Spring update 2024: A Damp Patch

 

Whilst I hate to sound like a broken record, it is hard to talk about the last 3 months without mentioning the rain….which has been relentless. The overall weather pattern was similar to 2023 - mild, wet conditions persisting throughout the months of March and April, eventually easing off in mid-May -  but any respite so far in 2024 has tended to be brief, and the continuing surface water levels across the heath and at Setley pond, suggest that this year was considerably wetter.

On the birding front, things have been a bit brighter. When conditions have permitted, our daily counts have often been higher than previous years, with our highest of 59 bringing a new March record. The total species number is also ahead of where we were last year with 90 species recorded by the end of May, compared to 81 in 2023. A Barn Owl, which called over the heath during a late night attempt to see the Aurora Borealis was a new bird for the patch, taking the list up to 113. As always, full patch lists and species bar charts can be found at our eBird 'hotspot', here . Readers can click on the bird names for a hyperlink to photographs of all identified species and there is a map of the site and route, here, for those who are unfamiliar with the area and locations mentioned in this blog.

The last of the winter Redwing were seen on 10^th March, with a few Fieldfare lingering for two further weeks. Most of the summer migrant species appeared around a week earlier than in 2023, although House Martins were slightly later to arrive at their usual breeding locations, in early May. Swallow numbers seem a bit lower than usual so far, and our only Swift sighting was on 11^th May. At least 3 Cuckoos have been singing at Longslade since mid-April, along with good numbers of Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Common Whitethroat at various sites across the Patch; on 20^th April, the warbler count was further swelled by a singing Lesser Whitethroat and a Garden Warbler, neither of which were found until Autumn last year. During the same week, a Sedge Warbler sang at Hincheslea Bog, the third consecutive year that we have heard this species in April, but once again it appears that Reed Warblers have not found their way back to our reedbed, our last record being in 2022. The reeds have also been devoid of Water Rail sightings for the past 2 years, both species potentially relocating due to a general thinning out of the vegetation and local disturbance close to the flooded path.

The path through the reedbeds at Hincheslea Bog - still flooded in late May

At least three male Redstarts were singing in Hincheslea Woods from the start of April, occupying similar territories to last year, while our only Spotted Flycatcher so far was at Marlpit Copse on 25^th May. As in previous years, Marsh Tits were hard to find until mid-May, when four adults were seen in a single morning, all apparently collecting food for their young. This seems to confirm the 2023 survey findings that the New Forest remains a stronghold for this Nationally threatened species.

On the heath, there were good numbers of Stonechat, with plenty of fledgelings being fed in the gorse during May. Dartford Warblers also seem to have benefited from the mild winter while Skylark and Meadow Pipits have been displaying in all their usual locations. Sadly, our only Woodlark sighting was a single bird, spotted on the ground on 31st March at a previous breeding location, and not seen again; the complete absence of Woodlark song on the patch has been one of the great disappointments of this Spring. It is possible that the wet ground locally has encouraged our previous birds to seek breeding territories elsewhere in the New Forest; a survey currently being undertaken by Hampshire Ornithological Society will hopefully provide more information later this year. As in previous years, Wheatear were our only spring passage migrant, with several sightings during March and April. An evening walk in early May enabled us hear our first churring Nightjars, as well as a surprise roding Woodcock over the heath, which is a species that eluded us on patch in 2023. A small group of Red Deer hinds on Widden Bottom in May were a slightly unusual sighting for this area of the New Forest which usually only attracts Roe and Fallow.

Red Deer on Widden Bottom

In addition to our Barn Owl, spring raptor highlights included our first patch sighting of one of the recently introduced juvenile White-tailed Eagles – not ‘tickable’ yet, and therefore not included in our patch species numbers - but a spectacular bird to see, nonetheless. A female Marsh Harrier – notable by the large amount of white on her wing and nape and likely the same bird as last year – was seen regularly throughout the spring. Buzzard, Red Kite, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were also observed, but we have not had any sightings of Goshawk or Peregrine since February, suggesting that their local breeding sites may have failed this year. A single Hobby flew over the trees close to Setley Pond on 19^th May, heading towards Royden Woods where they are frequently sighted during spring and summer.

Distant view of our first White-tailed Eagle - likely to be one of the juvenile birds introduced into the Isle of Wight over recent years

The Lapwing pair on Widden Bottom were aided this year by the positioning of red warning signs on the path close to their regular nesting site. Although we have not identified any fledglings, the behaviour of the adult birds suggests that they may have offspring tucked into the heather, which has grown a bit deeper this year and should afford additional protection. Snipe have also been regularly seen and heard, displaying over the mires and reed beds. Sadly, our Curlews, which showed interest in a nesting site near Setley Pond, once again failed to breed, apparently due to predation of the female bird. Two males were seen, and heard frequently over the heath up until early May, but it seems that this species continues to struggle despite the valiant attempts at protection from our local Keeper and various monitoring organisations.

At Setley Pond, Mallards remained our only duck species of the year, with 11 ducklings arriving in March. A single Coot – only our second record at this location – was seen on  13^th April and a pair of Moorhen seems to have taken up residence amongst the lily pads this year. While the Cormorants evidently enjoyed the deeper water, our usual Grey Heron and Little Egrets were seen rather sporadically; the Canada Goose pair which were quite vocal in early spring departed in mid-May without any sign of goslings.

High water levels at Setley Pond persisted throughout May

The blossom on the Hawthorn has been less spectacular than in 2023, which may mean fewer berries for our winter thrushes this year, although the wet ground seems to be attracting plenty of insects which should be good for the heathland birds and Hirundines. June last year was the warmest on record, so we remain hopeful for a slightly drier few months with some better birding weather in the coming weeks.