Blackwater Arboretum Hawfinches

The weather was cloudy, but still. Highlights were Lesser-spotted Woodpecker, Hawfinches, Crossbill and Brambling.

Blackwater is the best place in the New Forest for Hawfinch, so 4 of us met in Blackwater car park and walked up the track to Blackwater Arboretum. We walked through the arboretum and along a path through the woods on the other side for a short while. As we walked through the arboretum I saw what I thought was a Woodpecker fly up and land in a nearby tree, but it seemed very small. It then flew over the path to another tree. Could it be??? It was – a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker. We all saw it fly off again with the characteristic bounding Woodpecker flight and noted its Sparrow size. One or two of us saw it in the tree before it flew off.
There were also a few Jays screeching in the woods and some Blackbirds around. Several Woodpigeons flew over.
We walked back to the arboretum and stood by a bench to look up at the tree tops where the Hawfinches normally appear. Each afternoon they come along to the arboretum to gather before flying off to roost. They fly around and sit in the tops of trees, favouring the taller conifers. At about 2.45pm the first Hawfinch appeared followed quickly by another. They gave great views in the tops of the trees. We could see the large bill, pale chestnut colour and the black bib they have. Altogether we saw about 10 of them at different times.
As we waited a Crossbill flew into a tree behind us and sang for a while. I have not heard them sing very often and so this was a bit of a treat. Then some Chaffinches sat in the top of the tree and they were joined by a couple of Siskin. The Hawfinches had stopped coming in by about 3.15pm, so we walked around the rest of the arboretum scanning the tops of trees for other finches. Lots of Chaffinches were about. Then Mandy saw something at the top of a tree. We got the telescope on it and it was a male Brambling. We could see the dark head and orangey breast, but the light was fading, so it wasn’t the best of views. We also saw a few Redwing before the lihght faded and we made our way back to the cars. Not many species, but plenty of uncommon ones!! A wonderful way for Project Fred to finish its first year!!
Simon Curson