Pied Fly & Tree Pipit (Xbills)

Luccombe Down and Nansen Hill this morning (July 26th): First Pied Flycatcher of the autumn and 188 Xbills (most over but some landed). Willow Warblers have suddenly increased (30+)...

July 28th (A.M): single Tree Pipit (calling) and flew north; first of autumn; seen with Steve and Andrew. 

A sight and sound I'm yet to get bored of!

Crossbills (more counts)

Nansen Hill/Luccombe Down (this morning, July 21st, 06:45am onwards): c90 Xbills over (most North). Mark had 150+ at nearby Haddon's Pits over a similar time period. Also, a Sedge Warbler calling and seen; and c50 Swifts milling about. Some signs of early autumn migration. 

My first (juv) Yellow-legged Gull (SCP sea watch) back on July 7th. 

Common Sandpiper - Ryde Canoe Lake - July 15th

Crossbills (Parakeet)

Recent Xbill counts: 59 (North) over Haddon's Pits yesterday (July 3rd) and 51 (various directions) over Luccombe Down/Nansen Hill this morning (July 4th). Plus, a few Siskin starting to appear. Otherwise, pretty quiet for me of late - but proper autumn migration isn't far off now....

An odd 'Island tick' for me came in the form of a Ring-necked Parakeet heard (calling) at a Ryde location not far from Appley on July 2nd. Local IOW sightings of this species have increased in recent years it would seem. 

Painted Lady - Nansen Hill - July 4th

Haddon's Pits - July 3rd

Crossbills (LEOs Nightjar & RV Darter)

Evidently going to be a Crossbill year with more this morning (June 4th), either perched or on the move. At least 16 at Luccombe Village including 10+ that landed on a pine tree in a garden before leaving southwards. Evening-time: at least two juv LEO begging and Nightjar heard. 

June 8th: x57 Xbills (North) Nansen/Luccombe. Also, a male Red-veined Darter on Nansen Hill.

Xbills calling

Nightjar and LEO juvs not far from home (June 4th)

Golden-ringed Dragonfly - Luccombe Farm (June 9th)

Small Tortoiseshell - Dunnose (June 15th)

Savi's (better-quality recording)

Following a week of no further reports of the Savi's (the grim weather had not helped), yesterday evening (May 30th) I returned to see if it was still there; fortunately it was in much improved conditions:

SAVI'S Warbler (reeling)

Yesterday evening (May 23rd) I could hear a SAVI'S Warbler, albeit distantly in breezy conditions and somewhat drowned out by the din of geese etc. I missed the last one (2020?). I managed to get a low quality sound recording of this one at least. Not seen. 

Xbill movements are increasing with c25 west (May 26th) over Ventnor: Nansen Hill (5) & and Leeson Road (c12); and Nick had x8 along the coast. 

Brading Marsh from Bembridge windmill

Luccombe Chine from Bonchurch Road

Barn Owl whilst walking home 

Savi's warbler
Scientific name: Locustella luscinioides
Savi's warbler is a species in grass warbler genus Locustella. It breeds in Europe and western Palearctic. The common name of this bird recognises Italian ornithologist Paolo Savi, the author of "Ornitologia Toscana".… pic.twitter.com/d8PrdvXcVe

— The feathers (@birdd111) March 28, 2025

THRUSH Nightingale (quite possibly?!)

This morning (May 22nd) a head wind dropped a couple of things near Luccombe Chine: a Reed warbler and this Nightingale singing away in some scrub: after a recording of its song was widely shared (and debated) it came to light it was likely a much rarer Thrush Nightingale! aka 'sprosser'. I'd messaged Mark B at nearby Haddon's Pits and we'd got to within a couple of meters of it....The Island's first (I believe) if accepted.

Thrush Nightingales are barely annual in Oslo although small numbers are regular nearby. A pair did breed last year and a male is back singing in the exact same spot. Hopefully a mate will turn up again this year. pic.twitter.com/r512ZzUtnH

— Simon Rix (@si_rix) May 15, 2025