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New Forest Biodiversity News - December 2024

Writer's picture: Russell WynnRussell Wynn

This report aims to summarise some of the notable wildlife sightings and conservation news in the New Forest National Park in December 2024. To contribute to future editions, please contact the New Forest Biodiversity Forum Chair (russ@wildnewforest.org.uk).

 

Notable wildlife sightings

December in the New Forest was relatively dull, mild, and dry, being the 6th warmest December on record (2.0oC warmer than the long term average) but with slightly below average rainfall and only half the average sunshine hours.


Long-tailed Duck on 16 Dec 2024 (photo: Jeremy Mcclements)

 

The popular Long-tailed Duck continued at Lymington-Keyhaven Marshes, where there was also up to three White-tailed Eagles and a county record 34 Spoonbills (with up to seven Spoonbills also seen in the Inchmery-Lepe area). Also reported at Lepe was a flock of seven Grey Partridges on 04 Dec, although it is likely that these are birds released for shooting.

 

Spoonbills on 05 Dec 2024 (photo: Tim Kitts)


For the second winter running there have been no reports of Great Grey Shrike in the New Forest, and very few records nationally, perhaps indicating that this iconic species is going extinct as a wintering species in our region - the drivers are thought to be related to declines in the breeding population and/or 'short stopping' linked to climate change (whereby wintering species benefit from milder winters by wintering closer to their breeding grounds). There is more positive news about some of our breeding Sandwich Terns, with several birds colour ringed as chicks at Lymington by New Forest Ringing Group being relocated at their wintering grounds thousands of kilometres to the south in Africa, including at sites in The Gambia and Namibia.

 

The latest batch of fungi DNA analyses conducted by Hampshire Fungus Recording Group (sponsored by the New Forest Biodiversity Forum) has produced another series of fascinating and at times flummoxing records! New species for Hampshire and the New Forest include Cortinarius huronensis, Cortinarius lacustris, Lurid Milkcap Lactarius luridus, Olive Earthtongue Microglossum rufescens, and a potential Psathyrella fusca, while several others including another potential first for Britain await further analysis. Also of note in early December was a field record by a HFRG member of the nationally rare ascomycete fungus Byssonectria terrestris, which also appears to be the first Hampshire and New Forest record.


Cortinarius lacustris on 15 Oct 2024 (photo: Russell Wynn)

 

Wildlife and conservation news

The 2024 New Forest Woodlark survey report has been published here and indicates a record total of 260 Woodlark breeding territories within the New Forest Special Protection Area, as well as a further 64 territories within the SPA that were recorded outside the formal survey, and another 19 in the New Forest outside the SPA (although given that territories are also found on private farmland this is likely to be an under-estimate). These results suggest the overall New Forest Woodlark population is now likely to be in excess of 350 territories. Even accounting for inevitable variations in survey coverage and effort, this is a significant and highly encouraging increase compared to previous surveys; this may be linked to milder winters increasing over-winter survival, and high grazing pressure and heathland restoration work improving and increasing the amount of available breeding habitat. Interestingly, it is noted in the report that Woodlarks seem to be more resistant to recreational disturbance and predation than other ground-nesting bird species (e.g. breeding waders). The volunteer-based survey was delivered by Hampshire Ornithological Society and was commissioned by Forestry England on behalf of the New Forest Higher Level Stewardship scheme partners.


Woodlark at a heathland restoration site on 23 May 2024 (photo: Russell Wynn)

 

Wild New Forest Guided Tours have provided an update here on the fourth of year of their New Forest Pine Marten project, which is being conducted in partnership with Forestry England. The primary aim of the 2024 field season was to obtain DNA samples to assess population size, sex ratios, and genetic diversity. Unfortunately, deployment of baited hair tubes had limited success, but the team did obtain DNA from four roadkill specimens. Trail camera records included a female with distinctive bib markings that was first recorded in 2021.

 

A new paper led by a PhD student at Bournemouth University (and co-funded by GWCT) has  been published in the Journal of Avian Biology here, and relates to recent research on breeding Curlews in the New Forest. This species is undergoing ongoing rapid decline in our region, primarily due to low productivity related to predation of eggs and chicks by mammalian and avian predators. The research showed that Curlews prefer to breed in mire and wet heath habitats and were more likely to successfully hatch chicks in those habitats, whereas those breeding in the more extensive dry heath habitats suffered from increased predation. It was also noted that breeding Curlews avoided sites close to woodlands and major roads. Forestry England's ongoing heathland and wetland restoration work, combined with measures to reduce predation and recreational disturbance, appear to offer the best chance for this species to persist as a breeding bird in the New Forest.


Curlew with crab prey at the New Forest coast on 15 Dec 2024 (photo: Yvonne Williams)

 

New Forest Ringing Group have produced a report here summarising the results of bird ringing in 2024 at Lymington-Keyhaven Marshes. A total of nearly 1100 birds of 52 species were ringed, in addition to 117 re-traps and controls. In addition to the Sandwich Terns mentioned above, a Little Tern ringed in April in The Gambia was back on Normandy Lagoon on 11 May, having travelled over 5050 km in just 38 days. Notable ringing records included a Pied Flycatcher, six juvenile Nightjars (indicating successful local breeding), 14 new Cetti’s Warblers, and a record number of 75 Long-tailed Tits. 

 

Finally, many thanks as always to all those who contributed their observations and images to the various online portals that provide source material for these reports, particularly Going Birding, Hampshire Fungus Recording Group and the Fungi Recording Database of Britain and Ireland, and the Wild New Forest and Hantsmoths Facebook sites.

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Contact
Prof Russell Wynn (Chair)
Email: russ@wildnewforest.co.uk
Phone: 07500 990808

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