A day in the New Forest

This  morning  we were up early (for us!) and  in Fritham in the  New Forest, by 9 am.  Martin was leading a walk for  our local RSPB group. We heard several Common  Redstarts but didn't manage to see them. However, we did see three Cuckoos  having a bit of a barney in a tree. We were accompanied by the  sound of Cuckoos for  much  of the walk. We  saw, briefly, a Dartford Warbler, and  heard Chiff Chaffs and Willow Warblers. There were also several Stonechats, lots of Robins and  Wrens. (See 4th extra for stream and  woodland we walked to, before retracing our steps back across  heathland )
By  noon, when we finished the walk,it was quite warm and the birds had become much quieter. Then, Martin and I went on to  Exbury Gardens, just a few miles further south in the  New Forest, by the Beaulieu river.
The many, many, Rhododendrons and Azaleas for which the gardens are famed, were looking stunning,  with a huge variety of  different colours and  flower forms  on display. The trees, especially the  Acers also looked lovely with their  fresh spring foliage having just emerged.  See main and first three extras  for  views of Exbury.