There was a lack of waders on passage. Apart from the usual pre- and post- breeding passage of Common Sandpipers a single Curlew in Spring was the only record. The single Common Snipe record could have occurred at almost any time during the winter. A few Lapwing sighting are all we can expect these days. Woodcock were seen seen pre-dawn on several occasions in both Winter periods.
Also absent from my records were any tern species (though a Common Tern was reportedly seen whilst I was watching another at The Flash).
The Mute Swans hatched but six cygnets losing four quickly. The cob managed to drown all the Canada and Greylag Goose goslings. It was the first time I have noted Greylag Geese trying to nest here. I did not see any Mallard ducklings at all.
Otherwise goose highlights were single passing groups of Pink-feet and Egyptian Geese. A Shelduck dropped in one day. A Goldeneye was an unusual Spring record. Generally ducks were in low numbers, especially dabbling ducks. None of the more unusual species was noted.
Coots were in about average numbers in the breeding season. It is normal for later broods to have more success. The usual Autumn build-up was smaller than in many year just exceeding 200 bird. This number had halved by year-end.
Great Crested Grebes were as confusing as usual. I think eventually there were three nesting pairs that produced juveniles. One family seemed to get two of their juveniles to full-grown and they then disappeared before I was aware they had fledged.
Gulls are in much smaller numbers these days since the closure of the Granville tip. Diligent watching gave me my first Mediterranean Gull (a first year bird) for several years. A few Common Gull records were welcome - not common in this part of the UK. During both winter periods Great Black-backed, Yellow-legged and Caspian Gulls were occasionally present. Black-headed Gulls are always the most abundant gull species. Local breeding populations were apparently badly affected by avian flu and certainly they were late arriving post-breeding. Numbers now seem about average. I did not see any specific instance of avian flu here though I wonder whether the smaller than usual Mute Swan brood might indicate the pen was out of condition.
Hirundines etc. (swifts swallows and martins) were in low numbers again with House Martins late arriving.
All the usual warbler species were noted, Lesser Whitethroat only once. No Grasshopper Warbler on passage this year. Highlight was the Cetti's Warbler spending its second Summer with us. I never managed to confirm whether there was a pair of this furtive species, much less whether any juveniles were raised.
At least three Garden Warblers sang at various times but I don't think any of them paired up this year. Willow Warblers were abundant on a delayed passage. One stayed to sing for ages but he did did not seem to attract a mate. Sedge Warblers were clearly nesting early in the season with a different bird later. I did see food being carried but did not see any young. In contrast Reed Warblers seemed to have a good breeding season with birds occupying several of the smaller but expanding areas of reed.
I cannot say anything about the success of tits, thrushes and finches.
Birds Recorded
I recorded 102 bird species this year. In 2022 I also logged 102; in 2021 it was 112 and in 2020 my total was 109.
1 01/01/23 Robin
2 01/01/23 Coot
3 01/01/23 Blackbird
4 01/01/23 Moorhen
5 01/01/23 Canada Goose
6 01/01/23 Carrion Crow
7 01/01/23 Tufted Duck
8 01/01/23 Black-headed Gull
9 01/01/23 Greylag Goose
10 01/01/23 Woodcock
11 01/01/23 Rook
12 01/01/23 Mallard
13 01/01/23 Gadwall
14 01/01/23 Reed Bunting
15 01/01/23 Jackdaw
16 01/01/23 Lesser Black-backed Gull
17 01/01/23 Wren
18 01/01/23 Magpie
19 01/01/23 Dunnock
20 01/01/23 Cetti's Warbler
21 01/01/23 Water Rail
22 01/01/23 Kingfisher
23 01/01/23 Grey Wagtail
24 01/01/23 Herring Gull
25 01/01/23 Wood Pigeon
26 01/01/23 Siskin
27 01/01/23 Goosander
28 01/01/23 Bullfinch
29 01/01/23 Goldfinch
30 01/01/23 Mute Swan
31 01/01/23 Redwing
32 01/01/23 Fieldfare
33 01/01/23 Song Thrush
34 01/01/23 Great Tit
35 01/01/23 Blue Tit
36 01/01/23 Chaffinch
37 01/01/23 Pied Wagtail
38 01/01/23 Great Crested Grebe
39 01/01/23 Cormorant
40 01/01/23 Coal Tit
41 02/01/23 Lapwing
42 02/01/23 Starling
43 02/01/23 Stock Dove
44 02/01/23 Yellow-legged Gull
45 02/01/23 Pheasant
46 04/01/23 Common Buzzard
47 04/01/23 Feral Pigeon
48 04/01/23 Long-tailed Tit
49 05/01/23 Pochard
50 05/01/23 Mistle Thrush
51 06/01/23 Treecreeper
52 06/01/23 Peregrine
53 06/01/23 Grey Heron
54 09/01/23 Collared Dove
55 09/01/23 Greenfinch
56 09/01/23 Great Spotted Woodpecker
57 09/01/23 Nuthatch
58 16/01/23 Goldcrest
59 17/01/23 Great Black-backed Gull
60 18/01/23 Common Gull
61 22/01/23 Eurasian Wigeon
62 22/01/23 Pintail
63 26/01/23 Sparrowhawk
64 27/01/23 Little Grebe
65 27/01/23 House Sparrow
66 28/01/23 Jay
67 03/02/23 Snipe
68 10/02/23 Little Egret
69 24/02/23 Shoveler
70 02/03/23 (Common) Goldeneye
71 03/03/23 Curlew
72 06/03/23 Raven
73 18/03/23 Chiffchaff
74 19/03/23 Skylark
75 19/03/23 Yellowhammer
76 19/03/23 Linnet
77 19/03/23 Meadow Pipit
78 19/03/23 Sand Martin
79 25/03/23 Willow Warbler
80 26/03/23 Barn Swallow
81 27/03/23 Blackcap
82 02/04/23 Oystercatcher
83 06/04/23 Common Sandpiper
84 06/04/23 House Martin
85 09/04/23 Reed Warbler
86 06/05/23 Garden Warbler
87 06/05/23 Sedge Warbler
88 06/05/23 Common Whitethroat
89 06/05/23 Swift
90 23/05/23 Lesser Whitethroat
91 29/05/23 Hobby
92 01/06/23 Common Kestrel
93 13/08/23 Great White Egret
94 09/09/23 Tawny Owl
95 16/09/23 Yellow Wagtail
96 28/09/23 Mediterranean Gull
97 16/10/23 Egyptian Goose
98 16/10/23 Lesser Redpoll
99 24/11/23 Shelduck
100 25/11/23 Pink-footed Goose
101 29/11/23 Common Teal
102 07/12/23 Caspian Gull
--- 29/08/23 Common Tern reported to me the same day I saw one at The Flash
Birds recorded in 2023 and not 2022
Pink-footed Goose
Egyptian Goose
Shelduck
Pintail
(Common) Goldeneye
Great White Egret
Hobby
Yellow Wagtail
Yellowhammer
Birds recorded by me here in 2022 and not 2023
Golden Plover
Black-tailed Godwit
Dunlin
(Common) Redshank
Wood Sandpiper
Common Tern
Grasshopper Warbler
Marsh Tit
Brambling
Butterflies
Butterfly species I recorded for the first time in 2023:
Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas
Moths
I recorded exactly 100 species of moth in 2023.
Last year my total was 94 but in 2021 it was 134 with 105 in 2020.
Species I recorded for the first time in 2023:
Copper Ermel Roeslerstammia erxlebella
Common Tubic Alabonia geoffrella
Pea Moth Cydia nigricana
Elder Pearl Anania coronata
Seraphim Lobophora halterata
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua fimbriata
Lead-coloured Drab Orthosia populeti
Pinion-streaked Snout Schrankia costaestrigalis
Hoverflies
Hoverfly species I recorded for the first time in 2023 with thanks to Obsidentify to put me on the right track for some of these
Variable Spearhorn Chrysotoxum elegans
Grey-spotted Boxer Platycheirus albimanus
Slender Boxer Platycheirus angustatus
Meadow Boxer Platycheirus peltatus
Hairy-eyed Syrphus Syrphus torvus
Very many other new insects were (partly) identified thanks to Obsidentify. I have no easy access to these!
Species I recorded for the first time in 2023:
Copper Ermel Roeslerstammia erxlebella
Common Tubic Alabonia geoffrella
Pea Moth Cydia nigricana
Elder Pearl Anania coronata
Seraphim Lobophora halterata
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua fimbriata
Lead-coloured Drab Orthosia populeti
Pinion-streaked Snout Schrankia costaestrigalis
Hoverflies
Hoverfly species I recorded for the first time in 2023 with thanks to Obsidentify to put me on the right track for some of these
Variable Spearhorn Chrysotoxum elegans
Grey-spotted Boxer Platycheirus albimanus
Slender Boxer Platycheirus angustatus
Meadow Boxer Platycheirus peltatus
Hairy-eyed Syrphus Syrphus torvus
Very many other new insects were (partly) identified thanks to Obsidentify. I have no easy access to these!