Late Summer and Early Autumn Birding Highlights

The Summer heatwave continued through much of August with temperatures well above average and rainfall well below. September delivered the more expected changeable conditions and by the end of the month, the weather had turned seasonally autumnal. Thankfully, this summer’s hot weather did not produce a notable algae bloom, but instead an abundance of Lesser Pondweed, Potamogeton pusillus, and mats of this aquatic plant could be seen right across the pond’s surface. This was a very welcome development, likely ensuring that the pond’s water oxygen levels remained at a good level throughout the period and provided a boon to wildfowl.

Late Breeding News

Contrary to my last report that our breeding Pochard failed to raise any young this year, a female promptly reappeared in late July with one ‘adolescent’ young (pictured below) which I am glad to say successfully fledged.

Further good news came in August with two pairs of Great Crested Grebe successfully hatching and raising a total of three young, with a third pair suspected of nesting unsuccessfully. (Grebe pictured below)

So, the trend of late breeding at the Reserve since 2016 continues. The final tally on our breeding Tufted Ducks was an incredible 23 pairs, successfully raising between 70-80 young; probably representing well over 25% of Hampshire’s entire breeding population at the moment.

Autumn Migration

Southbound Autumn migrants were apparent from mid-July onwards. Multiple sightings were made of Green Sandpiper from mid-July into early September, with a high count of three on July 30. Other migrant waders included a Northern Lapwing frequenting Sandy Bay between August 1st – 5th and the first Common Snipe of the Autumn on August 4th. Other early movers included a count of 110 Common Swift heading over southeast on the evening of July 29th.

Passerine migrants started to pick-up in early August and the MoD Fields adjoining the Reserve’s eastern boundary proved to be particularly productive.  Notable post-breeding counts included 27 Whitethroats on August 4th and a record 16 Stonechats on August 12th. Scarcer migrants observed around these fields included a Tree Pipit (pictured below) between July 29th – August 1st.

A juvenile Dartford Warbler and a Pied Flycatcher on August 12th, and a Grasshopper Warbler (illustrated below) on September 3rd, the latter particularly noteworthy.

Whinchats (illustrated below) put in several appearances in early September with two on 3rd, three on 8th and one on 10th while Goldfinches were abundant suggesting a productive breeding season, with a peak of 150 on September 8. On the Reserve itself, a vocal male Cetti’s Warbler reappeared in the Brickworks Corner on September 3rd with two reported on October 19th.

Record autumn for wildfowl

With this summer’s bloom of Lesser Pondweed right across the Pond, it turned out to be another record autumn for wildfowl and their ilk. Gadwall numbers steadily grew over the period with a July high count of 47 eclipsed by 68 on August 8th, and then a record count of 94 on October 1st. Likewise, Shoveler numbers grew as the Autumn progressed from three at the end of July to a peak count of 70 on October 22nd.  Such numbers were unthinkable just a decade ago. Teal were present but continued at a low level, with the high count of 27 on September 9th, while Tufted Duck registered a respectable 45 in both September and October and Pochard peaked at five on October 11th.  Scarcer wildfowl included an eclipse drake Garganey from August 4th to September 18th, single female Pintails on October 7th and 20th, and multiple reports from of Wigeon from September 2nd onwards, including four on October 20th.

Coot numbers were also elevated with a record count of 202 on September 18th.  Last autumn’s Pink-footed Goose (illustrated below),

presumed to be the same individual, returned on August 30th, keeping company with Greylag Geese, flying in at dusk to roost and departing at dawn. Roosting geese numbers peaked on September 6th with 280 Canada Geese, 270 Greylag Geese and 20 Egyptian Geese present on August 1st. Single Little Grebe’s were reported in July and September and Cormorant number peaked at 24 on September 25th.

Other unexpected migrants in September included a sub-adult female Marsh Harrier, passing through west low over the Pond on the 9th and four Raven over north late in the afternoon on th 27th. Visible migration counts were limited this Autumn but did include movements of 510 (Barn) Swallow and 310 House Martin over southwest on the afternoon on September 27th, with three Sparrowhawks over with them. The only notable early Autumn roost was of 260 Jackdaws on October 3rd.

As we head into the winter months and the days grow shorter and the weather colder, expect higher roost numbers.  Good birding!

William Legge

Contributing Observers: Arun Bose, Edward Butler, John Clark, Andrew Drever, N Hayward, William Legge, Sarah Slingo and Graham Stephenson.

 


Vacancy – Vice Chairman – Can You Help Us?

We need some help! Can you spare some time to help Fleet Pond Society?
We’re looking for a Vice Chairman to help our Chairman, Jim, with a few of his jobs.
Jim chairs our small, but dynamic executive committee. He represents us at meetings with Hart Countryside Service and any other meetings with other stakeholders. He attempts to be the face of the Pond Society!
The activities of the Vice Chairman would probably suit someone recently retired, partially retired or even still in part time work. You don’t have to be an expert naturalist – just interested in Fleet Pond!
Are you interested or want further info? Please contact Jim: chairman@fleetpond.org.uk

Condolences to the Royal Family

On behalf of our committee and members, we extend our condolences to the Royal Family on the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

Rest in peace, Your Majesty.

(Image credit – Getty Images)

In 2003 Fleet Pond Society was honoured to receive ‘The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service’, an ‘Unsung Heroes’ award through which Her Majesty recognised the important work carried out by our volunteers.

We were the only conservation group in Hampshire to receive this recognition. We continue to proudly display the award logo on our literature today.

In November 2003, Colin and Mavis Gray and Peter and Barbara Martin were invited to the Great Hall at Winchester to meet Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth. 

Her Majesty chatted with them about the Pond and the conservation work which the Society volunteers carry out.

*****


SPRING & EARLY SUMMER BIRD REPORT APRIL TO MID-JULY

In contrast to 2021, our 2022 Spring and early Summer weather was rather settled and drier, sunnier, and warmer than average. Persistent high pressure enabled a summer heatwave to build and by mid-July the reserve sizzled with record-breaking temperatures reaching almost 40°C on July 18th and 19th. Birding-wise it was an active few months with Spring migration followed by another productive breeding season and several records broken.

April-May

Fleet Pond’s Summer migrants and breeders arrived largely on schedule in April, including (2021 first arrival dates in parentheses) the first Reed Warbler on 13th (14th), Common Tern on 15th (16th), Garden Warblers on 24th (26th), Sedge Warbler on 25th (21st) and the first two (Common) Swifts of season on 27th. Whilst exiting winter migrants included a singing Brambling on April 7th-8th.

Hirundines were rather scarce throughout, but were supplemented by sporadic influxes of migrants. Spring high counts included 80 Swallows feeding over the Pond on April 27th, 30 Sand Martins on May 1st and 50 House Martins on May 25th while Swifts peaked at 70 on May 11th.

Scarcer migrants included a flurry of waders early on the morning on April 23rd, with a Ruff that circled the Pond unsuccessfully attempting to land on the central islands before leaving northwest. A Greenshank also left northwest that morning, while the first Common Sandpiper of spring was present, with others recorded on April 25th and May 18th.

A credible report was received of a flock of 15-20 Whimbrel circling the Pond early on May 2nd. The flock eventually left northeast, and two further singles were seen on May 4th, one heading over northeast and a second dropping into the central islands.

The only spring record of Oystercatcher was a single heading over northwest on May 16th. Notable migrant gulls and terns included two single Little Gulls briefly on April 22nd (single adult pictured below), a prelude to a flock of 16 (15 adults and a 2nd CY) that dropped in briefly on the evening of April 23rd. The latter represents the highest count of Little Gulls ever recorded in the northern half of the county.

At least four Mediterranean Gulls (3 adults and a 2nd CY) were encountered on and off in April and into early May, but sadly none stayed to breed although one of the adults appeared to be paired with a Black-headed Gull! (single adult Mediterranean Gull pictured below)

Terns were few with Common Tern the only species sighted. Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls were a regular sight, with a noteworthy record of 14 of the latter roosting on April 6th. Migrant wildfowl included several sightings of Common Shelduck, a single present on April 27th, two over southeast on April 28th and a flock of four on May 16th.

A singing male Common Redstart (illustrated above) encountered in woodland adjoining the East Marsh on April 23rd, was a rare spring sighting while the only Cuckoo of the spring moved through the reserve northbound on May 18th.

Notable raptors included a series of sightings of Peregrine Falcon in April and May, the first Hobby of spring on May 1st and a loose flock of 21 Red Kites heading over southwest on May 23rd. A Great White Egret observed at the Coldstream Marsh on April 9th was the first record of 2022.

June and the Breeding Season

It is turning out to be another good year for breeding wildfowl at Fleet Pond, particularly for Gadwall and Tufted Duck, a testament to the continued better water quality and the prevalence of horned pondweed. Tufted Duck took top honours with a record breaking 22 broods and 80-100 young hatched, with approximately 50 of these on course to survive, and represents the highest breeding density for the species in Hampshire at the moment

Mallard and Gadwall logged 18 and eight broods respectively, the latter a Fleet Pond record, although survival rates were mixed for both.  Three pairs of Common Pochard were present and two broods seen but sadly none of the young are thought to have survived while a pair of Shoveler was suspected of breeding unsuccessfully. Three pairs of Great Crested Grebes were in residence but as of the time of writing no young have yet been seen.  A pair of Mute Swans are on course to raise five cygnets and at least three pairs Greylag Geese bred with the parents quickly leading their young to the Little Pond via the tunnels below the railway line, never to be seen again.

Other breeding successes included at least 100 pairs of Black-headed Gulls on the Central Islands, seven Grey Heron nests of which five raised at least 10 young, and a juvenile Water Rail seen at Sandy Bay on July 7th confirming successful breeding. Intriguingly, Little Egrets were present throughout the season with one individual prospecting a suspected nest site, but sadly nothing progressed.

Passerines included at least two Sedge Warblers and 20 Reed Warblers in territory within the Reserve’s reedbeds as well as a single Cetti’s Warbler territory. Garden Warbler territories numbered three while Whitethroats continue to do well with multiple territories at the MoD Fields as well as pairs at the Coldstream and Fugelmere Marshes.  However, Blackcap, a common breeder within the Reserve, appeared to be in lower numbers than 2021 and no Firecrest territories found in the Brookly Wood this year, their favoured trees concerningly felled. On the positive side, a pair of Grey Wagtails bred at the Little Pond while a Willow Warbler was seen collecting nesting material at the Dry Heath in late April. (pictured below)

Subsequent sightings in June suggest breeding occurred at this site, the first such breeding of Willow Warbler at the reserve in more than a decade.

Post Breeding and Early Autumn Migrants

Late June heralds a change of seasons in the birding calendar, as early breeders begin their southbound migration and other species disperse widely from their breeding sites. Activity started early this summer with the first Teal noted on June 21st followed by a male Shoveler on July 3rd.  Returning waders chipped-in with a series of sightings of Common Redshank; a single present on the evening of June 28th (illustrated below), a flock of three circling the central islands early on June 30th which left southwest and another flying over west on July 2nd.

A confiding adult Little Ringed Plover (pictured below) graced Sandy Bay on June 29th and 30th while the first Common Sandpipers of the Autumn (two) appeared on July 3rd and single Green Sandpipers on July 7th and 12th. A Great White Egret arriving from the east early on July 6th will hopefully be the first many over the coming months.

Little Egrets (illustrated below) continued to prosper with a high count of 11 roosting on the evening July 11th. A build-up of post-breeding Starling roosting in the Central Islands was noted again this summer with 100 noted on June 1st quickly expanding to over 800 by June 29th and 1,100 on July 1st.

With autumn migration now starting to build-up steam, the next few months will ensure there is plenty to find and see at Fleet Pond, so do remember to bring your binoculars.  Good Birding!

William Legge

Contributing Observers: Abel Barker, Arun Bose, Ed Butler, John Clark, N Hayward, Cathy Holden, William Legge, Nikki Palmer, and Graham Stephenson. 

Photograph credits: William Legge

Illustrations: RSPB www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/

 


Erasing Skunk Cabbage from Reserve

Skunk Cabbage (Lysichiton americanus) plants are growing around the reserve again. It is a non-native invasive species and has to be removed, so volunteers have started work digging them up.  It is very important to remove all of the root.
Last year we cleared around 1500 plants from the reserve, and we are hoping that the number is fewer this year because of that work.
Click on the link to learn about why do it: