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New Forest Wildlife Calendar - heathland

There's lots of wildlife on the New Forest heathlands. Here's a guide to what can be seen throughout the year. Not everything is included, though, as such a list would be incredibly long, but many of the notable species are shown.

 J F M A M J J A S O N D
Birds
                     
Curlew (Numenius arquata) Relatively common     x x x x x x        
Dartford warbler (Sylvia undata) Relatively common x x x x x x x x x x x x
Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) Uncommon     x x x x x x x      
Great grey shrike (Lanius excubitor) Uncommon x x x             x x x
Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) Common     x x x x x x x      
Green woodpecker (Picus viridis) Common x x x x x x x x x x x x
Hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) Relatively uncommon x x x x         x x x x
Hobby (Falco subbuteo) Relatively common       x x x x x x      
Kestrel ((Falco tinnunculus) Relatively common     x x x x x x x x    
Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) Relatively common   x x x x x x x        
Linnet (Carduelis cannabina) Relatively common     x x x x x x x      
Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) Relatively common, but not often seen         x x x x x      
Peregrine (Falco peregrinus) Uncommon x x x x x x x x x x x x
Redpoll (Carduelis flammea) Relatively uncommon     x x x x x x        
Ring ouzel (Turdus torquatus) Very uncommon                   x    
                           
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Stonechat (Saxicola torquata) Common x x x x x x x x x x x x
Skylark (Alauda arvensis) Relatively common     x x x x x x x x    
Tree pipit (Anthus trivialis) Relatively uncommon       x x x x x x      
Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) Relatively uncommon     x x     x x x      
Willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) Common       x x x x x x      
Woodlark (Lullula arborea) Relatively uncommon   x x x x x x x x x x  
                           
Butterflies
                          
Grayling (Hipparchia semele) Common             x x x      
Green hairstreak (Callophrys rubi) Uncommon         x x            
Peacock (Inachis io) Relatively common     x x x x x x x x x  
Silver-studded blue (Plebejus argus) Common             x x        
Small heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) Relatively uncommon           x x x x      
Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)
Relatively uncommon     x x x   x   x x    
                           
Dragonflies and damselflies                          
Broad-bodied chaser (Libellula depressa) Relatively common         x x x x        
                           
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Common darter (Sympetrum striolatum) Common           x x x x x    
Large red damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) Common       x x x x x x      
                           
Mammals                          
Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Relatively common, but not often seen
x x x x x x x x x x x x
Fallow deer (Dama dama)
Common
 x x x x x x x x x x x x
Red deer (Cervus elaphus)
Locally common
x x x x x x x x x x x x
Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)
Relatively common
x x x x x x x x x x x x
                           
Reptiles                          
Adder (Vipera berus) Relatively uncommon     x x x x x x x x    
Common lizard (Lacerta vivipara) Relatively common     x x x x x x x x    
Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis)
Uncommon     x x x x x x x x    
Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) Relatively uncommon     x x x x x x x x    
                           
    Flowering period
Wild flowers                          
Bell heather (Erica cinerea) Common           x x x x      
Common-spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) Relatively uncommon           x x          
Cross-leaved heath (Erica tetralix) Common           x x x x      
                           
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Dodder ( (Cuscuta epithymum) Relatively common             x x x      
Dwarf gorse (Ulex minor) Common             x x x x x  
Gorse (Ulex europaeus) Common x x x x x x x x x x x x
Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) Relatively uncommon             x x x      
Heath bedstraw (Galium saxatile) Common           x x x        
Heath milkwort (Polygala serpyllifolia) Common         x x x          
Heath spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata) Common           x x          
Heather (Calluna vulgaris) Common               x x      
Lesser butterfly orchid (Platanthera bifolia) Relatively uncommon           x x          
Lousewort (Pedicularis sylvatica) Common       x x x x x        
Marsh gentian (Gentiana pneumonanthe) Uncommon               x x      
Petty whin (Genista anglica) Relatively common       x x x            
Tormentil (Potentilla erecta) Common         x x x x x x x  
Wild gladiolus (Gladiolus illyricus) Relatively uncommon           x x          

 
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