Marine Wildlife at SOC

October opened with a well-watched juvenile American Golden Plover at Keyhaven Marshes (4th-10th), and a Lapland Bunting flying over Iley Point, Keyhaven on the former date. A period of unsettled weather then saw a Leach’s Petrel move west off Hurst (6th) and another Lapland Bunting was at Pennington Marsh (24th).

An adult Great Northern Diver arrived off Keyhaven (7th), but was unfortunately found dead soon after. A long-staying Osprey was seen daily up to mid-month, and Stonechats peaked at 29 on 8th. A Black-necked Grebe frequented Avon Water, Keyhaven for most of the month and a Snow Bunting took up residence on Hurst Spit from 7th-14th. Visible migration on the weekend of 14th-15th included single Woodlark, Brambling, Redpoll and Hobby, 440 Goldfinch, 205 Greenfinch, 165 Pied Wagtails, 35 Siskins and 25 Reed Buntings. Single Merlin, Spotted Redshank, two Ravens and up to four Dartford Warblers were also present around this time.

An influx of Ring Ouzels saw at least five on Pennington Marsh on 16th. A White-fronted Goose at Normandy Marsh (17th) remained until 29th at least. A good selection of birds on 24th included single Little Stint, Short-eared Owl, Black Redstart and two Goosanders. A ringtail Hen Harrier headed south to the Isle of Wight from Pennington Marsh (27th). Another Woodlark was seen flying over on 29th, together with two Avocets, single Slavonian Grebe, Shag, Barnacle Goose, Little Stint and Mediterranean Gull, two Red-throated Divers and two adult Peregrines. Visible migration on this date included 200 Lesser Black-backed Gulls high south, 90 Stock Doves moving west and five Redpolls over.

Moth trapping at Pennington Marsh produced single Oak Rustic, Streak and Palpita vitrealis on 28th, and another Oak Rustic (of the form albomacula) and a Blair’s Mocha on 29th, as well as small numbers of Gem, Vestal, Delicate and Scarce Bordered Straw amongst commoner migrants. A single Brick on 26th was the 300th macro species to be trapped at this garden site in 2006.