Twelve hardy members of the group congregated in Fritham Forestry Commission car park on a cold, cloudy February morning. Sightings were made straight away near the cars as a treecreeper and a goldcrest were spotted. We listened to a recording of a woodlark call before heading out onto the plain in the hope of tracking one down. Robins, blue tits and great tits flitted in the bushes on either side of the track, raising our hopes that we might just see a Dartford warbler. Taking a side path leading to a viewpoint over Gorley Bushes, we waited, straining our ears for an early calling wood lark. However, all we could hear was the croak of a carrion crow.

Further along the track we were greeted by a walker who told us that a white-tailed eagle had been sighted perched near Sloden inclosure. We pressed on in high hopes but the bird had not returned to the area. However, Joy made the ‘spot of the day’ calling a beautiful male bullfinch which was showing nicely on the gorse for several minutes. Long enough for us to get views of his puffed pink breast and smart black cap. We stopped for a coffee break and some mistle thrushes provided entertainment by making their ‘football rattle’ call. Heading back via Green Pond, we had some interest identifying a smallish brown streaked bird perched up on the gorse. Was it a woodlark or did it lack the whitish stripe over the eye? Possibly a skylark? Detective work to be done with the bird guides back at home!

Relocating down the hill from Fritham to Eyeworth Pond we were in for a treat when an impressive pair of goosanders woke up from their nap and proceeded to give us a diving and preening display. Beautiful birds, the male with a sleek green head and red hooked bill and a gorgeous female sporting a russett shaggy crop of head feathers. Small birds including nuthatch and marsh tit swooped down around us to feed on birdseed left by a previous visitor.

We attempted to eat our packed lunches while enjoying the peaceful scene but we were interrupted by a group of inquisitive new forest ponies who came a little too close for comfort. We decided to call it a day on 18 species seen. Not bad for the Forest in February!