Hi Toby.
The Otter & Owl Sanctuary is good. Another visitor attraction is the Raptor & Reptile Centre near Ringwood.
Liberty's Raptor and Reptile Centre in Ringwood
The Forestry Commission also has a Reptile Centre just off the A35 towards Lyndhurst.
There are 4 species of deer (sometimes 5 with the occasional Muntjac) on the Forest & Fallow & Roe can be seen just about anywhere. An easy place to go for seeing Fallow deer is Bolderwood. Another good place for deer is around Blackwater & Rinefield Ornamental Drive area. Here you could see Fallow Red & Roe. About half a mile from Blackwater car park is Queen's Meadow where 70 - 100 Fallow & a few Red can congregate in the evenings in summer. A population of about 150 Sika are around an area east of a village called Brockenhurst.
The Scarce Blue-tailed Damselflies will be about in June as will Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries & all the other Dragonflies & Butterflies of early summer.
Bird wise, the woods will have the usual species as well as Redstarts, Wood Warblers, all three Woodpeckers, Spotted Flycatchers, Crossbill & Firecrests & on the heaths Dartford Warblers & Hobbies are usually seen. In the evenings you can easily see Nightjars, Woodcock etc.
The rare Wild Gladioli are out in June too.
Theres probably loads I've missed out but thats all I have time to think of now.
It would be a good idea to get the Ordanance Survey map Explorer OL22 if you don't already have it & I can give you more specific grid refs.
