Marine Wildlife at SOC

The bird highlight of August was an elusive juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper at Keyhaven Marshes (20th-28th). Also notable were single Balearic Shearwaters off Hurst on 14th and 17th, single Honey Buzzard, Osprey and Red Kite passing over the marshes, up to four Garganey seen regularly, and a total of 17 Shags off Hurst on 28th.

Wader highlights included two Wood Sandpipers and a limping Avocet for several days mid-month, and single Little Stint (26th), Spotted Redshank (27th) and Curlew Sandpiper (28th). At least three Grasshopper Warblers were seen during the month, and good numbers of Yellow Wagtails and Tree Pipits flew over. Raptor interest was provided by single Peregrine and Tawny Owl, while a newly-fledged Buzzard was seen being buzzed by a Hobby. Other notable sightings included a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull on two dates, a Raven, and up to 45 Eiders. Two Great Skuas flew east off Hurst on 21st, while 105 Common Terns flew west and 110 Gannets were offshore on the same date.

Migrant moth numbers decreased in the unsettled conditions, but a Cydia amplana (7th), a Blair’s Mocha (8th) and a Convolvulus Hawk-moth (27th) kept interest levels up. Small numbers of commoner migrants included Diamond-back Moth, Rusty-dot Pearl, Rush Veneer, European Corn-borer, Vestal, Pearly Underwing, Dark Sword-grass, Small Mottled Willow, Bordered Straw, Scarce Bordered Straw and Silver-Y.

Notable resident species trapped during the month included Catoptria falsella, Sitochroa palealis, Rosy Wave, Four-spotted Footman, White-point, Olive, Twin-spotted Wainscot, Webb’s Wainscot and Gold Spot.

A Wasp Spider was found at Pennington Marshes (19th), and small numbers of Clouded Yellow and Painted Lady were seen.