HAMPSHIRE
MAX MILES ON FOOT: 4 MIN TIME : 3 HOURS
Scarce farmland birds on unspoiled downland
Close to the Dorset border, the landscape here isn’t particularly dramatic, but this completely unspoiled chalk downland does have some very special inhabitants to look out for.
WHERE TO WATCH
1 Grey Partridges can often be spotted here, so much prettier than the Red-legged that dominate elsewhere. In fact, this is the place to see lots of classic farmland birds that have dramatically declined elsewhere – Corn Buntings, Sky Larks, Yellowhammers and Whitethroats all thrive.
2 Responsible farming and careful management have also been a boost to the Turtle Dove population; Martin Down is one of the most westerly sites for the species.
3 Cuckoos can often be heard calling from the scrub – especially the hawthorns – near the upper and lower car parks, as well as Bokerley Ditch and, last summer, we listened to Nightingales singing.
4 Quail are often reported at this site, and Hobby and Montagu’s Harrier have also both been spotted, though the latter are far from regular. And, for something a little more exotic, a rare Rose-coloured Starling certainly added a splash of colour back in June 2021.
5 Roe Deer and Brown Hare are commonly seen throughout the site, and, for those of a botanical bent, Martin Down is a haven for rare orchids – at least eight species grow here, with some of the best examples on t
