Nightingale Luccombe Down

This morning, a common Nightingale briefly singing and calling atop the downs (before melting away). Blackcaps and whitethroats aplenty. And a late-ish Redwing heard. Little moving overhead tho...

SERIN

St Cath's Sea watch (light SE and bright conditions) this morning with George, Steve, Mark, Naomi, and Andrew, produced a few bits moving eastwards: common scoters, sarnies, and an Arctic Skua etc. But yet to get really going in that respect. The highlight was a calling Serin just after 7am: came in from the west and landed next to us in the tamarisk - for a time calling away and just visible - before (typical of most serin encounters) departing and disappearing eastwards....

Puffin

Unfortunately I found the remains of an (Atlantic) Puffin today, not far from SCP. On the back of quite a few washed up birds found around the Island's coast and beyond: thought to be a consequence of the recent stormy conditions. IOW Puffin sightings are usually during spring with the odd one or two seen passing by St Cath's/Ventnor etc. 

Heartbreaking: Right now, thousands of Puffins are washing up along our coasts and further afield. It is devastating to see. These birds are Red-listed in the UK and already under serious pressure. Mass deaths like this, known as a “seabird wreck”, can take years for colonies to recover from...

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— RSPB (@rspb.bsky.social) February 19, 2026 at 11:53 AM

Wheatear

Signs of early spring migration recently: today the first Wheatear near Watershoot Bay (SCP). Also, mipits and alba wags over and the odd siskin. Sea passage (light SE winds) was limited to a reasonable sum of common scoters (x24 East) and a few RTD.....

Woodlark

A singing Woodlark was recently found by Graham Andrews (at an undisclosed Island location) and thanks to Graham providing info I got to experience it today. I often encounter a few vis mig 'flyovers', especially during October/November, but to hear a singing individual at this time of year is quite novel, especially on the IOW; places like the nearby New Forest still have healthy numbers breeding as far as I'm aware. Got some some record shots and something of a sound recording (an ill-timed overhead plane didn't help). Plus, after so many wet dreary days this winter it was nice to experience some sunshine too. 

SCP (sea etc)

Using up some annual leave presently and over the last week or so. Weather's been a mixed bag (showery) and quite blowy at times, from the south, so I tried sea watching at 'St Cath's' a few times: fairly low/average numbers of passing RTDs (38 on Jan 18th), kittiwakes, etc. Plus, 2x DB Brent, 2x common Scoter, and a shelduck (all Eastbound on Jan 22nd). Enjoyable nonetheless and something about a stormy sea....

A Black-necked Grebe was a highlight off Ryde Pier back on Jan 19th (and a collective total of c50 GC Grebes on Solent waters West and East of the Pier).

Overall a fairly mild winter - Spring not far off now

Sibe Chiff - New Year

Having not posted anything for a while I thought I better post something....first post of the year too. A cold start to 2026, frosty and icy, North westerlies - but nice and bright. 

A Sibe-looking Chiff was the highlight today (Jan 5th) at Roud (Sewage Works), a typical spot to find a tristis with common chiffs (10+) feeding in and around the clinker beds. Plus, a calling Cetti's nearby and two Egyptian Goose flew over..

Record shot at least - stood out next to the more typical common chiffs

Back end of last year - 'Russian' White-fronted geese with Canadas - Brading Marsh (40+ since December 27th 2025)

Ventnor Bay - Jan 2026