28/05/2106 Hampshire Visit Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Wood Warbler and Honey Buzzard

Saturday 28 May 2016
New Forest, Hampshire
Paul and group (5)

Five of us made the trip down to the New Forest and we were rewarded with a salad day's birding.  The roads were surprisingly quiet on the journey out considering it was bank holiday weekend.  Our target birds for the day were wood warbler, hobby, goshawk, dartford warbler and honey buzzard.



Highland Water nr Boulderwood
First stop was the Highland Water CP near Boulderwood where Paul led us on a short, circular walk to look for wood warblers.  En route we found our first redstart of the day.  Quite soon after we hit the jackpot when we came across a lesser-spotted woodpecker feeding on the low tree just 25 metres or so ahead of us at the crossroads.  Thankfully it was unaware of our presence and carried on feeding for long enough to allow us to make the ID with the barring etc.

In the same area Paul picked up the distinctive sound of our first wood warbler and it wasn't long before we had good views of this fascinating bird.  As we walked along the path it was evident that this was a real "hotspot" for this species and one to note for future reference.

Acres Down
We relocated to Acres Down and the usual raptor viewing point to join a group of other birders looking for goshawks and, in particular, honey buzzards.  It wasn't long before we sighted our first goshawk, perched on the branch of a tree on the skyline in the distance ahead of us.  After a while we saw the bird flying around - the first of several sightings.  

Just before lunch we got what we prized most when a honey buzzard was seen, behind us, in the distance.  Thankfully it was heading our way and soon we had the most momentous views as it came directly overhead, much to the delight of all present.

In the gaps between sightings on Acres Down we were entertained for a lengthy period by super views of a nearby cuckoo.  Also present were woodlarks and at least one tree pipit.  We had excellent views of the former on the path back to the car park.



Shatterford
Next stop was Shatterford to seek dartford warbler.  Soon after crossing the bridge Paul picked up the sound and we managed fleeting glimpses of the bird as it moved over the heather.  Eventually we got really good views from close range of one on the trees in front of us - much to the delight of Claire for whom it was a "lifer".

Prior to this, just by the bridge, we saw our first hobbies of the day, a couple of siskins and then a couple of peregrines having an altercation with a buzzard.  All of these gave excellent, close views.  On the way back, again by the bridge, we saw another cracking, close redstart.


Keyhaven
On the way home we stopped off at Keyhaven to try and find the roseate tern that had been reported there earlier. Despite our best efforts we could not locate it.  The tide had come in, causing the tern to relocate probably onto the nearby nature reserve.

A fabulous day out, in good company and aided by some brilliant birding by Paul.  

Additions to BUBO 2016 UK Year List:
wood warbler   (218)
honey buzzard   (219)