Beeston & Sheringham Commons                                              sssi/sac Bur-marigold Fly Smooth Newt (juv) Spotted Flycatcher Knotgrass moth caterpillar

 Autumn notes from the Commons.


The autumn months, September, October and November were characterised this year by the three named storms of Ashley, Bert and Conall, which were both very windy and wet. The largest amount of rainfall came from Bert (22-25 Nov) and the extreme weather caused some localised flooding and brought down some small trees on the Common. Throughout this period wildlife were recorded, mainly by Mark Clements and me with the following a summary of the highlights.


Summer transitioned into autumn in a gentle way at the beginning of September with butterflies still seen on the wing. The first week saw a good ‘fall’ of migrant birds throughout north Norfolk and the Common had the following, Yellow Wagtail, Pied Flycatcher and Whinchat (01 Sept) plus a new fly , the Bur-marigold Fly seen on Tansy.  Whinchats, Pied Flycatcher, Whitethroat and Willow Warblers were present (02-03 Sept) plus a Hobby was seen (03 – 04 Sept). The first Ivy Bees and a Grass Snake were also noted (04 Sept). Two Spotted Flycatchers made an appearance (06 Sept) as did a Lesser Whitethroat which remained until the following day.  The returning Pink-footed Geese were first reported (14 Sept) when a party of 15 flew west, also two Crossbills headed west the same day. Mark also had a brief view of a Garden Warbler and found the third record for the site of the Hoverfly, Riponnensia splendens.   More migrants were spotted (17 Sept) when a Tree Pipit flew west and a Wheatear was seen on Pill-box Hill. A Firecrest, Lesser Whitethroat, Hobby (east), a female Adder, a Wasp Spider and a Tortoise Shieldbug were reported (20 Sept). An autumn migrant from the Siberian Taiger forests was present (22 Sept). This is the Yellow-browed Warbler, which normally migrates to winter in south-east Asia. Current thinking is that the increase in UK records in recent years is down to pioneering birds travelling west to winter in the mild conditions offered by Western Europe. Any birds successfully returning to the breeding grounds will pass the new route on, which will result in even more ‘Yellow-brows’ coming to the UK. A juvenile Smooth Newt was also found in a torpid state under some bark of an old fallen tree. A Red Kite passed over heading east (26 Sept) as did 34 House Martins and 15 Swallows.


A Yellow-browed Warbler was still present (02 Oct) and a Knotgrass moth caterpillar was found in the heather. Mark reported the first winter thrushes (03 Oct) with 5 Redwing, 8 Song Thrush and 2 Mistle Thrushes.  A total of 18 Buzzards and 6 Brambling were also seen and 2 Wasp Spider egg-sacs and a Marbled Fern moth were found.   A Weasel was reported by Peter Geary (04 Oct) and Yellow-browed Warblers numbered 5 (07 Oct).  Ten Buzzards were reported moving east and a Marsh Harrier passed westwards (11 Oct). A Kingfisher flew north and 8 Grey Herons headed south (15 Oct). A large female Grass Snake was present on a litter heap (16 Oct) and 18 Lapwing passed west (17 Oct). A further movement of migrants occurred (18 Oct) with Ring Ouzel, Woodlark and Marsh Harrier noted.  Two Hawfinches turned up to feed on Rowen berries (22 Oct) with one at least staying until 27 Oct. A party of four Bearded Tits passed over the Common and were picked up by Tony Forster (23 Oct).  Bearded Tits are not great migrants but there is some movement in the autumn through local dispersal. A visiting entomologist, Neil Marks, recorded a number of German Wasps, a Gorse Shieldbug and a Marsh Damselbug the same day. The first Snipe of the autumn was flushed from the marsh (24 Oct)and 4 Lesser Redpolls were present along with a Noon Fly (25 Oct). Another Red Kite headed west (27 Oct) and a Fieldfare was also reported.


A Mediterranean Gull was with a feeding flock of Herring and Black-headed Gulls (01 Nov) and a Firecrest was noted (03 Nov), which was a mild day with Honey and Common Carder Bees out foraging. Another Hawfinch turned up (05 Nov) and stayed for three days. Two wintering Chiffchaffs were feeding in willows (11 Nov) and a Red Admiral was seen. A Woodcock was reported by Christopher Mason (13 Nov) and Mark recorded a Firecrest and a Kingfisher at the southern end of the Common (15 Nov). Our first and only snow shower of the autumn occurred ahead of Storm Bert (20 Nov). Mark saw a Great White Egret flying west over the Common (26 Nov) and also found a Firecrest and Red Admiral. A Chiffchaff was reported by Andrew Clarke (28 Nov) and apart from flocks of Pink-footed Geese passing over very little of note was seen.


Francis Farrow – Hon. Warden

 

Tortoise Shieldbug