I’m buzzing from seeing him though, one of my favourite birds but only caught sight of once before in the New Forest. I was walking back from the village over the Bourne Stream when my eye was caught by a brilliant turquoise “something” on the edge of the river where there is a small waterfall. I was able to get quite close and watched him for about 10 minutes, a couple of times he flew further upstream to perch on a tree. Amazing vivid colours in otherwise very un-colourful surroundings today.

Added to this sight, I looked out our window yesterday and was stunned to see a Kestrel sitting on a high branch of the Cedar tree next to our house. He took a bit of identifying as I’m not very good at Birds of Prey but matches the characteristics and photo on the RSPB page, definitely a young bird with very light colouring. Again he didn’t stay there long.

In recent days we have also seen a Little Egret flying around here, a big flash of white which is hard to miss flying through the trees. I didn’t know Bournemouth was such a haven for birds at this time of the year. I really should stop staring out the window and get on with some work though!