Blakehill Wildlife 2025

Blakehill Wildlife 2025

In the following species lists -  No initials - RG.  Initials=  Tim Clark, Ken Cypher, Steve Davies, Jane Deacon (JaneD), John Durell (JohnD), Stephen Edwards, Simon Gathercole, Dave Gilbert, Roger Gillespie (RGi), Joe Hilliard, Pete Jackson, Anna McTiernan, Jon Mercer, Many Observers, Brian Piercy, Nigel Pleass, Matt Pringle, Scott Punter, Rosie Ray, James Robinson, Tim Salkeld, Clive Scarlett, Nick Self, Robin Simpson, Mick & Sarah Smart, Robin Smith,  Ben Sykes, Richard Williams 

Most of the records are for birds - I would also be grateful for records of other groups - Robswildlife@googlemail.com

Below: Wheatear, 30th March & Skylark, 18th March (Both Jon Mercer)

Below: Yellow Wagtails, 26th August (Jon Mercer) and Marsh Harrier, 28th June (Steve Davies) 

Birds

2025 was a pretty good year for Blakehill birds with  rarer occurrences including a long staying Ring Ouzel in April (previous birds have only stayed for a day or less), Whimbrel, Woodcock, the seventh Green Sandpiper,  the third Great Black-backed Gull,  the fourth Osprey, Marsh Harrier, Sedge Warbler, the sixth Reed Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher, also the usual plethora of chats and even more Yellow Wagtails (the best ever year for the last named.) Breeding birds included both pairs of Stonechats breeding again (on one occasion a male was heard to sing, for the first time ever here), Curlews and Cuckoo were both present, at least, Lesser Whitethroat and Linnet were proved to breed, and for the first time in at least twelve years, a Meadow Pipit sang in July. On the downside not a single Short-eared Owl was seen, despite there having been one or two present in autumn 2024 - for some reason Blakehill's plateau does not seem to attract them any more. Happily Barn Owls and Kestrels have not been similarly put off - and Barn Owls bred successfully, see Simon Tucker's report below. For last year's records see Blakehill 2025 - Blakehill Wildlife 2024 , for the 20 year summary see Blakehill 2025 - Blakehill Birding 2003-23 

Selected List

A = all records for the year are given   Underlined = confirmed proof of breeding 

Swift  Movement noted, 8th Jun. (KC)

Cuckoo  First heard on 19th April and seen or  heard regularly (latterly with a hoarse voice!) until 2nd May then another report on 14th May (BS,JM,RG, JohnD,MP)

Lapwing  30, Stoke Common, 17th Feb. (NS) A

Golden Plover  25 SW, 9th Jan., the first since Nov. 2022  A

Whimbrel  2 flew N, 12th Apr.- the earliest ever by 6 days (previous, 18th April 2023) (JM,KC), 1, on plateau, 13th Apr. (NP et al.) A

Curlew   2, 2nd March - first for the year. (JM), present until May and  probably two pairs seen, 3rd Apr, (SE), 12th Apr. (JM,KC) & 22nd May. the last sighting of the year.

Woodcock  Flushed SW of reserve, the first since Jan 2020, 24th Feb., and again there, 1, 6th Dec. (JM) A

Common Snipe   Max Jan - Mar., 2, 1st Mar. Max Oct - Dec: 7, 6th Dec. (JM). Also 17, Stoke Common, 24th Feb.

Green Sandpiper  1, 19th Aug. over to east (JM), the 7th record, first since 2021  A

Common Gull 1, 7th Jan. (TC) A

Great Black-backed Gull  1, 18th Apr.,(MP,JM,TS) - the third record for the site, the previous two being in 2007 and 2020. A

Little Egret  1, 1st Apr. (AM,RG) A

Osprey  1,  over to N. 25th July (M & SS) - the fourth for Blakehill, first three being in 2010, 2023 and 2024  A

Sparrowhawk 1, caught a Common Whitethroat, 28th Aug. (JM)

Marsh Harrier Four records:  1. 16th May (KC), the first since 3rd March 2024, then 2, 8th Jun. (KC), 1, 28th Jun. (SD) and a  male, 15th Jul. (JM) A

Red Kite  3, 8th Jun. (KC) 4, 28th Jun. & 15th Jul. (JM)

Barn Owl 1, 7th/9th/10th Jan. (TC,RG, JH), 1, 15th/18th/23rd Apr.(MO), 1, 4th Jun. (JM), 2 hunting at dusk, 4th Jul. (via JM), 1, before dusk, 4th/28th/29th Aug. (JM) Breeding: 6 owlets fledged from two pairs (ST)  A

Great Spotted Woodpecker  Drumming, 11th Feb. (JM), drumming 20th Dec.

Kestrel  With food for young, 22nd May

Hobby Three records:  1, 30th Jul. , seen to catch a Skylark (JM,CS) - the first at Blakehill since 23rd Sept 2024, 1, 18th/29th Aug. (MP,RS,JM)  A

Peregrine  One record only - 1, 19th Nov. (JM)  A - a poor year.

Raven  Displaying, 11th Feb. (JM) pair soaring and displaying, 1st Mar. 4, 7th Jul. (JM) and seen throughout the autumn.

Skylark  First song heard, 25th Feb. (TC), 22 singing, 3rd Apr. (SE), feeding young, 23rd Jun. (RG,RS), 20+, 6th Jul. (M & SS), in song already, 19th Dec.

Sand Martin  1, 15th Jul. (JM) A

Swallow  First,1, 8th Apr., 50+, 7th Sep. (KC), the last report.

House Martin At least 1, 26th Apr. (MP)

Long-tailed Tit  15+, 26th Jul. (M&SS)

Willow Warbler  One 31st Mar. (JM,SG), 4, 20th Apr. (SP) 1, 4th Sep. (SG) 

Chiffchaff  12, 4th Sep. (SG), 2, 18th Oct. (SG) 1, 4th Nov.

Sedge Warbler  1, 15th April, the 9th record for the site (MO )  A

Reed Warbler 1, 2nd May,  6th record, first since 2021.  A

Blackcap  1. 14th Oct (JM)

Garden Warbler  1, 28th Apr., 1, 14th May - may not have stayed to breed this year

Lesser Whitethroat  First heard,1, 18th Apr. (MP,JM,TS), 4, 24th Apr., ad + juv, 2nd Jun., family, 1st Aug. (JR) 2, 14th Aug. (JM) 1, 16th/24th/25th Aug. (SP,JM,RG,JohnD, JaneD, RS, CS, TS), 1, 26th Aug. (TS) 6, 4th Sep. (SG)  3, 5th Sep. (CS) 1, 8th Sep. (JM,CS). A

Common Whitethroat  One, 8th Apr. the earliest ever here (previous earliest 9th Apr. 2006), 6, 18th/29th Apr. (MP,JM,TS,SP) 8, 24th Apr., family of 3, 23rd/28th Jun. (RG,RS) two families, 9th July., family, 25th/26th Jul. (RG,JohnD, M&SS).  August records:1, 8th/12th (RG,JM), 10+, 14th (JM), 1, 20th, 5+, 21st (JM), 6+, 24th (JM), 2, 25th (RG,JohnD, JaneD, RS, CS, TS), 1, 27th (CS), 5+, 28th (JM), 1, 31st. (BS), In September: 1, 3rd (JM), 5, 4th (SG), 1, 4th , 5+, 8th/11th (JM,CS) 4, 13th (JM), 1, 19th (RG,JohnD).

Goldcrest  1, 4th Sep. (SG) A

Treecreeper  1 trapped and ringed (ST) - the first since another was ringed in 2020 - no other records of any kind since two in April 2014. A

Starling  c1000, 23rd Nov.

Ring Ouzel  A male, 13th - 20th Apr. - the ninth (or tenth) ever, first since 2021, and first long-stayer  (JM et al.),  a female, 26th Apr. (JR), unsexed, 27th Apr. (Anon.) A

Fieldfare  35, 23rd Mar. (RG) 18, 18th Oct. (SG) c25, 19th Nov. (JM) 100+, 6th Dec. (JM), 25+, 20th Dec., c75, 23rd Dec.

Redwing  100+ 4th Jan. (JM), 15, 23rd Mar. (RG), c30, 14th Oct. (JM) c25, 19th Nov. (JM), 50+, 6th Dec. (JM), c30, 12th Dec., c100, 23rd Dec.

Spotted Flycatcher  1,24th Aug. (JM), the first since Sept 2022. A

Redstart  First for the year, a pair, 13th Apr. (JR), then 2, 23rd Jun. (RG,RS). In July 2, 2nd/9th, 1, 17th, (SE), 2, 18th, 1, 19th/21st/25th/26th (JM, RG,JohnD, M&SS) 2, 30th (JM,CS).  In August 1, 1st (JR,RG) 2, 2nd (JM), 1, 4th (JM ), 3, 8th , 2, 9th (JM), 3, 12th (JM), 2, 13th (KC,JM,RG,JohnD), 4, 14th (JM), 1, 15th/16th (RG,JohnD, SP), 2, 18th (MP,RS), 1, 20th/24th/25th (RG,JohnD, JaneD, JM). In September 1, 1st/4th/7th (RG,JohnD, KC), 2, 8th (JM,CS), 1, 19th (JohnD, RG). A

Whinchat    In April  4, 13th/14th (JM et al.), 5, 15th (Many observers) 2, 18th (MP,JM,TS), 1, 26th (MP).                                                                                                                              In August 2, 20th (RG,JohnD, JaneD), 3, 21st/24th (JM), 4, 25th (RG,JohnD, JaneD, RS, CS, TS), 2, 26th (JM), 1, 27th (CS). In September 1, 3rd (JM), 6, 4th, 2, 7th/8th/11th (KC,JM,CS), 4, 13th (JM), 6, 18th (BP), 5, 19th (RG,JohnD), 2, 29th (RG,JohnD).  A

Stonechat  Probably 2 pairs present all year, first arriving in autumn 2023 and persisting ever since. Also 1, Stoke Common, 17th Feb. (NS). Seen dust-bathing, 8th Apr.), pair with three young, 14th May, two pairs with total of 3-4 young, 23rd Jun. (RG,RS), pair with singing male, 28th Jun. the first song ever reported here, feeding young (second brood?) 2nd/9th Jul., male and two juvs, 13th Aug., 2 ads, 3 juvs, 25th/27th Aug. (RG,JohnD, JaneD, RS, CS, TS), 9, 18th Sep. (BP) 6, 19th Sep. (RG,JohnD) 7, 18th Oct. (SG). - the second year of breeding here.

Wheatear  First reported 5th Mar. the earliest ever here by 7 days (Anon.) then 1, 19th/29th/30th Mar. (JM, TS, RGi), 2, 31st Mar. (JM), in April: 1, 5th/8th (TS,RG) 8, 12th (KC), 3, 13th/14th (MO), 6, 15th (MO), 2, 18th (MP,JM,TS) 4, 23rd(CS, PJ), 1, 24th, 2, 26th (MP).                                                                                                       Then a juv. on 13th/15th Jul. (CS,JM), was the earliest ever in "autumn", and may have been raised locally?  A similar event occurred in July 2020.                              In August, 1, 8th/9th/14th/16th/18th (RG,JM, SP, MP,RS) 4, 19th, (JM) 3, 21st (J M), 4, 24th (JM),  8, 25th (RG,JohnD, JaneD, RS, CS, TS), 4, 26th (TS), 1, 27th (CS), 2, 28th (JM), 1, 29th (JM). In September 3, 3rd (JM), 3, 4th/5th (RG,CS), 1, 7th (KC), 10+, 8th(JM,CS), 3, 13th (JM), 1, 16th/22nd/25th/29th (JR,JM,RW,RG,JohnD) and finally 1, 15th Oct. (Anon.)  A

Yellow Wagtail      First for the year, 2, 12th/18th Apr. (Anon.MP,JM,TS).                                                                                                                                                                                                     In August 1, 13th/14th/18th (KC,JM,MP,RS), 2, 19th (JM), 20+, 23rd (JM), 1, 24th (JM), 30+, 25th (RG,JohnD, JaneD, RS, CS, TS), 50-60, the largest flock ever recorded here, flushed by a female Sparrowhawk, 26th/27th (JM,CS), 1, 28th (JM). In September 3, 4th (SG), 20+, 11th (JM), 1, 13th (JM),  8, 16th (JR),  20+, 18th (BP). A - probably the best year ever here, at least comparable with 2013 and 2019. The cattle were on the plateau which makes all the difference with this species.

Grey Wagtail  1, 18th Oct. (SG) A

Meadow Pipit  25+, 18th Mar. (JM). In April c50, 8th , 30+. 10th (RGi), 50+ 12th. (JM,KC), 15+ 15th (MO).                                                                                                                     One in song, 2nd July (RG), the first breeding season record since 26th June 2013 ("ET,ST" - unknown observers). Previous to that bred annually until 2010.     In September 2, 13th (JM), 10, 19th, 80+, 20th (JM), 1, 22nd (JM), c75, 29th (RG,JohnD), Then 12, 5th Oct. (JM), 7, 30th Oct. (JM), 12, 12th Dec., 2/3, 19th/20th Dec.

Linnet  Declining - all records now given: In March 1, 1st., 4, 25th (JM), 11, 31st(JM,SG) In April 12+, 5th (JM,TS), 2, 8th.  In June family of 5, 23rd (RG,RS), singing 28th. In July 3, 2nd, 2 families, 9th, 5+, 18th, 3, 25th. Then 10, 1st Aug., 1, 4th/19th Sep., 1, 5th Oct. (JM), 20, 18th Oct. (SG), 1, 23rd Nov., 1 in song, 20th Dec. A - 20 on 18th October is very encouraging - all records required.

Siskin  2,over, 20th Dec., the first report since 2, over, 23rd Dec. 2021  A

Yellowhammer  2, 19th Dec. the first since Sep. 2024 (RG,DG)  A

Reed Bunting  Singing,2nd Mar. (JM) two pairs, 15th Mar. (JM) singing 28th Jun.  - probabky 2 pairs present most of the year.

Blakehill Farm Ringing Summary 2025 by Simon Tucker

It was a quiet year for our ringing team this year. There were multiple reasons behind this: first and foremost was the wind.  It just seemed to be constantly windy, which massively restricted our access to the site.  We only managed eight sessions on the plateau / Chelworth side and three on the Whitworth building side.  In 2024 we managed nine Chelworth sessions and seven Whitworth side sessions.  In that year we ringed 387 and retrapped 37 birds from 27 species.  This year we managed to ring 170 and retrapped just 16 birds from 26 species. 

The other key issue, which I am not complaining about, as it was long overdue and needed doing, is the laying of the hedge on the Chelworth side. It needed doing as a part of the environmental management scheme, but it did have a significant impact on the catches on that side of the reserve. It will take a couple of years to get back to being productive for the winter birds: my main site for Redwing.

The biggest fall off in numbers, though, was in Meadow Pipit: last year we processed 90 of them, this year it was just two!

The list for this year was: Blackbird 2; Blackcap 6; Blue Tit 36(2); Chiffchaff 23(1); Dunnock 5(2); Goldcrest 4; Goldfinch 3; Great Tit 8; Greenfinch 1; House Sparrow 2; Kestrel 1; Lesser Whitethroat 8; Linnet 5; Long-tailed Tit 11(1); Magpie 1; Meadow Pipit 2; Redwing 1; Reed Bunting 3(2); Robin 10; Song Thrush 1; Stonechat 3; Treecreeper 1; Whinchat 6; Whitethroat 16(4); Willow Warbler 6; Wren 5(4).  Totals: 170 birds ringed from 26 species and 16 birds retrapped from 7 species, making 186 birds processed from 26 species.

One brighter note, in a year that was generally a struggle for Barn Owls, due to a lack of voles and field mice in the early Spring, the two boxes at Blakehill produced three owlets each, all of which fledged.

Butterflies

Below: Small Copper, 11th May & Brown Hairstreak, 2nd July (Both RG)

Blakehill Butterfly Transect 2025

One visit was missed this year, that for for the week beginning 26th August. There were 10 species that had a short term increase, 3 with a short-term decrease and 9 with no significant change this year. The best fortunes were with Small Copper, Common Blue, Ringlet and, most pleasingly, Small Heath, while the declining species were Brown Argus (not common in many places this year), Red Admiral and Comma, the last named not really being an open country species. Of many skippers that were examined, not a single one showed the characteristics of Essex Skipper, for the first year ever here.

All transect visit dates below are for the actual date.

 IoA = Index of Abundance (sum of all totals) 

Comments are comparing totals with numbers in the previous 10 years, while + plus, - minus and no signs (no change) indicate short term trends. (Brackets - IoAs in the years 2022, 3 and 4)

 Underlined species are species of conservation importance.

Small Skipper   Seen from 16th Jun - 18th Aug. max 48, 28/6, IoA 128  (51, 107, 69 - the 2023 figure excludes butterflies not separated from Essex Skipper so is very much an underestimate.)

Large Skipper   From 22nd May - 2nd Jul., max. 30 on 2nd & 23rd Jun. IoA 125   (136, 144, 57)

Brimstone   From 8th May - 15th Aug., max. 7, 28th Apr. IoA 27  (11, 40, 14)

+ Large White   From 28th Apr. - 8th Aug., max. 8, 2nd & 9th Jul., IoA 36  (12, 14, 5) - the best since 2018 when there were 41

Small White   From 8th Apr., - 29th Sep., max. 8, 28th Jun. IoA 48  (41, 86, 19)

Green-veined White  From 28th Apr., - 9th Sep., max. 10, 28th Jun. IoA 46  (27, 27, 47)

(Clouded Yellow  None on the transect. Singles on 12th Aug.(JM) and 6th Sep. (RR) were the first at the reserve since 2022)

Orange Tip   From 8th Apr. - 11th May, max. 12, 28th Apr. IoA 30  (10, 30, 44)

Brown Hairstreak  Three singles on 2nd & 9th Jul. and 15th Aug. IoA 3  (1,  3,  2) - In addition Julie Dart saw a female on 22nd August. Adult sightings are never very significant indicators of abundance with hairstreaks, although it is interesting that the first two sightings both occurred before the first ever known appearance of the Brown Hairstreak in the county (previously 12th July!) The egg searches in 2024-5 totalled 73, roughly half the number counted in the previous winter, in common with many places in the north of the county.

+ Small Copper  From 11th May - 29th Sep., max 16, 25th Aug., IoA 56  (30, 39, 7) - the best since 2018 when there were 149!

• Brown Argus  Two on 25th Aug. IoA 3 (due to the algorithm)  (4,  50, 5) - the worst showing since 2016 when there were also 3.

+ Common Blue  From 11th May - 19th Sep. max 38, 8th Aug. IoA 201  (109, 124, 36) - the best since 2019 when there were 349.

+ Holly Blue  From 2nd Jun., to 8th Aug., 4 singles. IoA 4  (0, 3, 2) - best since 2019 when there were 6.

• Red Admiral  From 14th May - 9th Sep., max. 4 on 2nd and 9th Jul., IoA 14  (25, 54, 16) - the lowest since 2020 when there were 8.

+Painted Lady  From 11th May - 2nd Jul., max. 3 on 2nd Jun., IoA 7  (2, 4, 1 ) - the best since 2021 when there were also 7.

+ Small Tortoiseshell  From 2nd Jun., to 8th Aug. max. 8, 4th Jun. IoA 16  (37, 9, 1 ) - Although numbers are still critical, at least seeing 8 on 4th Jun was like old times. Also one off transect 1st April.

+Peacock  From 1st Apr. to 19th Sep. max 11, 2nd Jul. IoA 48  (19, 17, 28) - the best since 2019 when there were 52.

• Comma  Three singles, 8th Apr., 23rd Jun.and 28th Jun. IoA 3  (4, 14, 5) - never common here.

+ Speckled Wood  From 8th Apr. to 29th Sep. max 5, 1st Aug., IoA 31  (18, 18, 24) - the highest number (by 1) on the transect for over ten years.

Marbled White  From 16th Jun. to 9th Jul, max. 101, 28th Jun. IoA 293  (225, 350, 100)

Gatekeeper  From 28th Jun. to 15th Aug. max 324, 9th Jul. IoA 974  (923, 1214, 759)

Meadow Brown  From 2nd Jun. - 25th Aug. max. 162, 28th Jun. IoA 986  (1321, 1395, 793)

+ Ringlet  From 16th Jun. - 25th Jul. max. 181, 2nd Jul. IoA 473  (310, 103, 221) - the best since 2019 when there were 618.

+ Small Heath  From 2nd May - 25th Aug. max. 44, 8th Aug. IoA 239  (196, 196, 57) - the best since 2020 when there were 337. Blakehill is a real stronghold for this butterfly.

No Essex Skippers (for the first ever year) or Marsh Fritillary seen this year.

Moths

As far as I know no moth trapping was done at Blakehill - so the following list is biassed towards day flying species. They are a group sadly ignored by most observers so please send me all your sightings! It was very pleasing to see a couple of Forester Moths this year, the first for nine years. Perhaps one day we might see Mother Shipton again (seen only once  - in 2023 - in the last five years), and Chimney-sweeper - not seen for ten years.

Glyphipteryx fuscoviridella (Plain Fanner) 2, 14th May - day flyer, larvae mining Field Woodrush

Forester  2, 22nd May - local day flyer, all records needed - this is in fact the first I know of at Blakehill since 20th June 2016!

Narrow-bordered Five Spot Burnet Moth c60, 2nd/4th Jun. - day flyer, all reports needed

Six Spot Burnet  2nd July only, sadly. A day flyer.

Pyrausta purpuralis (Common Purple & Gold)  1, 25th Aug. - day flyer.

Rush Veneer  1, 9th Sep. - migrant from south Europe and a day flyer.

Small Eggar   Several larval webs this year as usual. A Nationally Scarce moth - north Wiltshire remains a stronghold.

Hummingbird Hawk-moth 1, 23rd/28th Jun. (RG,RS) 1, 25th Jul., 1, 8th Aug. Day flyer.

Common Carpet 1, 28th Apr.

Yellow Shell  14, 16th Jun (JaneD) - flies day and night.

Shaded Broad-bar  From 23rd Jun. -  flies day and night.

Common Marbled Carpet 1, 14th May

Green Carpet  1, 22nd May

Scorched Wing  1, 22nd May, an unlikely moth to see in daytime

Magpie Moth 2, 1st Aug. -  flies day and night.

Cinnabar  1, 2nd/4th Jun. , 2nd Jul. - day flyer

Burnet Companion  2, 22nd May, 1, 2nd/16th Jun. (JaneD, JohnD)  - day flyer

Small Yellow Underwing  1, 11th May - local day flyer, all records needed

Below: Foresters, 22nd May & larval web of Small Eggars, 14th May (Both RG)

Odonata

Beautiful Demoiselle  1, 14th May

Banded Demoiselle  1, 25th Jul.

Common Blue Damselfly  From 28th Jun.

Southern Hawker  1, 12th Aug. (JM)

Brown Hawker  From 1, 23rd/28th Jun.

Migrant Hawker  3, 28th Jun. (SD) 2, 1st/8th/25th Aug., 2, 19th Sep.

Emperor  From 1, 2nd Jun.

Black-tailed Skimmer  From 1, 28th Jun.

Four Spotted Chaser  1, 11th May

Common Darter  From 1, 23rd Jun.

Plants

Pyramidal Orchid  6, 16th Jun. (JaneD, JohnD)

Mammals

Weasel  1, with vole, 11th Aug. (JM)

Brown Hare     1, 1st Mar., 2, 26th Jul. (M& SS), 2, 11th/12th Aug. (JM)  - the poorest year ever (three records totalling 7 individuals in 2024) - will there be any in 2026? - please email your sightings! (Though do not put on the blackboard or any blogs please.) Robswildlife@googlemail.com 

Reptiles

Common Lizard  2, 15th Aug.

Below: Raven,  11th February (Jon Mercer)