Sika Stag

In the car park, we were serenaded by a great tit as we set off along the Shipstal Point trail which took us past fields and deciduous woodland.  A mixed flock of redwings, fieldfares and starlings were feeding on the grassland.  

Among the trees, a sika stag with several hinds bounded away and then stood staring back at us.  They appeared very tame and were obviously used to people walking the trails.  

As the trail turned towards Shipstal Point, we entered an area of heathland overlooking Poole Harbour.  Four red-breasted mergansers, oystercatchers, curlews and black-headed gulls were seen out on the water, while a cormorant was standing on a sand bar holding out its wings to dry.  A little egret was pottering about in the shallows.

On the beach we sheltered from the wind against a hedge of tamarisk trees that had been reduced to shrubs from constant battering by the wind.  The sun warmed us as we watched a large group of shelduck and more oystercatchers. The view point above Shipstal Point gave wonderful views out across the harbour towards Long and Round Islands, Brownsea and Green Islands and Furzey Island with its oil wells.

Our next visit was to the hide overlooking the salt marsh and Arne Bay.  We watched four great crested grebes diving for food as we ate our lunch in the shelter of the hide.  More deer were seen across the bay under some birch trees, but they were too far away to identify.  

From the hide we walked to Bigwood through an area of restored heath.  The wood itself has been opened up, as there were signs of felling.  Several woodland birds were seen including a tree creeper winding its way up a trunk and a goldcrest in a nearby conifer.  Chaffinches, a wren, a robin, a coal tit and a marsh tit were also seen among the trees.

From Bigwood we walked through Arne village, where we admired the Early English church and crossed the car park on to the Coombe Birdwatcher’s trail which crossed a large area of heathland.  A song thrush was singing his heart out in the car park.  

A small group of roe deer were spotted among the trees and again we were surprised by their boldness as they just gazed at us without moving away.  Up on the heath, we suffered from squally showers and strong winds which kept the Dartford warblers under cover, but we had a good view of a buzzard soaring between the showers.

We escaped into the hide overlooking Middlebere Lake as a heavy hailstorm swept across the heath.  There was some excitement in the hide when two spoonbills flew past.  Later we had wonderful views of a spoonbill sweeping up and down a gully with its bill.  Some small ducks, probably teal, were also in the gully. Canada geese, Brent geese, herring gull, curlews and a large group of shelduck were also seen along with a black-backed gull which we were unable to identify as we could not see the colour of its legs. Walking back across the heath we saw several meadow pipits and a kestrel bringing the total to 34 bird species seen during a thoroughly enjoyable day.

At the Society's indoor meeting we welcomed RSPB volunteer David Rowling who gave us an informative illustrated talk about the birds of the New Forest and general information on the RSPB. There was also a good turn out of members of the Society on Saturday 31st March for our annual New Forest litter pick in conjunction with the Forestry Commission's spring clean. 

We concentrated our efforts on the road that runs from Holbury to Hill Top and we collected all sorts of litter that mainly consisted of snack wrappers and carrier bags.  A good reminder to everyone to take litter home and not to leave it in the Forest where it is both dangerous to wildlife and unsightly.

The Waterside Natural History Society's next outdoor meeting will be on Sunday 15th April with a bird watching and general wildlife visit to Titchfield Haven.  Meet at Oak Road Car Park, Dibden Purlieu for 10.00am (strong footwear recommended.)  Entrance fee applies.  Visitors very welcome. 

The Society's next indoor meeting will be on Monday 23rd April, when we welcome Colleen Mainstone to talk about Bats.  Meet for a 7.30pm start at the St. Andrew's Centre, Dibden Purlieu.  Visitors very welcome at £2.