July Update: A Purple Patch

 


An impressive summer bloom of Bell Heather has – quite literally – turned large areas of the heathland purple this month, although birding in July has, as usual, been somewhat less colourful. A Crossbill at Hincheslea Woods was our only new bird for the 2023, bringing the patch year list up to 85. Weekly species counts ranged from 44 to 53, which were slightly lower than in July last year. As usual, all checklists are available on eBird at https://ebird.org/hotspot/L12697095/activity?yr=all&m=



Male Crossbill - the only addition to our patch year list in July


On a positive note, the seed eaters seem to have had a good year, with large feeding flocks of Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Linnet including many juveniles, being seen regularly across the patch. Stonechats have also done well, with second broods of young emerging later in the month, and there seem now to be plenty of Dartford Warblers on the heath, after successful breeding in several locations. House Martins have been another success story for 2023, with much larger numbers evident than in previous years, although sightings of Swifts continue to be very sporadic with only occasional birds passing overhead. Spotted Flycatchers have been feeding young in Hincheslea woods, where there are also a larger number of family groups of Treecreepers than in previous years.

The Marsh Harrier, which was a regular heathland visitor earlier in the summer, has not reappeared this month, and has presumably returned to the coast along with the Snipe, Lapwing and Curlew. Common Buzzards remain our most regular raptor, alongside a single juvenile male Kestrel which seems to have taken up residence in the burned gorse behind the Sway football pitches. Occasional sightings of Hobby and Peregrine have been our only other birds of prey this month.

The second half of the July has brought a more Autumnal feel to the weather, and the coincidence of a group of Common Redstarts along the railway line along with an influx of Willow Warblers suggests that some migration activity may already be starting. It also looks like being a good year for berries, with blackberries, elder and hawthorn already starting to ripen – all of which bodes well for an exciting few weeks ahead. Roll on August!


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