New Forest Redstart - Year List 2023

New Forest Redstart - Year List 2023 - (#41).

Sunday 13th July 2023.

After fishing I decided to visit Eyeworth Pond in the New Forest en-route to look for Redstart. A quick check on the pond for Mandarin Duck produced nothing, there was so much growth to the right of the pond that was impossible to see anything, it was very quiet except for a single Grey Heron stood in a dead tree near the spillway.

I then walked up to where I had seen Redstarts in the past and scanned the area, unfortunately I didn’t see anything straight away, but I was immediately taken by a herd of twelve Fallow Deer grazing on the open heathland, as I watched I then spotted something that looked like a Redstart, and sure enough it was, a juvenile flitting around the bushes near the area. Its distinct quivering red tail was the give away, as noted in a recent book I have just read. (REDSTARTS by John Buxton).

My fortunes stayed good as I turned to scan other areas I caught sight of four birds, coming down towards the ancient ant hill tussocks, a quick check confirmed four Woodlark, adding another species to the year list. This is the first time I’ve seen four together which was a bit of a treat.

On route back I had Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, and when I got to the car park I saw this massive black bird, a Raven, the first time I’ve seen the Raven on the ground, and it's size was so impressive. As I drove past it stopped to look and I was amazed by its impressive beak. I had always seen them in flight or heard them calling from trees or pylons, so another treat for me.

Juvenile male Redstart

Woodlark - (Archibald Thorburn).

Raven - (A. W. Seaby)

Year list 109.

Comments

The Kowa TSN 1

This is a scope I have been after for many years now. It was a very popular spotting scope with twitchers and birders during the late 1980’s and through the 90's. A very well built and quality product. The TSN 2 was the straight version, and came in two colours the green as bove and a pale beige grey. The fluorite lensed TSN 3 / 4 would follow later. Here being used by a Selsey birder the TSN 2 straight version This is from the Kowa Optics History Released in 1984 (TSN-1, TSN-2) ReleasedThe motivation behind the development of the TSN (telescope new) scopes was "to create spotting scopes that had the world's best viewing characteristics". These scopes utilized all the knowledge that had been gathered from years of innovative design and development. The results were the TSN 1 and 2 models which included objective lenses that were larger than the 50mm and 60mm objective diameters of the TS line. The new products were named TSN (TeleScope New) and were the first ...

Dipped again! But still some little gems - Year List 2025 - (#30).

Tuesday 18th November 2025. Shatterford Bottom - New Forest - SU 343050 . A day spent searching for the elusive Great Grey Shike that didn't turn up, even with about another 20 birders looking for it too. But not all was lost, I managed to pick up another 3 species for the year list. Crossbill - (small flocks of male & female seen feeding on Larch cones, these were a joy to watch) . Dartford Warbler (4) (one seen and the others heard). Reed Bunting (2) females seen near to the large pond. Other very notable birds were : Kestrel (seen in flight then hovering over the heath). Stonechat - Great spotted Woodpecker - Green Woodpecker - Fieldfare (1st for this winter). Mistle Thrush - Water Rail - (heard near the pond) . Donald Watson sketch of a Great Grey Shike. My last trip to Beaulieu Road Station or Shatterford Bottom was 28 years ago 13th June 1997. These were m...

Shaftesbury Jolly between 17th - 21st July 2023

Recent Shaftesbury walks over the past week on the Breach Common and Castle Hill trying out my new/old roof binoculars Carl Zeiss Jena Notarem 8x32b MC. As you can see I was lucky to get a pair in very good condition. The serial number 6428067 - dates them at 1985. The case was very clean too. The binoculars laid down. Adverts from the 1980's They seem very good indeed, are good size and particularly clear, I will probably alternate using them with my Carl Zeiss Jenoptems 8x30W. The usual birds were seen. Bullfinches always a pleasure to see, (The bullfinches actually have been showing theirselves very well, the lovely male with a pinky-red breast down near the farmhouse at the top of a copper beech tree, and especially today) - (20th July 2023). Red Kite, two in one morning, the Buzzard hanging over the valley between the common and Duncliffe Woods. Other singing birds as usual Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, a Treecreeper was seen as well and C...

The Vintage Birder

Search This Blog