Sunday New Forest wander

As I previously alluded to the weather was not very favourable for ringing this weekend so instead, on sunday, we headed to the New Forest with binoculars and cameras to see what birds we could find.

Ibsley Common/Digden Bottom
Earlier in the week a Great grey shrike had been reported in one of the closest part of the forest so we headed there first hoping for a glimpse. Shrikes are notoriously mobile requiring large areas to find their prey so it was expecting alot to turn up and find it sat at the top of a gorse bush. As expected, unfortunately this didn't happen. Getting out of the car we were greeted by a harsh, northerly, bitingly cold wind. We took a quick walk through the areas where the shrike had been reported. After drawing a blank we headed down to the shelter of the valley bottom. We found plenty of birds doing the same; two pairs of Stonechat, a group of Chaffinch (one in song - the first Ive noted this year), two Green woodpecker, two Woodcock, three Bullfinch, a Great spotted woodpecker and a group of Long-tailed tits working their way through the grass feeding on seed heads. We left to delve deeper in the forest having not seeing any sign of the Shrike.

Blackwater Arboretum 
This is the second time I've visited the jewel in the forest and its fastly becoming a firm favourite. After getting into the gated Arboretum we headed straight for the chatter from three Larch trees. A good group (13+) of Siskin were busily feeding.

Siskin - Blackwater Arboretum (Feb 2015)

We noticed two birds that weren't Siskins at all, they were a pair of exotically coloured Crossbills!! This was the first male Crossbill I've ever seen and boy was it fancy!

Male Crossbill - Blackwater Arboretum (Feb 2015

Male Crossbill - Blackwater Arboretum (Feb 2015) 

After a feed on the Larch cones for a few mins they flew off into the forest. We then walked into the centre of the arboretum to see if the Bullfinch were still about. They were and there was a flock around nine strong (5 male, 4 female). It was a treat to see them so close and clearly, feeding on the floor. Two of the UK's most colourful bird species within a few moments of each other - a real treat.