES DOWN - SUNDAY JUNE 8TH 2008

Sunday, 8 June 2008

15 members met on a sunny warm day for a gentle stroll through the New Forest woodlands, ending in the early afternoon on top of Acres Down watching for passing raptors. We soon encountered a food-carrying male redstart, closely followed by a singing wood warbler, both within 200 yards of the car park. Having enjoyed these colourful migrants, the sound of woodlark in song took us to an open area nearby. Initially, calling siskin, which were flying backwards and forwards across the clearfelled area, took our attention, as did a flyby hobby, until the lark was located on a fallen silver birch. A blackcap was harder to find, and calling bullfinches remained invisible. However, a firecrest, singing in beech trees, rewarded our patience by descending to a bare twig and remaining in full view for almost a minute. As we emerged briefly from the forest, a willow warbler gave its cascading song from atop a spindly pine. Returning to the forest ride we entered an area with mature plantation to one side with oak on the other. Here a second firecrest was located and up to 7 crossbill gave glimpses as they fed high in the pines.

We finally reached the top of the Down for a late lunch, adding stonechat and heath spotted orchids to our list. Here began an extraordinary hour. As we unpacked our sandwiches a handsome male kestrel hovered close by. By the time we had reached coffee, the first of several distant common buzzards had been located and a second summer peregrine had flown overhead. After a short break, an adult red kite drifted by, followed 20 minutes later by a honey buzzard on the same flightpath. Finally, a male goshawk floated into view! Members left the site open mouthed!

Species not mentioned above :- Heard only - Song Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, Cuckoo, Wren, Dunnock.
Seen - Blue Tit, Marsh Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit (all in family parties), Goldcrest, Lesser Black backed Gull (1 high level), Black headed Gull (1 past the watchpoint), Meadow Pipit, Blackbird, Long tailed Tit, Cormorant (1 high level), Swift, Swallow, House Martin, Crow, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Robin, Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch. (45 species recorded).

Reported by Steve Oakes