This report aims to summarise some of the notable wildlife sightings and conservation news in the New Forest National Park in September 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 September indicate it was a very wet and dull month, with variable temperatures. Southern England recorded its wettest September for over 100 years, with many areas experiencing more than twice the average rainfall. In addition to local flooding, the soil across much of the New Forest was saturated by the end of the month.
A Hampshire Fungus Recording Group (HFRG) survey at Mark Ash Wood on 15 Sept produced the first Hampshire and New Forest record of Inocybe lacera var. rhacodes and the third New Forest record of the alder-associated milkcap Lactarius cyathuliformis; the latter was found in a strip of boggy riverine woodland that produced several other interesting records, including a couple of cryptic aldercaps that are still undergoing analysis. Another HFRG survey at Franchises Wood on 29 Sept produced the second New Forest record of Conifer Shield Pluteus pouzarianus and the fourth New Forest record of Lepiota oreadiformis, as well as the nationally rare Fragrant Toothcrust Mycoacia nothofagi.
Elsewhere, the most notable fungi sightings related to new arrivals consolidating their presence in the New Forest, including multiple records of Rothole Inkcap Coprinopsis alnivora on new trees close to the site where it was recorded as new to Britain in 2022; in addition, a further cluster was found about 5 km from the original site, on the same host tree as a spectacular cluster of Coral Tooth Hericium coralloides! The latter location also produced a cluster of Orange Porecap Favolaschia claudopus on a fallen Beech branch, the first New Forest record since this non-native species was discovered near Hollands Wood in autumn 2022 (several more were subsequently discovered in October 2024). A cluster of Magenta Rustgill Gymnopilus dilepis on woodchip at Green Hill Farm is the third New Forest record, following the first two records last year. Finally, a fine specimen of Rosso Coral Ramaria botrtytis was photographed at the same location where it was discovered last autumn - this is a red listed species that has only been recorded at two New Forest locations this century.
Orange Porecap (underside) on 30 Sept 2024 (photo: Russell Wynn)
A juvenile White-winged Black Tern was on Calshot Spit on 02-03 Sept, and an Ortolan Bunting was an excellent inland find at Pig Bush on 04 Sept. Other notable records at the coast included a Wryneck at Lepe on 04 Sept, two Great White Egrets at Lepe on 15 Sept, seven Spoonbills back at Keyhaven Marsh on 30 Sept, and both Cattle Egret and Osprey at Pennington Marsh on several dates. Interesting ringing reports included the continued presence of Little Egret ‘JN’ at Normandy Marsh - this bird was ringed nearby as a chick in 2006 and at 18 years old it claims the UK longevity record for the species. In addition, an adult male Ringed Plover that was colour-ringed at the New Forest coast in June had originally been metal-ringed at Ferrybridge (Dorset) in June 2022. The new colour rings enabled its detection at Newtown NNR on the Isle of Wight on 27 Aug and back at Ferrybridge two days later, highlighting the importance of networks of regional sites for this and other wader species.
Cattle Egret on 25 Sept 2024 (photo: Steve Laycock)
The latest in the line of formerly rare immigrant moths that now seems to be colonising southern England is Porter’s Rustic, with a record influx in late summer that saw the first two specimens for the New Forest reach Woodlands on 01-02 Sept, in association with a couple of Olive-tree Pearl Palpita vitrealis. Encouragingly, a specimen of Dotted Footman was also recorded there on 01 Sept, providing further hope that a colony of this nationally rare species persists in the New Forest. In contrast, the New Forest population of the non native invasive Box-tree Moth Cydalima perspectalis appears to have crashed this year, with very few reports in September which is usually the peak month for the species - it seems likely that in many areas it has exhausted its foodplant (for the time being at least!).
Porter's Rustic (right) with two Olive-tree Pearl on 02 Sept 2024 (photo: Russell Wynn)
A new Willow Emerald Damselfly colony was discovered at a small pond in the southern New Forest on 18 Sept, as part of survey work conducted for the Defra-funded Species Survival Fund project.
Willow Emerald Damsefly on 18 Sept 2024 (photo: Russell Wynn)
We’ll finish with a trio of remarkable aquatic observations. A sizeable Conger Eel was filmed attending a baited camera rig in shallow water close to the New Forest shore between Lymington and Lepe on 02 Sept, a flotilla of Fairy Shrimps was wonderfully photographed at a temporary pond in the northern New Forest on 17 Sept (the New Forest is a national stronghold for the species), and the nationally rare Pondweed Leafhopper was discovered at a relatively new pond at a private site in the northern New Forest on 19 Sept - the latter appears to be the first confirmed record for Hampshire and the New Forest, and further details are available here.
Conger Eeel attending a bait station in The Solent on 02 Sept 2024 (screengrab from video: Dominic Longley)
Fairy Shrimps in a seasonal New Forest pond on 17 Sept 2024 (photo: Sue Loader)
Pondweed Leafhopper on 20 Sept 2024 (photo: Russell Wynn)
Wildlife and conservation news
A summary of 2023 sightings from the New Forest Butterfly Transect Group (published in the October 2024 newsletter of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Branch of Butterfly Conservation) noted the first records of Purple Emperor in the New Forest for over 20 years, and a 40% increase in overall butterfly numbers compared to 2022 with nearly 70,000 recorded. Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper accounted for nearly 50% of the total and White Admiral had a ‘spectacular’ year, but Small Tortoiseshell continued to fare badly.
The ‘Elephant Oak’ at Old Sloden Inclosure was a wild card nomination for the Woodland Trust Tree of the Year 2024 award.
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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