West high down/Tennyson down A.M

Went west: -2 temp so nice and crisp, icy and frosty, but bright, so layered up and had a good walk around the headland. Highlight was a SNOW BUNTING. First obs was hearing interesting chu like calls over me but never saw it. Almost dismissed it really, the call sounded familiar but I couldn't pin it down immediately, but lap/snow bunt came to mind. But about 10 mins after the first encounter again I heard the repetition of that call (no rattle call or any other call heard) and this time I clocked the bird making it; it came in from the west and headed due east. Views of it were wholly from below obviously, with very white underparts. Shape/jizz suggested bunting; forked tail noted; flight quite bouncy and slightly undulating. Went out of sight but interestingly towards an area where one had been grounded two or three years ago, near the monument, so I headed that way.

When I arrived there I clocked a bird along the Tennyson down cliff edge that soon dived out of sight. But when it reappeared it turned out to be a Black redstart, a nice enough substitute. No sign of the snow bunting.

Group of seven rock pipits feeding nearby too. Otherwise a showy Dartford warbler provided the only other interest.

Very close Dartford warbler that appeared to be bathing in a puddle - ice cold mind

 

Black redstart

 

Dartford warbler

 

Fox: on the Needle's 'old battery' headland. Plenty of wabbits in the vicinity, but at times looked perilously close to the cliff edge.

 

 

 

P.M: Then went to Brading late afternoon. Shorty(s) have been seen there quite frequently recently and not long after scanning out saw one ranging over the fields south of the old sea wall. Then saw another, so two present.

 

 

Low level light - SE owl Brading

 



Great Shearwaters Estaca de Bares 14 nov 2015 from Antonio Sandoval Rey on Vimeo.

 

25+ lesser black backed gulls moving past St Catherine's

St Cath's

With the ongoing movement of 1000s of woodpigeons (Portland and generally along the south coast) I thought I'd head to the most obvious watch point. However, due to a work commitment I didn't arrive there until about 10am, so probably missed any 'big' movement if it had encroached the island.

A black redstart hanging about the lighthouse was the only real thing of note.

Distant black red sheltering from the SW winds

 

 

And a link to the new IOW sightings website: http://www.goingbirding.co.uk/isleofwight/birdnews.asp

Brading marsh NR

With a great white egret and short eared owl being seen there recently, a trip there seemed a good option to hopefully see two species I haven't had good views for a while. However, strong winds meant very little was showing. A marsh harrier provided most of the entertainment, otherwise v quiet.

Brading wigeon winter flock - though still exceptionally mild for November

Looks like the st caths pipit I had recently was more than likely a water pipit - a good record of much scarcer pipit. These shots show a classic rock pipit hanging about the needles battery.

St Cath's

Headed south again to the coast. Surprisingly not much change in proceedings: vis mig mostly involved finches; 250+ goldfinch; 5 brambling; 40 linnets; 1 siskin; 3 redpoll. Also 20 meadow pipits some of which pitched in. 1 grey wagtail.

Also a bird over the sea was mobbed by a couple of great black backed gulls and moved inland and north. Not a great view but probably a SHORT EARED OWL, which was confirmed by another birder.

Rocken end didn't deliver much other than goldcrests (8 milling about). 2 bullfinch.

The only other bird of interest was a pipit hanging about with 2 mipits and the grey wag along the shoreline rocks. Never got a great photo but it's head markings were quite striking esp. the supercilium. Also its outer tail feathers seemed prominently white, though not seen in flight. Water or maybe a different race of rock pipit?

 



 

  

 

 

 Nice vid of a barred warbler.

Interesting link: https://vimeopro.com/south422/animal-gps-track-animation

 

Locally at night been hearing migrating redwings flying over.