Woodchat Shrike (twitch) Brading Marsh

A Woodchat Shrike was found yesterday (May 15th) at Fatting Marsh just to the south of Brading Marsh. However, early this morning (May 16th) it couldn't be found in that specific area, but luckily, it was seen again at the northern end of the marsh near Bembridge Ponds - and I got to see it around midday. My first since the 2017 bird at the relatively nearby New Bridge Pools (Carpenters Farm area). Also, a Hobby and Marsh Harrier seen. Otherwise: the odd Crossbill and a few hirundines have gone over (Haddon's Pits yesterday) and x8 Crossbill over Nansen Hill on May 18th. 

Unmistakable - at times showed better than my record shots might suggest! and at its closest only a few meters away. 

Painted Lady Luccombe Farm May 20th

Meanwhile in Hampshire:

Hudsonian Godwit-ad female-Titchfield Haven NR, Hants,GR8 find by @MarkFra64259515 & the first for the home county,really enjoyed this bird,even though I found the first for Portugal with @PeterAlfrey Terceira, Azores-July 2007 & seen on the nest in Churchill, CA this was class! pic.twitter.com/bCeagIVDSt

— Wader-World 🌍 (@Waderworld1) May 17, 2025

Golden Oriole (Bembridge Airfield)

I covered some ground today (May 14th) on a pleasant sunny morning - Bembridge Windmill to Laundry Lane via the 'old sea wall' (Brading Marsh & New Bridge) - and back again. Whilst crossing the airfield on my way back at around 10:25am I heard this Golden Oriole singing and calling from the trees near Brading Marsh. It was vocal for a good half an hour or so (not seen), with an accompanying Blackbird and Cuckoo (background). 

Great Egret - quite a scarcity a decade or so ago - but now resident 

Good numbers of Glanville seen - Ventnor Downs - May 15th

Couple of Painted Ladies - SCP lighthouse wall - May 10th (evening)

BB Chaser - Corner Cottage (Luccombe Down)

Barwit evening (SCP)

April 25th: St Cath's sea watch (17:15 - 20:00): as the easterly winds had swung more south during the afternoon I gave the point a go: Barwits dominated with 759 east; combined with 470 recorded in the morning, 1229 was the day total. (NB Dungeness recorded 3000+). Always a great spring-time spectacle. Also: 44 Whimbrel, 2 Arctic Skuas, 5 Manx, 12 scoter, 11 Kittiwakes, 1 RTD, 6 Sarnies etc. The land remains very quiet tho.....

Garden Warbler - Haddon's Pits - April 27th

Pied fly (Ring ouzel & Gropper)

A bit of a slow start to my spring birding campaign; work stuff getting in the way; but hey/ho that's life. Plus, the recent successive (seemingly endless) run of bright easterlies maybe not so great for the patch. I managed to dip an Alpine Accentor at Gore Cliff back on April 5th: an exceptional rarity found by Graham A. and the Island's second record. The next morning (April 6th) it was not seen again; but we did see an in off male Pied Flycatcher fly past us after coming up and over the cliff. Plus, an equally smart male Black Red in the spot the accentor would have been. 

April 15th (conditions have changed): Luccombe area (including Village and Farm etc) yielded a flyover Yellow Wag, reeling Gropper, Sedge warbler, and Ring Ouzel (of note). Whitethroats are back on territory singing away...

April 23rd: Gropper (Nansen Hill) & Sedge Warbler (Haddon's Pits). 

Gore Cliff - where the Alpine Accentor was on April 5th

Grey Heron - just below the lighthouse (St Cath's)

Island Tick

April 1st/Tennyson Down: came upon a Large Tortoiseshell along the footpath west of the 'quarry' NT car park. Initially very settled affording decent views in the bright sunshine - but seen to fly off, away from and then back past me as it headed up the slopes. A first for me but had been on my radar for some time and they're recorded annually on the Island (albeit small numbers). 

April 2nd/SCP/Sea watch (with George H): some variety and numbers (Easterlies/ENE) mainly ducks: another good push of Scoters (403), Gadwall 2 (irregular here), Eider 3 (2m/1f), pintail, teal, c40 S.Tern, Jackdaw 2 (seen way out at sea before arriving over land), steady mipits, white wagtail and swallows in off. 

Bee-fly on primrose - Luccombe Down

Haddon's Pits 

SCP (Scoters, Little Gulls, swallow etc)

SCP March 20th: easterlies (due east, slight se), bright, milder. Sea watch 06:30-10:30 with Steve S & George H: productive session with decent totals and variety (east): C. Scoter 827, DB Brent 230, Shoveler 61, Shelduck 3, Pintail 7, Avocet 1, Little Gull 19, Sarnies 18, Arctic Skua, Mute Swan (west/unusual at SCP), Cormorant 5 (in off), and some waders (curlew, grey plover) etc. An early, and first of the season, Swallow in off. Lepidoptera: a Brimstone on the wing near Knowles Farm. 

Luccombe Down March 21st: overcast, ESE. Brief visit/7am: Black Redstart (fem type, calling), and c40 Starlings east. 

Wheatear (male) and a Yellow Wagtail sp (heard only) over on March 25th (foggy morning/conditions then clear); latter could well have been Blue-headed given the south coast influx including two at Brading Marsh on 24th. 

Blackcap - Nansen Hill - March 23rd

WT Eagle (mobbed by Herring Gulls) - Haddon's Pits

Green Tiger Beetle - Luccombe Down - March 31st