SW Hampshire wildlife reports:
October 2005

Russell Wynn

(with assistance from Marc Moody, Marcus Ward, Tim Parminter, Martyn Cooper and Pete Durnell)

October proved to be the most exciting month of the year in the Lymington-Hurst area for both birds and moths, with a variety of rare and scarce species recorded in the unusually mild conditions. The Baird’s Sandpiper from September remained until mid-month, and a juvenile Red-rumped Swallow was seen briefly (10th). A Spoonbill was also seen on two dates (19th and 23rd).

Sea-watching was productive, with a Long-tailed Skua and a Grey Phalarope off Milford (25th), together with a Little Gull and a Purple Sandpiper. The Grey Phalarope was still present the next day, and a probable was seen briefly off Hurst on 30th, when a Leach’s Petrel was also seen. Also on 30th, a good late total of 186 Gannets moved west, and four Shags were offshore. Two Common Scoters remained offshore for several days, and two Arctic Skuas were seen (30th-31st). A late juvenile Arctic Tern patrolled the seawall at Pennington Marsh (29th-31st) and a Red-necked Grebe was seen on three dates.

Visible migration was very heavy, with large numbers of finches logged including six Crossbills moving east (16th), a peak of 400 Goldfinches east (18th) and small numbers of Redpolls and Bramblings. Woodpigeon movement really got going on 22nd with 1550 moving south across The Solent; the following morning an impressive total of 15,800 also moved south to the Isle of Wight. A further movement of 3250 occurred on 31st, of which 1250 moved south and the remainder turned back and headed east. Jackdaws were also on the move, with a total of 240 in the area on 22nd including 60 moving SW.

A record influx of Ring Ouzels peaked at nine on 22nd, with at least six remaining until the end of the month. Stonechats peaked at 22 on 22nd, and a Black Redstart was at Hurst Castle on 30th. A Snow Bunting on Pennington Marsh (30th) was relocated at Hurst Castle the following day. However, the rarest passerine was probably a grounded Tree Sparrow seen on 23rd at Saltgrass Lane.

Raptors included a male Hen Harrier (10th), a Barn Owl (30th) and a fem/imm Merlin on several dates. Two Ravens moved south (22nd). Dartford Warblers were present across the marsh, peaking at five on 22nd. A single Water Pipit was seen on 22nd.

Three Avocets were present on 19th and a Sanderling was seen on 22nd and 30th. A Spotted Redshank was also present on 22nd. Two Mediterranean Gulls (an adult and a 2nd winter) were regular, while Great Crested Grebes peaked at 12 on 30th. However, only two Red-breasted Mergansers had arrived by the end of the month.

The mild weather ensured that Red Admirals were still on the wing in numbers, with 10 recorded on 22nd. Migrant moths arrived in the mild southerly winds in the latter half of the month, with three Scarce Bordered Straws, two Pearly Underwings, two Vestals, single Gem and Silver-Y, and small numbers of Diamond-back Moth, Rusty-dot Pearl and Rush Veneer all recorded. Two Red-headed Chestnuts arrived on 30th, although the highlight was probably a total of five Oak Rustics from 25th-28th; these are the first records for Hampshire and represent the first discovered colony on mainland Britain.

A trip across the water to the Needles Headland (Isle of Wight) produced single Merlin, Firecrest and Redstart, three Woodlarks, three Black Redstarts, five Ring Ouzels and 12 Bramblings (15th), as well as a Clouded Yellow and 40 Red Admirals moving east. On 23rd there was a Firecrest, a Crossbill west, six Ring Ouzels, seven Bramblings, 18 Redpolls and 26 Stonechats, with a Painted Lady, 10 Red Admirals and a late Small Copper still on the wing. On the Western Yar, four Spotted Redshanks and a Cetti’s Warbler were seen (23rd).