Monday 26 July 2021

A Walk in the New Forest - Horst Jankowskie's Plagiarist Pal!

 The only good to come from the heavy and persidtant rain of Friday night was that once again the Forecasters got it correct, to the very second, and the drama of the Sheet Lightning.

With some let-up before dawn and a glimps of sunshine, we were determined to get out and give it a go even if only in the name of our Loyal Followers, so here you go. Priority, given those conditions, were to the

LITTLE GREBE
on the Gravel Pit but scanning the nest sight for a full 10 minutes bore no fruit. About to leave there at the lee end of the pond sat the incubating bird havind been driven by the wind to a sheltered spot
and we would say
FORTUNATE
as these nests are built to
FLOAT!
Even if we had to fill the page with the most common of Wildlife this Post was coming your way but having captured maybe the most common 2 birds
GOLDFINCH
and
MAGPIE
it was thought heading 'off-piste' would be far more rewarding?
VINTAGE
while the road at Stoney Cross is about the highest point across the Forest
and on the day day the most foggy - a "Misty Mountain Hop" - Led Zeppelin.
Not unusual to find at first the
Stars of the Show
NEW FOREST PONIES
followed by what were considered to be
ABERDEEN ANGUS?
a couple of
PIEBALD'S
along with even more free-ranging
CATTLE
before encountering these 2 charming young ladies who had no worries of allowing
a photograph
or two with their own steed and so pleased to meet you!
Fritham, via the
ROYAL OAK
takes us to my favourite spot across the park at
where Birds are always guarunteed but not always 'the Specials'.
Those that were showing were more or less all juveniles such as this
BLUE TIT
while
MARSH TIT
ranged from almost there
to very scruffy looking
juveniles
the
LILYPAD
before drifting into view just a single
of
female
and male
MANDARIN DUCK
magnificent
TREES
a few juvenile
MALLARD
and a final appearance of a juvenile
GREAT TIT
On the way back the
INKY-PINKY-PONKY'S
were posing as we passed by a few properties
so cheap
you wouldn't even need a
MORTGAGE!
Hope this little wander has pleased - tell yer pals please.