This report aims to summarise some of the notable wildlife sightings and conservation news in the New Forest National Park in August 2024. To contribute to future editions, please contact the New Forest Biodiversity Forum Chair (russ@wildnewforest.co.uk).
Notable wildlife sightings
Met Office data indicate that the UK experienced an unsettled August, with a dominance of Atlantic weather systems and overall temperatures slightly above average and rainfall slightly below average.
Despite the unsettled weather, the ongoing colonisation of the New Forest by moths originating from the south continued. Following the first Hampshire and New Forest record of Black V Moth in July, a specimen of the micro-moth Samphire Straw Aethes bilbaensis was recorded at light in Woodlands on 30 July and was subsequently confirmed via microscopic analysis in early August - this is the first Hampshire and New Forest record of this national rarity. Another new arrival was a Nodaria sp (presumably Nodaria nodosalis but ID to be confirmed) that came to light in Sway on 09 Aug, which may be the first British record.
Samphire Straw on 30 July 2024 (photo: Russell Wynn)
Nodaria sp. on 09 Aug 2024 (photo: Steve Keen)
A Hampshire Fungus Recording Group (HFRG) survey at Long Beech Inclosure on 04 Aug produced the first British record of the tiny and extremely inconspicuous ascomycete Capronia perpusilla on wet rotten Beech wood. In addition, the same surveyor identified the second English record of the equally inconspicuous Pyxidiophora microspora on pony dung (following a record on deer dung at Millyford Bridge last year). Another HFRG survey at Pig Bush on 24 Aug produced the first New Forest record of Russula carminipes.
The avian highlight was probably a Rose-coloured Starling at Keyhaven Marshes on 08 Aug. Other scarcities in the Lymington/Hurst area included up to three Spoonbills, Cattle Egret, Great White Egret, Osprey, Grey Phalarope, Wood Sandpiper, Wryneck, and Grasshopper Warbler, with an Osprey also seen at Lepe. Notable seabird sightings from Milford-on-Sea (just outside the national park boundary) included a Balearic Shearwater on 16 Aug and both Cory’s Shearwater and Long-tailed Skua on 22 Aug. In the forest interior, scarce migrants included a Wood Sandpiper at Whitten Pond on 17 Aug, Pied Flycatchers at Acres Down on 21 Aug, Woodfidley on 26 Aug, and Markway Inclosure on 27 Aug (2), and Ospreys at Telegraph Hill on 15 Aug, Holly Hatch on 25 Aug, and Ipley on 30 Aug.
Rose-coloured Starling on 09 Aug 2024 (photo: Jeremy McClements)
Pine Martens are now well established in the larger blocks of ancient woodland on the open forest, but there are still relatively few records from private woodlands in the national park. However, during August, multiple observations were made from two private sites that are being monitored using trail cameras, suggesting the species is continuing to spread out from the forest core.
Pine Marten on 18 Aug (photo: Russell Wynn)
Wildlife and conservation news
White-tailed Eagle sightings are now a regular feature in and around the New Forest, and a further boost to the regional population was announced here in early August with the news that two chicks have fledged from a nest in southern England. This is the second year running that chicks have fledged from this nest, and the parent birds were released as part of the Isle of Wight reintroduction project in 2020.
Climate change already appears to be impacting tree species such as Beech and Holly in the New Forest, and the interesting article here discusses whether conservationists need to consider ‘assisted migration’ of trees, both within and between countries, to match the rapidity of ongoing environmental change.
Finally, many thanks as always to all those who contributed their observations and images to the various online fora that provide source material for these reports, particularly Going Birding and the Wild New Forest and Hantsmoths Facebook sites.
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