A couple of prime contenders for the stars of this month, both arising from the same walk between Lymington and Keyhaven.

Most spectacular was the Kingfisher, looking absolutely brilliant in the Winter sunshine, patrolling a stretch of water, perching on fence posts at intervals along the stream.

On the way back, my eye was caught by an unusual movement in a gorse bush. This turned out to be a very busy female Dartford Warbler.

Examination of the photos when we got home revealed that we had also had our first sighting of Little Grebes.

Not a bad start to the year!

TJH.
January 2004