This morning I opted against a day in the New Forest and instead headed for Old Winchester Hill in the hope of finding a Ring Ouzel.  Unfortunately, although I had a very pleasant four hour stroll in the sunshine the 'birding' was rather limited and migrants very few and far between. 

Herdwick Sheep, Old Winchester Hill - 2 Oct 09

   On my arrival at the car park I recognised Steve's car and I managed to catch up with him and his family later in the morning at the hill fort.  From the embankment that overlooked the southern slopes of Old Winchester Hill we observed a shoot in the arable fields below.  Scores of Red-legged Partridge and Pheasant were driven out of the cover by the beaters but a large proportion of the birds flew, or in the case of the Red-legged Partridge ran, to safety - until at least the next drive that is!  Of those birds that did fly towards the guns only the Pheasant seemed to get picked off. 

The Birds

The Beaters

The Guns.....and....from left to right; Defender, Freelander, Discovery, Range Rover, Range Rover, X5, Range Rover, Jeep and Shogun....Probably the beaters cars !! 

   Apart from the numerous game birds the shoot also resulted in a Brown Hare and a few Roe Deer being spotted that took flight away from the disturbance although the Brown Hare appeared to be somewhat confused by events and didn't quite know what to do. 

   On my return to the car, after a loop that took in a section of the disused railway line, I bumped in to one of the wardens for the area who appeared to be checking on the flock of sheep within the confines of the hill fort area.  He informed me that the sheep were Herdwicks that had been brought down from Cumbria.  He also stated that they were hoping to increase the size of the flock that appeared to be at least 50 strong.  No doubt the bred are ideal for the terrain and the management of the chalk downland. 

A Herdwick Sheep, Old Winchester Hill - 2 Oct 09

   As for the 'birding' the only migrants seen were 8+ House Martin, a single Swallow and a couple of Chiffchaff.  Other species included Green Woodpecker, Buzzard, Kestrel, Yellowhammer, Jay, Meadow Pipit, finches and corvids.  

Good birding,

Tony T   BSc (Hons) Geosci (Open)