PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER

A Pacific Golden Plover was found on October 13th at Western Yar near Yarmouth and yesterday (15th) I caught up with it. A great rarity find by Michael Caponi (a series of his photos on GoingBirding Isle of Wight). It showed well for us (myself, Neil, Andy etc) from 10:30 am onwards - hanging with European GPs. Another (likely) first for the Island and a quality find following the recent Franklin's Gull. An Island 'tick' for me....

Pluvialis fulva

Through the scope - the PGP seemed quite relaxed with Golden Plovers

Long-tailed Blue and Honey Buzzard

Today, a lepidoptera highlight (and Island tick for me) was a Long-tailed Blue at Wheelers Bay, Ventnor, favouring Sweetpea along the south-facing slopes - up to three had been seen/reported this morning (Andy B and Pete C) - another scarcely seen (tho perhaps increasing?) migrant species to UK suitably in the company of a few Clouded Yellows. Otherwise and bird-wise, a dark morph juv Honey B went over Luccombe Copse on September 18th at 08:40, and yesterday a Bonxie went east (strong westerlies) and Manx west at SCP; plus decent numbers of mipits and hirundines seen over the Downs. And I've been trying out my new (2nd hand) Canon camera...September 21st: 20+ Spotted FC on Ventnor Downs was good count in times recent..

Bonxie - SCP

Taken with the Canon camera

Lampides boeticus at Wheelers Bay - record shot

Spot FC - Shanklin Down - Sept 21st -

and Luccombe Down

FRANKLINs Gull Sandown

Yesterday evening (Sat Aug 22nd), I couldn't resist a local twitch of the rare Franklin's Gull at Sandown Canoe Lake - local birder Jay Amor had found it there back on the Aug 19th - but it's routine had been to disappear for most of the day before returning. A very nice rare (American gull) find! And a first for the Island. Got some record shots.. [bird moved on to nearby Dorset]....Also a juv Yellow-legged Gull briefly dropped in. An advanced juv YLG and another ringed (Red) Med Gull at Shanklin Beach on August 20th. 

The star gull - Franklin's - Sandown Canoe Lake - Aug 22nd

Franklin's aged as a 2cy (first summer) - flight shots showed such moult

Advanced YLG - August 20th - Shanklin Beach

LBBs of various ages on Shanklin Beach

LBB juv

Ringed (juv/1cy) Med HL3M (Red ringed pertaining to Budapest Hungary) - Shanklin Beach - Aug 20th

Common gull (Juv) - Shanklin Beach - Aug 14th

Nice to finally connect with the lingering FRANKLIN’S GULL @MudefordQuay this evening , phew! @RareBirdAlertUK @chog_nature @RSPBbirders #Franklinsgull pic.twitter.com/poLB7x04of

— Scott Usher (@SStanpit) August 30, 2026

Queen of Spain IOW

Today, I finally caught up with the rare Queen of Spain fritillaries that have been hanging around a 'west Wight' site for a couple of weeks or so (since end of July). We saw at least two together but likely a total of three have been reported. And more have since been found at other Island locations and on the mainland too. A rare species of butterfly and migrant to the UK. They were quite active but I managed some phone camera record shots at least. Also, four HB Hawkmoths seen was quite notable. Otherwise: the bright sunny warm days continue unabated with another 'heatwave' forecast.

Issoria Lathonia

Clouded Yellow - noticeably numerous this year - this one on Nansen Hill on July 30th

Yellow-legged Gull and ringed Meds

Juv YL Gull at Watershoot Bay on July 11th and 16th. And some (yellow/German) ringed Med gulls of interest on Shanklin Beach. 

Watershoot Bay - YL Gull

July 6th - German bird ANNS (Shanklin Beach)

July 17th - AL.AH from Saxony - Shanklin Beach

Red-veined Darter - Nansen Hill - Aug 8th

Sea watches (Poms)

Some recent sea watches (bright easterlies) at St Cath's were punctuated with moments of interest.

April 24th (evening 16:50-19:50): included 4x Pomarine Skua (together) east at 17:20. And 69 Manxies and smallish flock of barwits (x22) was all I could muster...

May 1st (Morning 06:00-11:00 with nine! observers, GAH, MB, IMR, OD, SS, IO, DS, DJH, NW): a steady mix included four Poms and eight Arctic skuas, and a single Bonxie; the latter skua type being the only one I've seen this year...Routine fare but with good company..

Silver Y at Haddon's Pits recently

CIRL BUNTING

Not something you hear everyday, emberiza cirlus, especially on the Island. While sea watching (alone) I suddenly heard one singing behind me (unseen) for a few minutes in the lighthouse grounds (SCP) - I just managed to get a (video) sound recording before it fell silent.

jonspar · Cirl Bunting20260420_064458bb

Lesser throat are comparable