Ocknell Plain, New Forest 22nd March 2015 08:15
Dartford Warbler, Ocknell Plain
This may not be my finest photograph as the focus point is a bit off, but at least it is an unmistakeable record of a tiny, engaging but very rare inhabitant of the New Forest, the Dartford Warbler. Its habitat is amongst the dense (but not too densely packed) gorse bushes scattered over the open heaths of the New Forest.
Spotting a Dartford Warbler can be a challenge as they are secretive creatures, often skulking and flitting, wren-like, through the undergrowth in the blink of an eye. During the breeding season, they become bolder, particularly in the early morning when the males perch atop a prominent gorse branch, belting out their surprisingly loud, distinctive and exultant song; they are called warblers for a very good reason. This particular bird is a male, identifiable by his vibrant plumage. The females have a drabber browner plumage, though they share the same puffy, spotted chin, long thin tail, and wren-like posture.
The New Forest is one of the few places in England where some of these birds overwinter. In winter, they're much harder to spot, being fewer in number and their song, usually a giveaway, is a quieter, more plaintive melody, mirroring the shift in the robin's winter song. Sadly, Dartford Warblers are particularly vulnerable to harsh winters. Their population was decimated after the harsh, cold winter of 1963, with numbers dwindling to just a few pairs. Thankfully, they have recovered over the past few decades up to a few hundred pairs mostly in southeast England, but they remain a precious and fragile part of the ecosystem.
Spotting a Dartford Warbler can be a challenge as they are secretive creatures, often skulking and flitting, wren-like, through the undergrowth in the blink of an eye. During the breeding season, they become bolder, particularly in the early morning when the males perch atop a prominent gorse branch, belting out their surprisingly loud, distinctive and exultant song; they are called warblers for a very good reason. This particular bird is a male, identifiable by his vibrant plumage. The females have a drabber browner plumage, though they share the same puffy, spotted chin, long thin tail, and wren-like posture.
The New Forest is one of the few places in England where some of these birds overwinter. In winter, they're much harder to spot, being fewer in number and their song, usually a giveaway, is a quieter, more plaintive melody, mirroring the shift in the robin's winter song. Sadly, Dartford Warblers are particularly vulnerable to harsh winters. Their population was decimated after the harsh, cold winter of 1963, with numbers dwindling to just a few pairs. Thankfully, they have recovered over the past few decades up to a few hundred pairs mostly in southeast England, but they remain a precious and fragile part of the ecosystem.
Photo details - Nikon D3200, Nikor 55-300mm, 450mm(equiv) f5.6 1/250sec ISO800, processed in Lightroom macOS