Marine Wildlife at SOC

Spring was slow to arrive as a cold north-easterly airflow persisted until the last week. Wildlife highlight of the month was a Bottle-nosed Dolphin seen distantly off Hurst on 7th, while the best bird was an adult Black Brant on Pennington Marsh (17th-18th), which becomes the third individual found this winter. Other notable wildfowl included the male Scaup with a damaged bill, which was joined by a female on 28th before both departed. There were also peak counts of nine Goldeneye, 62 Red-breasted Mergansers and 115 Shelduck. Slavonian Grebes at Oxey peaked at five on 29th.

Summer migrants finally arrived on 23rd, as the wind swung into the south-east sector. A Spoonbill was briefly at Normandy Marsh, and sea-watching at Hurst on that date produced a Sandwich Tern and an early Arctic Skua, as well as a Razorbill and three Red-throated Divers. The following day saw 164 Common Scoters move east, and also an adult Little Gull. Small numbers of Red-throated Diver, Gannet, Fulmar and Kittiwake were recorded in the last week, while earlier in the month two Great Northern Divers were seen (11th).

Three Avocets remained in the Oxey area early in the month, with four Ruff, three Spotted Redshanks, up to five Greenshanks, 25 Knot and 46 Bar-tailed Godwits also present. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was an unseasonal find at Keyhaven, and small numbers of Common and Lesser Black-backed Gulls moved east along the coast. A total of ten Scandinavian Lesser Black-backed Gulls were identified moving through Keyhaven Marsh from mid-month.

An immature female Marsh Harrier was hunting over Iley Point on 17th-18th; other raptors included three Barn Owls, a Little Owl, two or three Peregrines, a fem/imm Merlin and up to eight Buzzards, A group of four Ravens was seen flying over on two dates.

Passerine migrants were almost completely blocked until 20th, when a visible migration of 350 Meadow Pipits in off the sea got things going. The first Wheatears and Chiffchaffs then arrived on 24th, and in the final week the first Little Ringed Plovers, Swallows, Sand Martins, Blackcaps and Willow Warblers all appeared. Single Firecrests were seen at Hurst (29th), and Pennington Marsh (31st), and a Black Redstart was at Normandy for several days mid-month. Water Pipits at Keyhaven peaked at 11 on 26th, with many coming into summer plumage.

On the Needles Headland, a group of 17 Fulmars sitting offshore (5th) were no doubt prospecting for nest sites. The first hint of spring was a small visible migration on 11th, with 45 Meadow Pipits and seven Pied/White Wagtails arriving. On the same date a Spotted Redshank and a good count of 76 Moorhens was at the Western Yar.

Moth trapping was not possible for much of the month due to the inclement weather, with Dotted Border and Oak Beauty the only two species recorded. No butterflies were seen.