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Bird song

	Woodlark Lullula arborea The Woodlark is specialist heathland species breeding in heather and felled woodland areas. This secretive species is best seen and heard singing early in spring and early in the morning. It sings either from a perch or more usually when flying high above its territory. The woodlark is a very rare bird in the UK but still breeds in the New Forest. It often over-winters in the area rather than migrating to the continent in the autumn and returning in the spring.
	Curlew Numenius arquata The mournful melodious calls and song of the curlew can be heard in many of the quieter parts of the New Forest. This large wading bird is often heard in the spring as it lays claim to to its breeding areas. It nests on damp ground and like other ground nesting birds is prone to disturbance. By mid summer the adults and young return to the coast where they are joined by birds from much further afield.
	Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata The Dartford Warbler is a true heathland specialist species. Breeding in gorse scrub the species can be found over all the New Forest and it often frequents the coast. The New Forest was the main stronghold for this bird which, during the hard winters of the 1950s and 60s, dropped to around 10 pairs. Dartford Warblers are rather secretive and are usually seen bobbing in and out of scattered gorse and heather bushes. Males sometimes perch prominently on scrub to sing, when the characteristic long upright tail becomes visible.
	Snipe Gallinago gallinago This small wader frequents the bogs and mires of the New Forest where it breeds in early spring. They are most often seen when disturbed from their wetland feeding areas - they fly off very rapidly away in a zig zag pattern. You are more likely to get a good view on the coastal lagoons and saltmarshes of the National Park’s coast, such as between Lymington and Keyhaven. The recording is in two parts: first, the 'chippa' calls of a bird on the ground, and second, a bird ‘drumming’: the noise of outer tail feathers vibrating as the bird swoops down during high display flights.
	Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Lapwings are a common sight throughout the New Forest and nest on the lawns, wet grassland and surrounding farmland. This distinctive bird will defend its nesting area in spring from potential predators including people by flying at and around them. It is also known as the peewit, after its characteristic calls which are also given in swooping display flights. Lapwings are ground nesting and therefore are prone to disturbance from people in spring. Once the birds have finished nesting they move to the coasts and can form large flocks.
	Redshank Tringa totanus In the New Forest redshanks are most easily seen wintering on the coast. In spring, this species breeds in wet grassland areas most often in and around rivers such as the Avon and coastal estuaries. Redshanks are in decline due to drainage of wet grasslands and lack of appropriate habitat so the New Forest area is important for this species. The recording is of its territorial song which you can hear in the breeding season.
	Nightjar Caprimulgas europaeus The Nightjar is a migrant summer visitor which breeds in the New Forest in areas of heathland, woodland edge and recently cleared forestry plantations. They are hard to find because they hunt for insects on the wing at dusk and dawn.  The male’s distinctive churring song is delivered from a favourite perch on a prominent tree and can be heard from several kilometres away on still evenings. Survey work has shown that the New Forest holds around 10% of the UK population of this species.