HERSEY (SSSI/RAMSAR) NATURE RESERVE

2019 REPORT It is already a month since the winter equinox and as the daylight hours slowly lengthen it is lovely to hear the triple lilt of an early morning Song Thrush or the drumming of Great Spotted Woodpecker echoing over the lagoons.

Although wildlife can be subdued at this time of year, Solent winter visitors are much in evidence. On the foreshore, Brent Geese in their hundreds fly by daily in ragged flocks. They regularly land to feed on Duver beach en route to their preferred feeding sites on Bembridge Marsh or returning to their roosting sites west of Ryde. Sanderling shelter on the stones by the culvert at high tide. Only last week, on a sunny January afternoon, we were delighted by the appearance of a Grey Seal offshore opposite the Reserve, along with five Great Crested Grebe and three Great Northern Diver.

In the Reserve, a Kingfisher or two are to be seen flying hither and thither, or fishing from a favourite spot by the weir at the entrance to the Reserve. In recent weeks, Curlew, Oystercatcher and Snipe have been photographed from the Hide, as have a colour-ringed Coot from Cheshire and a Mediterrranean Gull from Belgium.

Welcome to the 2019 Report for Hersey Nature Reserve, Seaview • Birds • Bats • , Bugs and Butterflies, • Biological Study • Nesting Raft • Colour-ringed Birds • Ground maintenance works • Species lists HERSEY NATURE RESERVE – BIRDS 2019

The list of bird species observed at Hersey Nature Reserve SSSI/RAMSAR keeps increasing! Since 2015, Friends of Hersey have submitted records for 107 species to the Local Record Centre. In 2019, 110 named recorders logged over 2000 entries on observation sheets, providing records of 82 species of bird. 2019 was exceptional, with 15 new species reported - highlights being Avocet, Nightjar, Ring Ouzel, Spotted Flycatcher and White Tailed Eagle as well as the first recorded successful breeding of Black Headed Gull in east Wight. This the first confirmed breeding record away from the Newtown area since the 1930's, when there was a small colony at Yarmouth.

Curlew by Paul Jackson Ring Ouzel by Derek Hale

Nightjar by Mark Woodhouse Black Headed Gull chick by Darren Harris

Avocet by Shena Maskell Grey Heron with eel by Douglas Cox

SEAVIEW DUVER BEACH/SOLENT WATER S.P.A.

Hersey Nature Reserve and the Seaview Duver form part of the Ryde Sands and Wootton Creek Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the Solent and Southampton Water RAMSAR and Special Protection Area (SPA). (A Ramsar site is land listed as a Wetland of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat, under the Ramsar Convention 1973.)

Many of our winter birds migrate from colder climates to escape harsher conditions on their summer breeding grounds. For example, the Brent Geese that feed on our foreshore have migrated an astonishing 5000 km from Northern Siberia to spend the winter on the Solent.

In addition, a Grey Seal was observed swimming offshore opposite the Reserve on several occasions during July.

We welcome any reports and/or photographs of sightings on the Foreshore – simply log them on the observation sheets in the Hide clearly stating the location as Duver Beach. If you would like to share your photographs please resize them to 900x600 pixels and send them to [email protected] .

Brent Geese by Jo King Sanderling by Darren Harris

Raven by Ian Pratt

Turnstone by Ian Pratt

HERSEY NATURE RESERVE – BAT MONITORING 2019

In March 2019, five bat boxes were installed on the two central English Oak trees within the southern marsh meadow of Hersey Nature Reserve. When the weather gets warmer, usually in early summer, pregnant female bats gather in warm, safe places to have their young. It is hoped these boxes might be used for maternity roosts (for more information about the bat cycle of life click here .)

Over the last three years the Isle of Wight Bat Group has undertaken three-day surveys on behalf of Friends of Hersey Nature Reserve to establish a baseline for bat presence in the Reserve. Since 2016, ten of the eighteen species of bat found in the UK have been recorded on the Reserve.

We are extremely grateful to IW Bat Group Operations Officer, Jon Whitehurst, and Bat Group members Glynn Cooper and Bernie Hamet who carried out a one-night bat ‘health-check’ survey at the end of June 2019. Jon Whitehurst reported: “in comparison with previous surveys there is no statistical difference in the marker species (Common and Soprano Pipistrelle). It would need more survey effort to be sure of the other species, but at this basic level all looks to be the same. This is good news because bat populations decline quickly if they are being impacted and are very slow to recover when conditions are fixed.”

If you are interested in the work of the Bat Group their general enquiry email is [email protected] .

A highlight of the walk was seeing a Long Eared Owl at the Reserve western boundary!

HERSEY NATURE RESERVE – MOTHS, BUGS AND BUTTERFLIES 2019

Common Oak Thelaxid Hersey Nature Reserve With no previous records found, Silky Wainscot Iain Outlaw at work! this aphid may be a new Hersey Nature Reserve species for the Isle of Wight

Liophloeus tessulatus

Jersey Tiger Moth Angle Shade Moth Hersey Nature Reserve - a Seaview Duver Seaview Duver weevil with no common name!

A moth study commenced in April, managed by the County Moth Recorder, Iain Outlaw. Iain carried out three trapping sessions on 30th April, 5th June and 23rd July. Regrettably the weather was not favourable; the first two nights proved to be cold and damp so there were fewer moths in the Reserve than hoped, and a thunderstorm curtailed the third survey after two hours! Iain reports as follows: “Owing to the difficulty in getting equipment into the marsh, I opted to use lightweight Heath style traps using LED strip lights. These traps have proved to be quite effective and 55 species were recorded from three sessions. A typical range of species was recorded with a number of reedbed specialists present. The larvae of phragmitella and Calamotropha paludella feed on Bulrush whilst those of Silky Wainscot, Southern Wainscot and Chilo phragmitella feed on Common Reed. The best find was palustrellus with only four previous records on the Isle of Wight. It is a Nationally scarce (Nb) species typically found on waste ground, dry pastures and sand-dunes where the larvae feed on Dock and Curled Dock.” HERSEY NATURE RESERVE – BUTTERFLIES 2019

Whilst no official butterfly survey has been undertaken, Shena and John Maskell kindly sent us the following list of butterflies they observed in the public access area of Hersey Nature Reserve 2019.

Comma Large Skipper Painted Lady Common Blue Large White Peacock Gatekeeper Marbled White Red Admiral Green-veined White Meadow Brown Speckled Wood

Speckled Wood Green-veined White by Shena Maskell by Shena Maskell

Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni) was recorded on the observation sheets, an Orange Tip Butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines) was reported by Luke Ellison, and Jim Baldwin, the Island Recorder for Dragonflies, Damselflies and Beetles, forwarded these photographs of a Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja) taken by Scott Newman on 11th July 2019.

Dark Green Fritillary by Scott Newman Dark Green Fritillary by Scott Newman Jim started an Entomology Study of the Reserve last year. He is happy to help with identification queries and hopes to encourage more people to report their observations. If you have any queries or photographs you can contact him here

HERSEY NATURE RESERVE - BOTANICAL SURVEY 2019

Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) A visit was made to the restricted access area to the west and south-west of the Hersey Nature Reserve lagoons on 25th June 2019 by Dr. Colin Pope and Sue Blackwell of the Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeology Society to record the flora. This was the first re-survey of this area since 2007. A total of 110 plant species were recorded. Dr. Pope reports that “This botanical survey has shown there have been subtle changes in plant communities since the 2007 survey. The observed changes are likely to be linked with changes in management. The site undoubtedly benefited from engineering works carried out in the early 2000’s to enhance the value of the site and this is reflected in the earlier surveys between 1997 and 2007. Inevitably, over time, the lack of disturbance and intermittent grazing has resulted in a decline of some species. The site is difficult to graze being marginal land which is frequently flooded. Recent measures including new fencing, and reintroduction of grazing and mowing, should arrest any further decline and lead to a gradual improvement in habitat quality. In the large field immediately south of the pond, and clearly visible from the bird hide, the vegetation has become more rank. Reeds and Bulrush have increased and the extent of short, brackish grassland has declined. However, the majority of species recorded in 2007 survive. It is concerning that neither Divided Sedge or Bulbous Foxtail Grass were recorded as these are two of the rarer species present on site. However, a repeat survey earlier in the season is recommended in order to establish the true status of these species. The vegetation in the large field, beyond the reeds, at the far south end of the Reserve, has also become more rank. The abundance of both tall fen and neutral grassland species has declined. However, it should be stressed that these species were never frequent here and they still survive, albeit in reduced quantity. The vegetation on the track running along the full length of the western boundary remains unchanged. The parched grassland, with populations of Chamomile and scarcer clovers, is a botanical highlight of the site.”

HERSEY NATURE RESERVE – NESTING RAFT 2019 A tern nesting raft, built by volunteers, was successfully installed on the east lagoon in April 2018. It was hoped it would attract Common Tern returning from their African winter quarters. Little interest was shown by any bird species during 2018 and the raft was duly retrieved and overwintered in a local garden. We were refused permission to use the ramp in Salterns Village so the re-launching of the raft on 31st March 2019 was a valiant achievement by volunteers on a chilly, windy day.

The Isle of Wight Ringing Group provided sound lure equipment which was played daily for two weeks from dawn to dusk. No Common Tern appeared but a pair of Black Headed Gulls adopted the raft as their breeding ground. By May, they had built and were sitting on a nest guarded by four clay Common Tern decoys! On 13th June two chicks wobbled off the nest. The following day one disappeared, but the remaining chick survived to fledge. It left the raft on 10th July but could not get back up onto it and the air filled with strident calls from both the chick and adult birds. The chick swam to the bank, which had been strimmed by Salterns Village without authorization, where it was exposed and in danger of predation. We held our breath for several days until it successfully took to the air.

The chick continued to use the raft as ‘home’ for the rest of the summer. A bird with immature plumage is still to be seen on the Reserve, although we have no way of knowing this is ‘our’ bird. Classified as Amber on the list of U.K. Birds of Conservation Concern 4, this is the first record of successful breeding by Black Headed Gull in east Wight and the first confirmed breeding record away from the Newtown area since the 1930's, when there was a small colony at Yarmouth.

Thanks to Darren Harris and Derek Hale for providing photographs. Due to the launching difficulties, the raft has been left in situ and will be inspected before the 2020 nesting season. HERSEY NATURE RESERVE – COLOUR RINGED BIRDS

Jim Baldwin, B.T.O. Representative for the Isle of Wight has provided the following information.

This photograph of a colour ringed Coot (Fulica atra) JDN on the east field was taken from the Hide at Hersey Nature Reserve, on 27 December 2019. The Coot was ringed by Kane Brides, Monitoring Wetland Unit, WWT (Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust) on 13th October 2019 as an adult bird, exact age unknown, at Redes Mere, Siddington, Cheshire. The bird has travelled 295km south and underlines the fact that wintering Coot populations on the island are boosted by birds travelling south and from Europe. This sighting has been the cause of much excitement on social media and Jim would welcome any further sightings at Hersey Nature Reserve as there is still so much to learn about Coot movements.

This 3360 colour ringed Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) was also photographed from the Hide on the east field of Hersey Nature Reserve, on 27 December 2019. Mediterranean Gull is one of the species mentioned in the Reserve’s SSSI citation. This bird is at least three years old and was originally ringed in Antwerp, Belgium as an adult bird on 12th May 2018. It was then recorded at the same location by a different ringer on 15th March 2019 but has subsequently not been seen until this sighting in the U.K. at Hersey Nature Reserve. Useful links Colour Ringing and Ringing RESERVE GROUND MANAGEMENT WORKS 2019

The seasonal management works allowed new habitats to be created. In spring, Bat Boxes and Kingfisher nesting boxes were installed.

In the autumn, as part of flood defence management, a new nesting island was created with the spoil of ditch clearance.

Cattle were not grazed this year. All paths, tracks and fields were mechanically cut at the end of the summer. This allowed scrapes to be created in both fields visible from the hide, providing more habitat for overwintering birds. Dead trees were felled and used to create new perches on the banks of the public access area and the western sandbar.

Eradication of Pampas Grass from the area behind the boat park is now complete.

Posters and a Leaflet Box for Bird Aware Solent were installed in the Hide.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU

Thanks to all our volunteers who open and close the Bird Hide in the public area – their contribution is invaluable. Keyholders open and close the Hide daily for a week at a time, at the moment three times a year. A parking permit is provided for that week if required. If you, or anyone you know, would like to join us, please do get in touch.

Thanks to all the visitors who log their sightings on the observation sheets in the Hide; to those who send us photographic evidence; and to individuals who report species they have seen.

Thanks to Dr. Martin Blackmore who both set up our website and has curated the photographic blog since 2015. Martin has decided to ‘retire’ – we shall sorely miss his input!

Thanks to the photographers who share their work and enable us to keep our blog going.

Thanks to IW Council Coastal Engineer, Luke Ellison, who manages the Reserve.

Thanks to the IW Bat Group for their continued support, the IW Natural History Society, the IW Ringing Group and the County Moth Recorder for carrying out new surveys.

FINAL WORD

New species are observed and recorded every year, and management within the Reserve is both maintaining and creating new habitat. Recording regularly is contributing both to a greater understanding of the biological value of the Reserve and to effective Reserve Management. Monitoring species and habitats and submitting records of observations provide proof of what Friends already know – Hersey Nature Reserve may be small, but it is a gem of biodiversity and much valued by its many visitors both human and .

Many of the laws that protect our environment are tied to the E.U. and we have no way of knowing whether these laws will change. However, threats immediately outside nature reserves are nearly as important as those inside in determining biological health.

We still await a decision from the Planning Inspectorate regarding the second appeal lodged against IW Council’s refusal to alter the condition restricting occupation, and therefore the impact, of Salterns Village to the summer months.

Land along the western boundary of Hersey Nature Reserve, previously occupied by Seaview Wildlife Encounter (formerly Flaming Park) which was only open during the summer months, is now for sale and being marketed as an exciting development opportunity .

Friends of Hersey Nature Reserve, January 2020

SPECIES LIST – HERSEY NATURE RESERVE BIRDS 2019 Avocet Little Grebe Barn Owl Long-eared Owl Barnacle Goose (naturalised) Long-tailed Tit Black Redstart Magpie Black Headed Gull Mallard Black Tailed Godwit Mallard Hybrid (farmyard type) Blackbird Mediterranean Gull Blackcap Moorhen Blue Tit Mute Swan Buzzard Nightjar Canada Goose Northern Wheatear Cetti’s Warbler Oystercatcher Chiffchaff Pheasant Common Gull Pintail Common Redstart Pochard Common Sandpiper Red-Breasted Merganser Coot Redpoll sp. Cormorant Redshank Cuckoo Reed Bunting Curlew Reed Warbler Dunnock Robin Gadwall Rook Goldcrest Sedge Warbler Goldfinch Shelduck Great Black Backed Gull Shoveler Great Spotted Woodpecker Snipe Great Tit Snow Goose (feral) Great White Egret Song Thrush Green Woodpecker Sparrowhawk Greenfinch Spotted Flycatcher Greenshank Stonechat Grey Heron Swallow Herring Gull Teal House Martin Tufted Duck House Sparrow Water Rail Jackdaw White Tailed Eagle Jay Whitethroat Kestrel Wigeon Kingfisher Willow Warbler Lapwing Woodpigeon Little Egret Wren All observations have been entered on MapMate and forwarded to the Isle of Wight Local Records Centre.

SPECIES LIST – SEAVIEW DUVER BEACH/SOLENT WATER S.P.A. BIRDS These records do not include any observations made as part of the British Trust for Ornithology WEBS surveys or the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust Solent Waders and Brent Goose Survey 2019. Common names in alphabetical order:

Black Headed Gull Oystercatcher Brent Goose Pied Wagtail Buzzard Raven Cormorant Ringed Plover Great Black-backed Gull Rock Pipit Great Crested Grebe Sanderling Herring Gull Sandwich Tern Little Egret Shelduck Northern Wheatear Turnstone

SPECIES LIST – HERSEY NATURE RESERVE BATS 2019 Common name Scientific name Years present on survey Western Barbastelle Barbastella barbastellus 2017/2018/2019 Serotine Eptesicus serotinus 2016/2017/2018/2019 Daubenton’s bat Myotis daubentonii 2016/2107/2018 Whiskered bat Myotis mystacinus 2016/2017/2018/2019 Natterer’s bat Myotis natteri 2016/2017/2018 Common Noctule Nyctalus noctula 2016/2017/2018 Nathusius’s Pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii 2016/ 2018 Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus 2016/2017/2018/2019 Soprano Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus 2016/2017/2018/2019 Brown/common Long-eared bat Plecotus auritus 2016/2017/2018

SPECIES LIST – HERSEY NATURE RESERVE MOTHS 2019 Common Swift (Korscheltellus lupulina) Small Fan-footed Wave (Idaea biselata) Nematopogon swammerdamella Blood-vein (Timandra comae) Diamond-back Moth (Plutella xylostella) Yellow Shell (Camptogramma bilineata) Carcina quercana Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) Agonopterix arenella Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) Agonopterix heracliana Early Tooth-striped (Trichopteryx carpinata) Limnaecia phragmitella Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata) Bryotropha terrella Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) Monochroa palustrellus Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) Mompha epilobiella Chocolate-tip (Clostera curtula) Blastobasis adustella Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis) Common Plume (Emmelina monodactyla) Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lutea) Cyclamen Tortrix (Clepsis spectrana) Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) inopiana Round-winged Muslin (Thumatha senex) Agapeta hamana Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola) Aethes rubigana Common Footman (Eilema lurideola) molliculana Mottled Rustic (Caradrina morpheus) Endothenia gentianaeana Silky Wainscot (Chilodes maritima) Eucosma cana Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica) Cydia splendana Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) Endotricha flammealis Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens) Mother of Pearl (Patania ruralis) Southern Wainscot (Mythimna straminea) Chilo phragmitella Clay (Mythimna ferrago) Calamotropha paludella Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing culmella) (Noctua janthe) Crambus perlella Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) Oak Eggar (Lasiocampa quercus) Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata)

Thanks also to John and Shena Maskell who provided us with their observation of Six Spot Burnet Moth (Zygaena filipendulae) in the public access area of the Reserve.

SPECIES LIST – HERSEY NATURE RESERVE BIOLOGICAL SURVEY 2019 Common Name Scientific Name Yarrow Achillea millefolium Common Bent Agrostis capillaris Creeping Bent Agrostis stolonifera Marsh Foxtail Alopecurus geniculatus Meadow Foxtail Alopecurus pratensis Scarlet Pimpernel Anagallis arvensis Sweet Vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum Fool`s Water-cress Apium nodiflorum Lesser Burdock Arctium minus False Oat Grass Arrhenatherum elatius Downy Oat-grass Avenula pubescens Black Horehound Ballota nigra Daisy Bellis perennis Hairy-brome Bromopsis ramosa Hedge Bindweed Calystegia sepium Hairy Sedge Carex hirta False Fox-sedge Carex otrubae Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra Common Mouse-ear Cerastium fontanum Little Mouse-ear Cerastium semidecandrum Chamomile Chamaemelum nobile Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare Field Bindweed Convolvulus arvensis Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna Smooth Hawk's-beard Crepis capillaris Crested Dog`s Tail Cynosurus cristatus Wild Teasel Dipsacus fullonum Common Spike-rush Eleocharis palustris Common Couch Elytrigia repens Great Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum Great Horsetail Equisetum telmateia Hemp Agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum Red Fescue Festuca rubra Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria Ash Fraxinus excelsior Cleavers Galium aparine Common Marsh Bedstraw Galium palustre Cut-leaved Cranesbill Geranium dissectum Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea Floating Sweet-grass Glyceria fluitans Bristly Oxtongue Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium Yorkshire Fog Holcus lanatus Meadow Barley Hordeum secalinum Square-stalked St.John`s-wort Hypericum tetrapterum Cat's-ear Hypochaeris radicata Jointed Rush Juncus articulatus Toad Rush Juncus bufonius Soft Rush Juncus effusus Hard Rush Juncus inflexus Meadow Vetchling Lathyrus pratensis Rough Hawkbit Leontodon hispidus Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare Perennial Ryegrass Lolium perenne Bird`s-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus Greater Bird`s-foot-trefoil Lotus pedunculatus Field Wood-rush Luzula campestris Gypsywort Lycopus europaeus Black Medick Medicago lupulina Water Mint Mentha aquatica Hemlock Water-dropwort Oenanthe crocata Corky-fruited Water-dropwort Oenanthe pimpinelloides Redshank Persicaria maculosa Timothy Grass Phleum pratense Common Reed Phragmites australis Buck`s-horn Plantain Plantago coronopus Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata Greater Plantain Plantago major Annual Meadow-grass Poa annua Rough Meadow-grass Poa trivialis Aspen Populus tremula Creeping Cinquefoil Potentilla reptans Selfheal Prunella vulgaris Blackthorn Prunus spinosa Common Fleabane Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus acris Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens Bastard Cabbage Rapistrum rugosum Dog Rose Rosa canina sens.str. Rubus fruticosus agg. Rubus fruticosus agg. Common Sorrel acetosa Sheep`s Sorrel Rumex acetosella Clustered Dock Rumex conglomeratus Curly Dock Broad-leaved Dock Rumex obtusifolius Grey Willow Salix cinerea subsp.oleifolia Giant Fescue Schedonorus giganteus Water Figwort Scrophularia auriculata Hoary Ragwort Senecio erucifolius Ragged Robin Silene flos-cuculi Bittersweet Solanum dulcamara Perennial Sow-thistle Sonchus arvensis Prickly Sow Thistle Sonchus asper Smooth Sow Thistle Sonchus oleraceus Hedge Woundwort Stachys sylvatica Hop Trefoil Trifolium campestre Slender Trefoil Trifolium micranthum Bird`s-foot Clover Trifolium ornithopodioides Red Clover Trifolium pratense Knotted Clover Trifolium striatum Yellow Oat Grass Trisetum flavescens Bulrush latifolia Common Nettle Urtica dioica Tufted Vetch Vicia cracca Hairy Tare Vicia hirsuta Common Vetch Vicia sativa subsp.nigra Squirrel-tail Fescue Vulpia bromoides Rat`s Tail Fescue Vulpia myuros END OF REPORT 2019