I hadn't been aware of this New Forest earthwork until we had tried to "twitch" albeit unsuccessfully the white-tailed eagle (
Haliaeetus albicilla) which had been regularly reported from Buckherd Bottom / Roe Inclosure in the lead up to Christmas 2018.
A return to the site - for another chance of the WTE - was then taken with a side distraction of the "fort" in case the eagle should not be forthcoming.
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| approach towards earthworks from the north east |
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| earthwork rampart (not the original entrance) |
One could perhaps be easily mistaken for thinking that the original entrance to the earthwork is through the north-eastern side of the rampart? As this is the approach you take from the nearby forestry track. However, Historic England (2019) describes this as a modern track - and further that the wide break in the south eastern part of the earthwork probably constitutes the original entrance to the site.
Unfortunately, my lack of research prior to this second visit - mean't that I fully failed to appreciate the latter's significance on my clockwise circumnavigation of the site (incl. taking no photos of the break).
Part way around the exploration of the earthwork, I inadvertently put up a woodcock (
Scolopax rusticola) which zig-zagged away from me between the mature oaks which encroach the earthworks. The second time I had seen a woodcock since the start of the year - the first being seen flying across the road, near Billingshurst on a drive back from Buchan Country Park, Crawley.
On returning to the car, and speaking to another birder parked at the same lay-by, it transpired that my walk out of Roe Inclosure - heading south towards the lay-by - had coincided with the short and brief flight of the WTE along the wooded edge of the Inclosure behind me. The birder, himself was more gripped off than I for missing the eagle. Because, not only had he missed the flight - whilst looking in its general direction - he had also failed to find the bird within the 'scope view of a third birder, who had had the eagle at roost.
Five minutes later, we were both looking at a very distant dark blob perched high up in a conifer in the location of the eagle's preferred roosting area - and wondering in failing light / poor visibility if this was indeed the bird? I was more than happy that it was the WTE - he remained uncertain - and planned to stay longer in the hope that it might fly again.
Bibliography
Historic England (2019) [ONLINE]
Hillfort at Castle Piece Available at:
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1016716 Accessed 26th January 2019
Further Reading
http://www.hantsfieldclub.org.uk/publications/hampshirestudies/digital/1990s/vol54/Smith.pdf
https://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/eng-new-forest-b6-archaeology.pdf/$FILE/eng-new-forest-b6-archaeology.pdf
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/4161/castle_piece.html
