This report aims to summarise some of the notable wildlife sightings and conservation news in the New Forest National Park in October 2024. To contribute to future editions, please contact the New Forest Biodiversity Forum Chair (russ@wildnewforest.co.uk).
Notable wildlife sightings
Met Office data for October indicate that, overall, it was slightly warmer than average and rainfall values were about normal, whereas sunshine hours and mean wind speed were below average.
October is often viewed as the prime month in the ornithological calendar, but this year was a relative disappointment for eager rarity hunters. A Bittern at Lymington Reedbeds on 15 Oct was the coastal highlight and a Yellow-browed Warbler at Longslade Bottom on 23 Oct was a notable inland find. Up to 16 Spoonbills and 15 Bearded Tits were seen in the Lymington-Hurst area, and there were several reports of White-tailed Eagles, Great White Egrets, and Water Pipits at the coast, and Ring Ouzels and Hen Harriers in the forest interior. A couple of flocks of Barnacle Geese probably related to feral rather than wild birds, with nine at Pennington Marshes on 23 Oct followed by a flock of around 50 over Yew Tree Heath on 27 Oct.
Purseweb Spider on 24 Oct 2024 (photo: Kathryn Crouch)
The second photo this year of the nationally scarce and rarely seen Purseweb Spider was posted on the Wild New Forest Facebook page on 24 Oct. Turning to moths, Radford’s Flame Shoulder now appears to be well established along the south coast, with an incredible 300 at Portland Bill on 09 Oct - it was therefore no surprise when a couple of specimens came to light in Woodlands in the first half of the month; there was also a scattering of other scarce but regular migrants at this location during October, including Blair’s Mocha, Delicate, Pearly Underwing, Scarce Bordered Straw, and Vestal.
Radford's Flame Shoulder on 02 Oct 2024 (photo: Russell Wynn)
Over 200 visitors attended the annual Hampshire Fungus Recording Group (HFRG) exhibition at the Reptile Centre on 26-28 Oct. Notable finds during the guided fungi walks included the first New Forest record of Marasmiellus villosipes, the relocation of Inocybe turfae following the first British record there last year, and some crowd pleasing specimens of Drumstick Truffleclub Tolypocladium capitatum parasitising Marbled False Truffle Elaphomyces muricatus. In addition, both Cortinarius pilatii and Goatcheese Webcap Cortinarius camphoratus were relocated at the same locations as the first confirmed Hampshire records in 2023.
Drumstick Truffleclub on 27 Oct 2024 (photo: Russell Wynn)
An HFRG survey at Blackwater Arboretum on 06 Oct produced a cluster of Prunes and Custard Tricholomopsis decora on rotting conifer - this uncommon species appears to be having a good year in the New Forest, with additional records coming from three other HFRG survey sites this autumn. Also of note was an apparent specimen of Ashen Knight Tricholoma virgatum and a variety of nice Cortinarius specimens were sampled for DNA analysis (results pending).
Elsewhere, there was an apparent upsurge in sightings of the photogenic Wrinkled Peach Rhodotus palmatuson dead and decaying Beech, while observations of rare species included the first New Forest record of Coprinopsis spelaiophila in a Beech rot-hole, the second New Forest record of Psathyrella pennata on bonfire charcoal at a heathland restoration site, the second and third New Forest records of Violet Coral Clavaria zollingeri, the second New Forest location for Flame Shield Pluteus aurantiorugosus, and a specimen of the red-listed Ashen Woodwax Hygrophorus mesotephrus (note that some identifications are subject to DNA analysis, and that information on status is based on records held by the FRDBI).
Wrinkled Peach on 21 Oct 2024 (photo: Steve Laycock)
Wildlife and conservation news
ExxonMobil has withdrawn plans for a controversial Solent CO2 Pipeline Project (see here), after concerns were raised during the public consultation. The three proposed pipeline routes would have taken CO2 from the Fawley oil refinery to a sub-seabed storage site in the English Channel, with one of the proposed routes covering a large area of designated habitat in the southern New Forest.
Following recent revelations about sewage and chemical pollution in New Forest waterbodies (see here and here), a new study by University of York and the Rivers Trust has revealed alarming levels of pharmaceutical drugs in our rivers. In the New Forest, some pharmaceuticals were at levels that are potentially harmful to aquatic species. Further details here and here.
In more positive news, the Environment Agency has installed a multi-species fish pass on upper reaches of the Highland Water to improve access for sea trout and eels (see here).
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 Forestand Hantsmoths Facebook sites.
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