The Mandarin Ducks

A few photos of the mandarin ducklings at Eyeworth pond. This is the family of 6 and all have survived so far. I think the family of three were on the far side of the lake .

Dragonflies and Damselflies

Keeled Skimmer
Large Red
Broad bodied Chaser
broad bodied chaser

Common Blue

Dragonflies and Damselflys are beautiful and I love to see them flying over the ponds in the forest.

Catching Up Again

We have had Visitors from Montana and so I have had no time for blogging. Unfortunately the weather was a little dull and at times drizzly, but they were able to see some of the forest and we had a good time chatting and visiting some of the many pubs that can be found in the forest.
The goslings on cadman's pond are now beginning to look like the adults they have grown so fast.
Our visitors saw plenty of deer including the lucky white buck
and on an evenin ride through the forest they witnessed an amorous stallion.
When we took them to blashford we saw this greater crested grebe sitting on the nest.....a second brood maybe?

Its been Busy and now Blogger appears to have problems!

I have had guests and have been busy and now I can't seem to post photos.

Sunday Afternoon at Hatchetts Pond.

It was very bsy around the pond today and their were several dogs running lose and playing in the water near the swans. The cob was guarding his family.
All seven little cygnets are doing well and growing fast. they are now about 6 weeks old.

There are also plenty of waterlilies, white , pale pink and a deeper pink covering the smaller ponds.
This rather bedraggled juvenile Jackdaw was perched in a tree, he didn't seem to be able to fly too well and I wonder if he will survive.

Royden Woods

On Thursday we decided to go for a walk in Roydon woods, on the way we stopped to take some photos of the lesser butterfly orchids growing by the road.
When we got to the woods we walked along the gravel track and surprised som e fallow does grazing in the fields. Roydon woods is a Nature reserve in the forest managed by the Hampshire Wildlife trust, there are several ponds which we didn;t find and you can get down to the beaulieu River,

Roydon Manor is still privately owned and sits on the edge of the reserve.
A green woodpecker was sitting on a post across the field, but I was pleased to get a photo of him in the distance.It is the first time I have, although they are very common in the forest and you often hear their distinctive yaffle call and see them flying overhead,

A Sunny June Morning

Taivas Missy and Raffles pose on our early morning walk. it was very warm and sunny at 8am this morning.
On our way home we stopped off at Hatchetts moor Pond to see the lilies and watch the damsel and dragon flies. There was no sign of the little swan family and I think they must have relocated them somewhere away from the other swan family.
On the main pond the seven cygnets are all doing welland the attentive parents were close by

In the garden at home the Goldfinches were having a snack

Blashford Lakes

The Crested grebes were firly close to the hide today

There were lots of damselflies about. i think this one is the common blue.

and a Scarce Chaser

On our way home we stopped at Cadmans Pond because i had seen the redstart here on sunday. Saw him again but he moves so fast!
At home in the garden a Juvenile blackbird was taking a shower.

The Mandarin Ducklings Have Arrived!

We Have had some very wet weather this last week and I haven't been down to the pond at Eyeworth for a while In the distance we could see a mandarin female with I think 6 ducklings.
Aftr a while another family appeared with 3 ducklings and I was able to get a few photos, but these little ducks move so fast.
Hopefully we will be able to watch them grow.