Marine Wildlife at SOC

The first few days of March were dominated by fairly cold weather, but a run of warm southerly winds mid-month triggered an influx of early migrants. Unfortunately, the coast was blighted by fog on many days, and the clear skies overhead ensured that there were no notable falls.

The migrant action finally got going on 15th with four Avocets briefly off the Butts Point early morning, while the next day a Firecrest and two Chiffchaffs arrived. The first male Wheatear appeared on 18th and a male Little Ringed Plover touched down briefly on 20th before departing north. The first Sandwich Tern was offshore the same day, with three Sand Martins seen heading north. An early Willow Warbler and 10 Chiffchaffs were singing on 24th, but more impressive was an Osprey watched arriving over Oxey Point on 25th, causing chaos amongst the local gulls and wildfowl. Sand Martins peaked at 15, also on 25th. A change to unsettled conditions on 29th certainly stirred things up, with a session in the rain at Hurst Castle producing a Firecrest in off the sea (which departed back out to the WSW), and also single Swallow, House Martin, Kestrel, Robin and Woodpigeon arriving from the south during the morning. Two Common Terns moved east but a grounded Coot drifting by on the tide was probably the most unusual record! The last day of the month was again calm and murky but was brightened up by an early Yellow Wagtail moving north.

Visible migration was steady, with Meadow Pipits peaking at 560N on 20th and 455N on 26th, with Linnets peaking at 75N also on 26th. On 20th, 250 Starlings moved north, and small numbers of migrant alba Wagtails, Goldfinches and Greenfinches arrived during the latter half of the month. There were also some more unusual diurnal migrants recorded, such as eight Jackdaws NE (20th), a Bullfinch (25th) and a Yellowhammer (26th). A single Magpie high-flying at Iley Point (24th) was watched half-heartedly attempting to cross The Solent, and was followed by three more behaving in a similar fashion on 26th.

Sea-watching was generally slow in the dominantly settled conditions. Common Scoter peaked at 65 (24th), with a Red-throated Diver and six Gannets moving east through The Solent the same day. Four Eider moved east (26th) followed by three flocks totalling 33 birds on 29th. On the latter date, there was also single Fulmar and Shag off Hurst Castle. Three Slavonian Grebes were offshore (20th) with two remaining to 24th.

Waders were represented by peak counts of 10 Spotted Redshanks and at least seven Ruff and five Greenshank. A singing male Red-legged Partridge was a good local record (24th). Raptors included a peak of 16 Buzzards in the air at the same time on 25th, with singles seen arriving and departing from Iley Point on 26th. At least three Peregrines, a fem/imm Merlin and singing Little and Tawny Owl were also recorded. Other sightings included at least five Bearded Tits and three Dartford Warblers seen regularly, and up to six Water Pipits. Waxwings remained around Lymington town, with a flock of 20-50 birds noted on several dates.

Sightings made by other regulars included two Greylag Geese, two Velvet Scoters, a male Marsh Harrier moving north on 26th (that had earlier been seen arriving in off the sea at The Needles Headland), the first migrant Sanderling and Little Gull, a roding Woodcock and a Black Redstart at Hurst Castle.

Several Weasels were seen during the month, while migrant moths were represented by a total of four Dark Sword-grass. Other notable moths included three Dotted Chestnuts and three Blossom Underwings. However, these were overshadowed by a pristine Red Sword-grass (26th), which is one of very few recent records away from the New Forest.