Just-In Time - Nina Simone

 Yet another perfect end to another day this time at

 in Boscombe a satellite town of Bournemouth.

 The event, to celebrate the birthday of family friend

 JUSTIN JOHNSTON-THOMAS (right)

and seen here with his step-father Mike doing their
Wild Boar Impressions.

 It is well known that my memory for names is all but nonexistent,

 so not to embarrass anyone, especially myself, I'll leave them out.

(except for Rachel who is Justin's 'intended')

 There are however some you will already know.

 Moules and Frites were the house speciality, which some of us had.

 'The Burning of the Midnight Lamp' - Jimi Hendrix

 Again Happy Birthday Justin.

The journey began this morning, but there was so much to see during the course of a day it was thought best to publish in 3 separate instalments. Centred around one 'target bird' the trip took me through the heart of the New Forest, Hampshire and onward to the small town of Gosport, in the same county, that was once my base during the Submarine years. Bit of a mixed weather pattern throughout the night turn into a decent enough day, considering the time of year, so no one got wet. Also mild it attracted a few Moths to the trap (still only one running at the moment) with the most stunning being this

 beautifully marked 'deep russet brown'

 FEATHERED THORN.

In addition there was Angle shades, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Beaded Chestnut, Large Yellow Underwing and also this attractive looking RED-GREEN CARPET which does usually have some red or pink about it.

The New Forest National Park covers 566 km² (219 sq mi), and the New Forest Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) covers almost 300 km² (120 sq mi), making it the largest contiguous area of unsown vegetation in lowland Britain.

Here at one of the highest points the vegetation is mostly Fern 

(now died back) and Gorse.

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All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey- Mamas and the Papas

NEW FOREST PONIES

ROYAL OAK

Public House at Fritham

Another Pony just wanders around the village.

Impossible for me to drive this section of the Forest

without paying a visit to

in hope of clapping eyes on some of its special residents.

A small self sustaining and breeding colony of

MANDARIN DUCKS.

Only c3 on the pond today which soon reduced to 2 as this poor

shot shows one male beating a hasty retreat. Hopes are that it 

heads to Parley!

MALE MANDARIN

FEMALE MANDARIN

Like all other areas of the Forest there are numerous 'free ranging'

animals including these

DONKEYS

and PANNAGE PIGS

The New Forest Pannage Season kicked off on the 10th September. That’s when the pigs (an ideal foraging cross of Large White Boar and Saddleback sow) are allowed to roam freely throughout the New Forest. They snuffle up acorns, beech mast, chestnuts and the occasional porcini mushroom, that give the meat such a wonderful flavour. Pannage is an historical right bestowed to local people (Commoners) on common land and is an important part of the New Forest ecology. Pigs can safely eat the acorns which are poisonous to the ponies and cattle.   William the Conqueror established limitations and rules within the New Forest in the 11th Century that still hold today.

The road to Cadnam and elsewhere! More manana.

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