May 2025 Patch Update

 

The warm, dry theme of March and April continued into May, providing ideal conditions for Hawthorn blossom in the first few weeks of the month. After the disappointment of last Autumn’s berries this hopefully augers well for a better haul in 2025. As usual, May also delivered the highest species counts of the year so far, although the peak of 59 was still seven short of our record from 2023. All lists and bar charts can be found at our eBird Hotspot, and a patch map is also available by clicking here.

Watching me, Watching you: A Fallow Doe in the Gorse

The birding highlight of the month was undoubtedly our first ever Common Sandpiper, which flushed from the gravel at the edge of Setley Pond on 10^th May, bringing the overall patch list up to 120. A Moorhen returned to the same location at the end of the month and three Mediterranean Gulls overhead on 25^th were slightly earlier than our previous June records of this species. While many of the summer migrants have been notably earlier than usual, House Martins did not reappear at their breeding sites until 4^th May. Interestingly this is a similar date to 2024, whereas in previous years they arrived just a week after the Swallows in mid-April. Swifts have also been seen overhead on several dates throughout the month, and Spotted Flycatchers have returned to their usual woodland locations.

Spotted Flycatcher - a summer visitor to Hincheslea Woods

The reed beds at Hincheslea Bog have thinned out considerably over the past two years which may explain the absence of Reed Warbler or Water Rail so far this year; however Reed Buntings and Snipe remain active at this location, and Stonechat fledglings are also regularly seen here. On the heath, Linnet and Dartford Warblers continue to increase in number, and churring Nightjars have been audible at dusk and dawn, while our second Woodlark of the year sang near Shirley Holms on 15^th May. A female Marsh Harrier has been seen on several occasions and appears to be the same bird as in previous years, based on its wing pattern. Sightings of Red Kite have continued this month, along with two Peregrine Falcon and our regular Buzzards but we have not seen a Goshawk since January. Kestrels are often seen hovering over the heathland, and may be breeding again near the Allotments. Several pairs of Lapwing have been rearing chicks on Setley Plain and a further pair have been evident on Widden Bottom, but Curlew have remained absent from the patch this month.

Slow Worm on the path near Setley Pond

Spring 2025 has reportedly been the sunniest on record in UK, but it remains to be seen if summer continues in the same vein. The prospect of some Atlantic weather in the early weeks of June seems to suggest otherwise. This year’s species list currently sits at 86, which is four behind the total at this time in 2024 – we have some catching up to do in the next 7 months if we are going to reach our century again.