August Update: the Last Days of Summer

 


August is always a month of high expectations, as the start of autumn migration brings the prospect of some unusual visitors to the patch. Overall counts, however, continued to be rather disappointing, with species numbers ranging from 43 to 49, compared to last year’s August record of 53. As always, full lists and bar charts can be found on the eBird site at https://ebird.org/hotspot/L12697095

As in previous years, Song Thrushes have disappeared completely from the list in August, presumably keeping their heads down during their annual moult. Black Headed and Lesser Black Backed Gulls have also eluded us, and a distant fly-past from a pair of Canada Geese represented our only wildfowl sightings of the month. A single Grey Heron has been the only regular visitor on Setley Pond, despite the higher water levels this year compared to summer 2022.  On the other hand, Marsh Tits have become easier; after struggling to find them earlier in the year, at least one family group has been regularly sighted in Hincheslea Woods.

Raven - enjoying the blackberries at Marlpit Scrub (Photo credit: Mark Halligan)


The spring ‘blossom bonanza’, reported in May has brought an autumnal abundance of berries – particularly Hawthorn, Blackberry and Elder – which have attracted increasing numbers of Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff to the scrubland areas. The first Garden Warbler of the year appeared near Marlpit Oak on two occasions, but we have still not had Lesser Whitethroat on the patch in 2023. A group of up to four Ravens have also been seen regularly enjoying the berries, and soaring on thermals above the heath, continuing the trend of unusually large numbers of sightings throughout this summer. Buzzard, Kestrel and Peregrine have been our only raptors during August.


Redstart amongst the Hawthorn Berries (Photo Credit: Mark Halligan)

Spotted Flycatchers  and Redstarts have returned to the trees and wires along the railway line, often associating with the feeding flocks of tits and warblers. This seems to be a regular location for our autumn migrant birds, perhaps using the railway as a navigation aid as they head South. On the heath, our resident Stonechats and Dartford Warblers have been joined by a steady stream of Northern Wheatears and several Whinchats throughout the month. The first Tree Pipit of the year on 25th was a week earlier than our single 2022 record, and along with the Whinchat and Garden Warbler, brings our total up to 90 for year.


Northern Wheatear on the Heathland Gorse (Photo Credit: Mark Halligan)


Despite a careful and regular search in their previous August haunts we have yet to find a Pied Flycatcher, although there is still plenty of autumn to remedy this. Previous Septembers have brought Yellow Wagtails, Ring Ouzels and even a Wryneck, so we will keep looking in the coming weeks with even more enthusiasm and optimism than usual.

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