Out with the visiting bro: fly over Great egret and bittern heard booming. Then had an evening listening to a nightjar, plus woodcock and LE owl.

BLACK KITE milvus migrans

Whilst driving to St. Cath's with the visiting brother, after entering Niton we both spotted an 'interesting' looking raptor being mobbed in the distance and hastily pulled over; Graham got out of the car and got his bins on it: it was a Black Kite! Fortunately it kept moving in our direction and went right over us giving close views. No photographs; only these thorough descriptive notes courtesy of my brother Graham:

 

St. Cath's/late common migrants:

 

St Cath's

Reed warbler (singing on the edge of the pool at Rocken end)
Yellow wagtail (1 over)
Swift 20+ in/off

 





Brading

Newtown

Evening wander:

Barn owl hunting just off the main road.
Two long-eared owl juvs heard (Walter's copse)
Two cuckoos heard..
And at least one nightingale singing

St Cath's

Sea watch: 13:50-17:00 (F3-4 South easterlies)

St Cath's sea watch

Evening session, 19:15 - 20:20, force 4 westerlies and overcast:

129 manx (east)
40 Gannet (east)

Brading marsh from the road bridge 16:30:

1 hobby north
c50 swift + 20 hirundines
Yesterday evening: bittern heard booming @ 20:30

 

 

 

 

Osprey - SCP

Early on, a stubborn bank of fog hanging over the sea to the west seemed to be blocking any sea birds, though some scoter got through. And one bonxie was hanging around a fishing vessel. Other stuff was trying to get through: a common sandpiper made it to shore. A willow warbler too landed briefly right next to me. Firecrest heard singing. Late morning I ascended the nearby ridge, sat down in the welcome sunshine and watched some hirundines trickling through. Did the classic about to leave and an Osprey arrives in off, circled right in front of me, and then departed the area in a northerly direction.