Marine Wildlife at SOC

The excellent year for migrant moths continued, with trapping at Pennington Marshes producing a Small Marbled on 25th and good numbers of commoner migrants including Diamond-back Moth, Rusty-dot Pearl, Rush Veneer, European Corn-borer, Vestal, Dark Sword-grass, Small Mottled Willow, Scarce Bordered Straw and Silver-Y.

A good variety of resident moths were recorded in the hot weather, including several nationally notable species. Highlights were Acleris holmiana, Platytes alpinella, Eudonia delunella, Sitochroa palealis, Pempelia genistella, Pempelia formosa, Beautiful China-mark, Festoon, Lappet, Large Emerald, Small Emerald, Mocha, Rosy Wave, Small Scallop, Bordered Beauty, Horse Chestnut, Brussels Lace, Muslin Footman, Kent Black Arches, White-point, L-album Wainscot, Double-lobed, Brown-veined Wainscot, Olive, Cream-bordered Green Pea and Marsh Oblique-barred.

A Lesser Cockroach at Pennington Marshes (9th) was notable, as were a White Admiral on 9th and a Purple Hairstreak on 12th.

Bird highlights were mostly seen off Hurst, with several Balearic Shearwaters (singles on 9th and 12th, two on 21st and three on 22nd), Great and Arctic Skuas on 9th, two Pomarine Skuas on 21st and six Black Terns on 28th. Nine small shearwaters were seen distantly during a sea-watching workshop on 23rd, at least some of which were almost certainly Balearic Shearwaters, while an Arctic Skua, three Mediterranean Gulls, 26 Common Scoters and 100 Gannets were also noted.

At Pennington/Keyhaven Marshes, return wader passage got going with a Wood Sandpiper (24th), a good peak of nine Little Ringed Plovers (16th), two Green Sandpipers (22nd) and up to five Common Sandpipers, six Greenshank and 55 Black-tailed Godwits. Garganey were present from mid-month, peaking at three on 31st. The Eider flock offshore comprised about 50 birds, while up to 25 Little Egrets were regular and single Brent Geese, juvenile Yellow-legged Gull and Black Tern were seen on 23rd.