The unprecedented hot weather and drought continues; weather patterns are changing and appear more extreme; something we will have to adjust to.
There are fewer different species in our patch during the summer season but the breeding birds appear too busy, raising their second or third broods, to be affected by the unusual weather conditions.
A pair of Mute Swans are raising 7 cygnets based around Sturt Pond. A close-knit family group; although the cygnets are as large as the adults, they stay with the parents when moving around and feeding. Incubation of the eggs is mainly the female’s task, though the male takes over while she is feeding – mainly at night.
Two young Shelduck were recorded feeding on the marsh, possibly from the adult pair who raised 8 ducklings this year.
Several pairs of Ringed Plovers and Oystercatchers have successfully raised young within the Hampshire & Isle-of-Wight Wildlife Trust’s enclosures. One enclosure had to be ‘electrified’ due to predation by foxes. At least one pair of Redshank have successfully raised young on Garden Point. This is great news as we thought they had abandoned this area after being washed out by extra high tides in recent years.
A small formation of 10 Whimbrel flew over the marsh heading westwards, calling their unmistakeable loud, fast, rippling whistle, all on the same note. They have probably bred on northern tundra and now stopping off to feed in the local creeks before continuing their passage south to winter on the West African coast.
The highlight of today’s visit to the area was approximately 280 Black-tailed Godwit packed close together along the western shore of Sturt Pond at high tide. These beautifully coloured birds in their orange-rufous summer plumage, breed on grassy marshes and boggy moorland in northern areas. Many of these birds will winter here but some continue on passage to southern Europe. Quite vocal when together in groups with a distinctive ‘weddy-whit-o, weddy-whit-o’.
Three female Wheatears were feeding among the vegetated shingle at Hurst. These are members of the Thrush family. They breed on moorland and coastal grassland and will be feeding here before heading over the channel to Africa to winter.
A singleton Raven was seen on the Spit, sitting on one of the black granite sea defence blocks, surveying the beach and sea. Distinctive by their large size and heavy bill. They breed in the New Forest but are regularly seen along our coast.
I am always reminded of the Ravens in the Tower of London. Normally there are up to 8 in residence, looked after by the Ravenmaster. What a wonderful, unique role and responsibility; the only person in the whole of the UK with this title and honour.
King Charles II is thought to have been the first to insist that the Ravens of the Tower be protected after he was warned that the Crown and the Tower itself would fall, if they ever left.
Peter Hobby