Marine Wildlife at SOC

November opened with severe gales that displaced a few scarce seabirds into The Solent. The strongest winds were experienced on 3rd, when up to five Leach’s Storm-petrels were seen off Hurst Castle. A further two Leach’s Storm-petrels were seen on 6th, and then another period of stormy weather produced a Sabine’s Gull, a Red-necked Phalarope and two Grey Phalaropes (11th). Other notable seabirds recorded at this time included an Arctic Skua (2nd), a Great Skua (11th), a total of 15 Little Gulls (3rd-11th), a Great Northern Diver (6th and 26th), two Red-throated Divers (6th) and ones or twos of Shag, Gannet, Guillemot and Common Scoter. Things quietened down offshore in calm weather towards the end of the month, although three Velvet Scoters were off Hurst (20th).

Other seabirds included five Eiders (3rd) and the first returning Goldeneye (20th), while the Oxey Lake roost peaked at 47 Red-breasted Mergansers and 14 Great Crested Grebes (23rd). A first-winter Red-necked Grebe was off Hurst (5th) and possibly the same bird showed well off Oxey Point (17th), on which date an adult Black Brant was photographed at Keyhaven Marsh. This bird had first been reported a few days earlier and was still present at the end of the month. A pale-bellied Brent Goose was seen on 19th and an escaped Chiloe Wigeon on 20th.

The rarest bird of the month was a first-winter Laughing Gull from America (20th); this bird was believed to be the same as one seen a few days previously in the eastern Solent, and was part of a record influx into the UK following the fallout from Hurricane Wilma. At least six Mediterranean Gulls were also seen during the month. A late adult Sandwich Tern was present on 5th, joining a very late juvenile Arctic Tern that lingered until 13th.

Two scarce passerine migrants from the east were found, in the form of a Yellow-browed Warbler at Iley Point (7th) and a Richard’s Pipit that flew west from Pennington Marsh (20th). A male Snow Bunting (4th) at Normandy Marsh was taken by a Peregrine, and another male was seen on Pennington Marsh from 17th-20th at least. A fem/imm Black Redstart was briefly on Pennington Marsh (12th) and single Woodlark and Firecrest were seen (18th-20th). A late Swallow flew over (5th), while one or two Chiffchaffs were regularly encountered and a male Blackcap lingered from 13th-20th (feeding on apples). Up to six Dartford Warblers, eight Stonechats, five Bearded Tits and a Water Pipit looked set to winter on site, while a migrant Bearded Tit at Normandy Marsh (18th) was a notable record away from Keyhaven reedbed.

Visible migration continued to be heavy in the first half of the month, with good numbers of Bramblings, Siskins and Redpolls on several dates. A group of 11 Mistle Thrushes at Iley Point (5th) were probably migrants. Other peak counts included 165 Stock Doves S/SW and 40 Skylarks W (5th), a further 60 Stock Doves W (12th-13th) and 1400 Woodpigeons W (13th).

Raptors were represented by three Peregrines, two fem/imm Merlins (3rd), up to four Buzzards, single Tawny and Barn Owls, and two Little Owls. A late Curlew Sandpiper (5th) was the wader highlight, supported by up to seven Spotted Redshanks, four Greenshanks and two Avocets (26th). Snipe became more visible as the temperature dropped mid-month, with 50 seen on 17th.

The mammal highlight was a Grey Seal (12th and 13th). Good numbers of Red Admirals remained on the wing early in the month, with ten moving west (5th) and smaller numbers up to 17th. A single Rusty-dot Pearl was seen by day on the seawall (12th), however, moth trapping was very unproductive due to stormy weather early in the month and cold weather later on. A single Grey Shoulder-knot was the only notable record (30th).