23 February 2017 Hatchet Pond and Rans Wood area

Starting from Hatchet Pond and buffeted by the winds of Storm Doris, 14 of us, led by Pam, set off in a northerly direction towards Rans Wood.  The wind had whipped up waves on the pond where we saw Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Coot, Oystercatcher, Cormorant, Little Egret, Mallard and the resident pair of Mute Swans with last year’s three cygnets.

In the small temporary pools on the wet heath we found frogspawn, signs that Spring is on its way. Here we also found the Yellow Brain fungi Tremella mesenterica growing on gorse and through Furzey Lodge several small birds were seen.

Beyond Rans Wood

The main track leading to the Rans Wood area starts at Furzey Lodge Pound which is dedicated to Jeffrey Kitcher 1943-2011 a former member of the  Verderer’s Court. Here on the green are some fine old Oaks frequented by Jackdaws and Starlings. Passing down the hill to the gate entrance and small bridge over a stream  we found  pussy willow just coming out. We then took a circular route passing Alder, young Beech trees and various conifers where we could hear Siskin and Nuthatch and found a Palmate Newt in one of the ditches. We then skirted a very wet  but colourful  area of grasses, sedges and moss.

 

Birch Polypore
Piptoporus betulinus

The return route took us along the edge of the stream, Worts Gutter, where several dead Silver Birch had the fungus Birch Polypore Piptoporus betulinus, one particular tree had so many going up it they looked like steps you see on a climbing wall. This fungus has the old name of Razor Strop, which comes from the time when it was cut into strips, dried, and used to give a final sharpening to the cut throat razors that barbers used, it also is reputed to have many medicinal properties. Other species of fungi found were the blackened Willow Bracket Phellinus igniarius, Turkeytail Trametes versicolor, Common Mazegill Datronia mollis and Blushing Bracket  Daedaleopsis confragosa.

Blushing BracketDaedaleopsis confragosa

Finally on returning to the pond other species of duck had come in and we saw Teal, Gadwall, Pintail and Great Crested Grebe. Luckily for us the rain held off throughout the walk. Overall 26 species of bird were seen plus two heard, along with Common Frog, Palmate Newt and six species of fungi. PP

09 February 2017 Godshill

There was an initial kerfuffle, due entirely to the leaders having a potty, senior moment when citing the meeting point (right name, Godshill, but the grid reference was Ashley Walk, thankfully nearby). Apologetically, Marge and Sandra rounded up the strays and 10 in all re-gathered at the edge of Godshill Inclosure.

Hazel catkins

It was gloomy, cold and breezy as we set off westwards, skirting Godshill Wood before turning south on a public footpath (uncommon in the Forest) between dwellings, sliding and squelching down to a footbridge over the Millersford brook. On the uphill plod via field and woodland we heard Robin and Nuthatch. Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming and the sight of powdery Hazel catkins with newly-emerging tiny, red female flowers hinted at Spring.

Nuthatch

We continued south across stiles and fields to Sandy Balls Estate and turned west through tall beech and conifers that diced with gravity on the steep slope to the Avon Valley below. Our path contoured beneath the remains of the iron-age fort, Frankenbury Ring. We stopped for a while, trying to identify a mixed flock of Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits and Chaffinches - just silhouettes darting among the branches against the light. Then a splendid Fallow buck stepped slowly across the path behind us, well aware of our presence, and disappeared down the slope in a trice.

We wound our way to the valley floor where Mute Swans and Little Egrets were feeding in the wet meadows beside the River Avon which is the western boundary of the Forest in this area. Our return was through Folds Farm and up through Godshill Wood. MW/SP

14 February 2017 Brent Geese

Brent Geese

A late reminder that Gordon Small is talking about Svalbard (Spitsbergen) tonight.

05 February 2017 Keyhaven to Sturt Pond

Marsh Harrier being mobbed by Carrion Crow

Rather than retrace the route taken on the previous field meeting Brian + 5  (including 1 guest)  set  off west from Keyhaven towards the bird hide at Sturt Pond. On an overcast morning after overnight rain virtually the first sighting was of a female Marsh Harrier at rest, occasionally provoked into a short, languid flight by the harassment of a Carrion Crow. On a bar in the harbour a Great Black-backed Gull was making a meal of a sizeable unidentified fish in the company of 2 Bar-tailed Godwits. Low water meant much frantic feeding of Dunlin accompanied by Curlew, Common Redshank, Turnstone and Grey Plover with various waterfowl in the channels. The outward leg produced Kingfisher, Raven, Reed Bunting, Common Buzzard, Greenshank, Ringed Plover and a female Kestrel. 3 Spoonbills were seen flying east before dropping into one of the channels. In the fields were Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Rooks and Oystercatchers.

Common Gull

Sturt Pond Nature Reserve is a SSSI. The bird hide was erected in 2009 and offers fine views over various habitats including saltmarsh, tidal pond, reed bed, bird scrape and grazing field. From the hide an indeterminate number of Common Snipe (20+?) were seen on the saltmarsh, their magnificent cryptic camouflage and skulking behaviour making a precise count impossible. There were also various gulls, including Common Gull, and we also watched Lapwing, Cormorant and Moorhen.

Rock Pipit

On the return journey a Rock Pipit showed well along Salt Grass Lane and the 3 Spoonbills reprised their earlier appearance with a short flight. Both Marsh Harrier and Spoonbill have now become almost regular sightings on the Keyhaven bird walks which invariably produce a minimum of 45 species. Several flowering plants were also noted: Shepherd’s-purse, Common Gorse, Red Dead Nettle, Winter Heliotrope and Annual Meadow-grass.

26 January 2017 Keyhaven

High water (Hurst Spit) : 09.10

State of tide: mid-way between springs and neaps.

Weather: Overcast, dry and bright with very cold wind blowing straight in from the frozen continent.

 

Pochard

Duncan led a hardy and keen group of 9 people (including one member from Romsey) from Keyhaven in what most, if not all, of us considered were sub-Arctic temperatures! Indeed, one member (our illustrious secretary) 
wore a jacket of the type worn by the military in the Arctic!

Marsh Harrier

We walked inland via the Balancing Pond, along the Ancient Highway to the bottom of Lower Pennington Lane before heading to the sea wall and back to Keyhaven.

Raven

Our perseverance and enthusiasm was rewarded with a total of 47 species. Particular highlights were two male Pochard on the new pond north of the eastern end of the Ancient Highway, which is a good record for our coastal area, a female Marsh Harrier at rest and also in flight over Pennington Marshes, close views of a Raven flying and then landing on the sea wall near the Jetty and a group of six Spoonbills alighting on Fishtail Lagoon. Pintail and Snipe were present in good numbers, the latter often watched feeding out in the open.

Additionally, three Roe Deer were spotted near the Balancing Pond and further on, lying down and sheltering from the wind on a bank on Pennington Marshes, were two more! The only plant in flower was not surprising – Gorse!