C
New Forest Wildlife
Birds
The NIGHTJAR is a nocturnal, migratory, ground nesting bird that makes its home on heathland, woodland clearings or in areas where new trees have been planted, like the woodlark. Adders, magpies, crows, stoats and foxes are all predators of the nightjar, its eggs and its young. The nightjar's diet mainly consists of moths and large flying insects.
The TAWNY OWL is a nocturnal bird about the size of a pigeon and is the most common and widespread owl in Europe. They nest in woodland areas, usually against the tree trunk, in a hole in the tree or amongst ivy. The owl's diet consists of small mammals and rodents, worms, insects, frogs, fish and small birds.
The HOBBY is a fast flying bird of prey that makes its home in woodland or heathland. It is one of the few birds of prey capable of outflying swifts. Hobbies regularly hunt late in the evening and their diet consists mainly of birds, bats and large insects. They are migratory birds that visit Britain during the warmer months of the year.
The COMMON BUZZARD is a large bird of prey and prefers to nest on wooded hillsides or scattered woodland. it's quite a slow flying bird and has little chance of catching its prey on the move. Therefore, the common buzzard's diet mainly consists of carrion (the carcass of a dead animal), small animals such as rabbits, rodents, lizards, ground birds and it will occasionally go for defenseless new born lambs. The common buzzard is a very patient bird and will perch for hours on a branch of a tree waiting motionless for unsuspecting prey to pass beneath it.
The HONEY BUZZARD is a large bird of prey similar to the common buzzard. It prefers to nest in woodland and is a specialist feeder, living mainly on the larvae of wasps and bees, although they do eat other prey such as frogs and young birds. Between 1 and 3 eggs are laid in the nest and both parents share the responsibilities of incubation and feeding.
The GOSHAWK is a bird of prey which feeds on birds, and small mammals. It became extinct in Britain during the 19th Century due to specimen collectors and persecution by gamekeepers. However, the species has made a come back and a few hundred pairs now nest in Britain. It is thought many of these birds are the descendants of those released by falconers
The DARTFORD WARBLER is a small British resident bird that prefers to nest in heathland with gorse and heather. The species is very vulnerable to the cold and its numbers were in rapid decline but recent milder winters have increased its chances of survival. The New Forest National Park is home to the largest population of dartford warblers. Its diet consists mainly of insects.
The HOBBY is a fast flying bird of prey that makes its home in woodland or heathland. It is one of the few birds of prey capable of outflying swifts. Hobbies regularly hunt late in the evening and their diet consists mainly of birds, bats and large insects. They are migratory birds that visit Britain during the warmer months of the year.
The COMMON BUZZARD is a large bird of prey and prefers to nest on wooded hillsides or scattered woodland. it's quite a slow flying bird and has little chance of catching its prey on the move. Therefore, the common buzzard's diet mainly consists of carrion (the carcass of a dead animal), small animals such as rabbits, rodents, lizards, ground birds and it will occasionally go for defenseless new born lambs. The common buzzard is a very patient bird and will perch for hours on a branch of a tree waiting motionless for unsuspecting prey to pass beneath it.
The HONEY BUZZARD is a large bird of prey similar to the common buzzard. It prefers to nest in woodland and is a specialist feeder, living mainly on the larvae of wasps and bees, although they do eat other prey such as frogs and young birds. Between 1 and 3 eggs are laid in the nest and both parents share the responsibilities of incubation and feeding.
The GOSHAWK is a bird of prey which feeds on birds, and small mammals. It became extinct in Britain during the 19th Century due to specimen collectors and persecution by gamekeepers. However, the species has made a come back and a few hundred pairs now nest in Britain. It is thought many of these birds are the descendants of those released by falconers
The DARTFORD WARBLER is a small British resident bird that prefers to nest in heathland with gorse and heather. The species is very vulnerable to the cold and its numbers were in rapid decline but recent milder winters have increased its chances of survival. The New Forest National Park is home to the largest population of dartford warblers. Its diet consists mainly of insects.
