Marine Wildlife at SOC

The first half of May was dominated by cool, dry winds from the north-west or north-east, consequently there were no major migrant falls or big passage days of seabirds. A few of the larger diurnal migrants did manage to battle through the headwinds and included a pair of Montagu’s Harriers arriving in off the sea at Hurst (2nd), single Spoonbill, Red Kite and Honey Buzzard over (6th), a Short-eared Owl (7th), a late fem/imm Merlin north (11th), a male Hen Harrier east that was earlier seen from Hengistbury (14th), and a flock of five Avocets north-east over Keyhaven Marsh that were also seen earlier at Poole and Christchurch Harbours and Hurst Beach (15th).

Sea-watching highlights were few and far between. The best day was probably May 2nd, when reasonable numbers of Pomarine and Arctic Skuas, a couple of Little Gulls, four Red-throated Divers and a Black Tern were logged moving east. Other notable records of birds moving east included a Great Skua (3rd), 115 Sanderling (11th-13th), 200 Dunlin (13th-15th), eight Manx Shearwaters (13th), a third-summer Pomarine Skua and a Little Ringed Plover (15th), and a scattering of Red-throated Divers, Fulmars, Shags, Arctic Skuas, Arctic Terns and Little Gulls on various dates. A flock of up to 27 Eiders seen passing Hurst on several occasions appeared to be roosting overnight in Christchurch Bay and returning to The Solent each morning.

On the marshes a scatter of scarce migrants included a pair of Garganey (1st), with a single drake on 3rd, a male Avocet (4th), a Curlew Sandpiper moulting into summer plumage (11th-13th), and a Turtle Dove and a first-summer Little Gull (15th). Visible migration inevitably slowed down after the first week but a sudden influx of Swifts saw peak counts of 365 north (9th) and 120 north (12th). Other notable migrants were represented by two Whinchats (2nd), a Ruff (14th-15th), five Grey Herons high over (18th) and a handful of Yellow Wagtails. Dunlin passage was late and peaked at 335 on the marshes on 13th.

An adult Yellow-legged Gull with a damaged leg (1st) was probably the notorious ‘Limpy’ that normally resides in Christchurch Harbour. Three Greylag Geese seen in the first half of the month were almost certainly feral birds, and two Speckled Teal (17th-26th) were definite escapes. However, the origins of a Pink-footed Goose watched arriving from the south-west over Hurst on 12th are less certain. Given the time of year, and the fact that it lingered on the marsh with Canada Geese for four days, it seems most likely this bird was of feral or escaped origin.

Other miscellaneous sightings included single Barn Owl, two or three fledged juvenile Tawny Owls (23rd), several Peregrines, including one taking a Starling (12th), and a curious movement of Buzzards flying north from the Isle of Wight, with a total of eight from 7th-11th. Two pairs of Great Black-backed Gulls were seen nesting on light industrial buildings adjacent to the Lymington River (22nd).

Moths were also affected by the cold overnight conditions for the first three weeks of May, and it was not until the last week that reasonable numbers began to be recorded. The only notable record was a Chamomile Shark (6th), while migrants included single Delicate (14th and 18th), Dark Sword-grass (27th) and a total of four Silver-Y. White-points began to appear from 25th, with a total of five noted.