2023 Patch Summary

The end of 2023 marks the third complete year of our birding and recording exploits on the patch of New Forest between Brockenhurst and Sway. For those who are new readers of this site, a more detailed explanation of the concept of ‘Patch Birding’ and a map of showing our route and the locations described in this blog, can be found on the 2022 Summary. My birding companion, Mark and I live in the village of Sway, close enough to the route to enable us to conduct our visits entirely on foot. The concept of ‘low carbon’ birding has been encouraged by environmental campaigners in recent years, although we recognise that not all birders are fortunate enough to have such a rich and varied habitat on their doorstep.

While our 54 full circuits was ten fewer than in 2022 it still represented an average of over one visit per week over the whole year, which feels like quite an achievement given the variability of the weather. All sightings were recorded on the eBird site where a summary list and bar chart can be accessed via these links. Readers who are unfamiliar with some of the species named in this summary can also find pictures of all the birds listed on the eBird site by clicking on the species name in the checklist, which also includes some useful information about each bird. Where I have included pictures of birds in previous months, I have enabled a hyperlink to that page which can be accessed by clicking on the bird's name (shown in blue). The observant amongst you may also note that figures described in this summary differ slightly from those on the eBird site, which suppresses certain species sightings at some times of the year (e.g. Goshawk, Hen Harrier and Peregrine) due to their rare breeding status or National scarcity (e.g. Dartford Warbler)

‘Now You See Me – Now you Don’t’ 

A total of 97 species were recorded on the patch during the year, which is 5 fewer than 2022, but the same as our 2021 total. Our highest species count was 59, on 10^th June, which was well below the May 2022 record of 64; as in 2022, numbers dipped below 40 on several occasions during the winter with our best months being May and June. Three new species were added to the overall patch list this year which now stands at 112. Ten species seen in 2022 were not found in 2023 as listed in the table.

 

Great White Egret	Reed Warbler
Woodcock	Red Legged Partridge
Hawfinch	Wood Warbler
Pied Flycatcher	Coot
Water Rail	Pintail

Table 1: Birds seen in 2022 that were not found on the patch in 2023

In last year’s summary I included a table of ‘perennial’ birds, seen in every week of a year since 2020 – two additions to this list (Bullfinch and Song Thrush) now brings this total up to 30 species. The bar charts on eBird also provide some interesting insights into the comings and goings on the patch, with the predictable arrivals and departures of Summer migrants and Winter Thrushes along with the Spring and Autumn passage. However, some species that would normally be considered ‘resident’ become much harder to find at certain times of the year. Regular visits to the patch have enabled us to document a complete absence of Black-headed Gulls every year during August and September, when they presumably drift towards the coast; the absence of Collared Doves during October and November - also a consistent pattern since 2021 - is likely to reflect their silence during those months.

 

Spring is in the air for our 'Perennial' Bullfinches

Resident Heathland Birds

A cold snap during January led to the complete disappearance of Stonechat in the early weeks of the year,  although numbers picked back up to usual levels in Spring. Dartford Warblers can be very susceptible to cold winters, and suffered badly during the ‘Beast from the East’ storms in 2017; their numbers seemed also to be down in the early part of this year, with fewer breeding territories identified on the patch than in 2022. However, some warmer weather in Spring and early Summer led to a good recovery, with frequent sightings of singing males continuing well into Autumn. This year’s Dartford Warbler survey, conducted by the Hampshire Ornithological Society (HOS) suggested that they are continuing to thrive across the New Forest, which is good news for this Nationally scarce species.  Skylarks were singing over the heathland throughout the summer and a large flock of up to 100 Meadow Pipits joined a slightly smaller number of Pied Wagtails on the Sway football pitches during October. Woodlark were singing in early Spring at several locations across the patch, although sightings later in the year became more sporadic than in 2022; a small family group was seen intermittently at Setley Pond during July.

 

Water Birds and Gulls

The disappointing absence of birds on Setley Pond continued, albeit with a few notable exceptions. A pair of Goosander in January and February were our first patch record of this species, returning again in November and December. A single Moorhen was seen in September, while Mallard and Canada Goose were regular sightings during winter and Spring, disappearing as usual during the summer months. A group of three Mute Swans, seen over the heath in February, were another new record for the patch; a skein of Egyptian Geese were seen on two occasions during March and September along with a single Greylag. Our regular Grey Heron was often seen feeding at the back of the pond and was periodically joined by small numbers of Little Egret, but no Great White Egret this year. We remain hopeful of adding Cattle Egret to the patch list in the coming years, as this species continues to expand across Hampshire. A single Kingfisher was first seen at the Pond on 1^st January, returning regularly during Autumn and Winter to the same site and on one occasion at Hincheslea Bog. Several Cormorants enjoyed the abundance of fish in the pond during Winter and Spring months, seemingly unfazed by any disturbance from model boats or dogs.

'Feeding Frenzy' - Little Egret and friend at Setley Pond

Herring Gulls were present throughout the year, often over Sway Village at the start or end of the walk, while Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls were more sporadic, particularly during the summer months. A group of Mediterranean Gulls appeared briefly in June, as in previous years, enjoying the flying ants over the fields around Battramsley while a single Common Gull on the football pitches in September was only our second patch record of this species.

 

Waders

Our Widden Bottom Lapwing pair were more successful this year, despite choosing the same nesting location as in 2022, close to a popular dog walking path. At least two fledgelings were reared from this site, along with a further successful breeding pair on Setley Plain. A small number of wintering Lapwing returned to their usual heathland site between Marlpit Oak and Longslade during November and December. Sadly our Curlews’ attempts at nesting were abandoned again after two aborted efforts at heathland locations. We are grateful for the support of our local Forest Keeper, Maarten Ledeboer and his efforts at protecting these endangered birds with signage, which will hopefully prove more fruitful in 2024. Snipe appeared to have a good breeding year, with up to five birds seen displaying over the reedbeds between March and July, and further sightings in the mire at Widden Bottom. No Woodcock were seen on the patch this year, although there were regular sightings at dusk in nearby Setthorns Inclosure during the summer months. Another bird that went missing in 2023 was Water Rail, which we heard regularly during 2021 and 2022 in the reedbeds at Hincheslea Bog. This may simply reflect movement to a breeding site further from the path which is less susceptible to disturbance.

 

Summer Migrants

This year was another good year for Cuckoos, with regular sightings of multiple birds over Longslade and Hincheslea Bog between mid-April and mid-June. The bizarre sight of a juvenile being fed by meadow pipits, a fraction of its size, in June was a month earlier than in 2022, and interestingly in exactly the same location. Good numbers of Chiffchaffs, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Blackcap returned slightly later than in 2022. Sadly no Garden Warbler sang during the summer months, although we did identify a single bird at Marlpit Scrub in late August. Once again our only Lesser Whitethroat was a single autumn passage migrant. Swallows arrived a week earlier than our House Martins, with much larger numbers of the latter this year than last. Several new breeding locations being identified, on the patch before they promptly departed at the end of September, the swallows lingering for two weeks longer. Once again we did not find any Sand Martin this year, and Swifts were only recorded overhead on two occasions in June. No Reed Warblers were heard in the reeds at Hincheslea Bog this year, although a single Sedge Warbler sang in the hedgerow at the back of the old football pitches one morning in late May. Nightjars continue to breed in good numbers on the heathland throughout our patch, and are easily seen and heard at dusk, although they are rarely encountered during our morning walks.

Redstart were again seen and heard regularly at various locations in Hincheslea woods during April and May, with more returning during August, particularly along the railway line between Sway and Marlpit Oak. As usual, our Spotted Flycatchers arrived later than the other summer migrants with the first sightings in mid-May, but continued to be seen in good numbers, often feeding young, at woodland locations throughout the summer.

 

Male Redstart - one of our most colourful summer visitors

Passage Migrants

Both Wheatear and Whinchat were seen frequently during their autumn passage, as usual tending to favour the area of heathland and burned gorse behind the Sway football pitches. Good numbers of Yellow Wagtail arrived promptly at the beginning of September on the fields behind the allotments and stayed throughout that month, which was longer than in 2022; as usual their tendency to associate with cattle, rather than ponies, was noted. Tree Pipits were heard passing overhead in late August, but no Pied Flycatcher or Wryneck were seen this year. The absence of Pied Flycatcher was particularly disappointing, having found them for the past two years at various locations during late August, but also seemed to be reflected in fewer reports of this species across the county this year. On the other hand, 2023 was a good autumn for Ring Ouzels, with 3 male birds being seen at Longslade and Marlpit scrub between late September and mid-November, enjoying a bumper crop of Hawthorn berries.

 

Raptors

Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk continued to be the most common raptor sightings; our regular female Marsh Harrier was seen several times over the heathland around during the summer months; and a sighting of a male Hen Harrier over the heath one morning in March was a birding highlight for Mark. Goshawk and Peregrine were occasional visitors to the patch and a Red Kite passed overhead twice in April and May. A Hobby was seen at each end of the summer and a single Merlin sighting, our first since 2021, ensured a complete set of British falcons this year. A night-time badger-watch at one of our local setts in May enabled the long-awaited addition of Tawny Owl to the patch list.

 

Thrushes, Corvids and Woodpeckers

Fieldfares became hard to find in the early part of the year, departing at the end of February, a month before our last Redwing. However, the autumn saw a large influx of both species which swelled considerably in December, encouraged, no doubt by the ongoing supply of Hawthorn berries. During mid-December, a large Redwing roost was identified at nearby Wilverley Inclosure numbering up to 40,000 birds with large flocks of being present across the patch throughout the month. Song and Mistle Thrushes were also present in good numbers, their absence in July and August co-inciding with their yearly moult. Ravens were a much more regular sighting in 2023 than in previous years, particularly during late summer and autumn when a group of up to 7 were often seen over the heathland at Marlpit Oak.

Whilst Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers are both on the ‘perennial’ list, Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers have proven more elusive on our patch, with only one historical record from 2015 prior to this year. Two sightings of this diminutive species at the same location close to Battramsley Hill, in September and December gives us hope that their recent breeding success elsewhere in the New Forest may soon spread to our local woodland. We will be listening carefully for their characteristic call and drumming next Spring.

 

Woodland birds and Finches

Firecrests have increased in number year-on-year and are now almost a weekly sighting, particularly in the Holly trees at Hincheslea. The slightly smaller Goldcrests tend to favour the Scots Pines during the Summer, but in Autumn and Winter frequently move to the heathland gorse, presumably in search of spiders and small insects. During the early months of the year, Marsh Tits were completely absent from our list, with our first sighting of 2023 in mid-May, after which they became a more regular occurrence; this is similar to the pattern seen in 2021, but contrasted with 2022 where they were seen weekly between January and April, becoming harder to find thereafter. The reason for this change is unclear but may reflect changes to the location of their breeding sites, as proposed last year. It will be interesting to watch this pattern in future years, and to compare with the results of the HOS Marsh Tit survey which was conducted in 2023. Crossbill were identified twice this year, but no Hawfinch were recorded. The Autumn and Winter saw a large influx of Redpoll, many more than in previous years, with good sized flocks being seen throughout November and December. As usual, good numbers of Linnets were present on the heath between March and October, but diminished as the autumn and winter progressed; Reed Buntings were seen weekly at Hincheslea Bog during their breeding season with occasional sightings on the heathland in the autumn and early spring.

Firecrest - (photo credit Matt Roseveare)

Conclusion

Birding was more challenging in 2023 than in the previous year, with the weather curtailing opportunities to visit the patch and a slight drop in species count. Highlights included 3 new species for the Patch (Tawny Owl, Goosander and Mute Swan) and two sightings of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, the first since 2015. Three  autumn Ring Ouzels and a large influx of Winter Thrushes ensured that the year ended on a high as we look forward to more 'Low Carbon' Patch Birding in 2024.