GREAT SHEARWATER (St Cath's/SCP)

Usually after a weekend shift of work my preferred option would be to have a lazy lie in; but given the blustery conditions over the weekend, and with today being still reasonably breezy (SW-W), I thought the 'Point' had to be worth a punt, so got myself down there early. Fellow birder Dean (travelled over from the mainland) soon joined me on the east side of the lighthouse, and though seemingly quiet overall - punctuated by a few passing manx etc - the saving grace was when this island 'mega' materialised around 8:20 and continued west. Nice.

(This went on to get accepted by the local committee as a 'first' for the island).

St Cath's

Wheatear present; and a handful of hirundines over the sea.
Two grey seals in Watershoot bay.

Luccombe down

Kicked off my autumn:

1 pied flycatcher
3 crossbill (over - calling)
1 gropper
1 lesser whitethroat
8+ willow warbler

 

 

 

Pied flycatcher - somewhat stealthy

 

 

 

 

Ryde East sands

100+ Med gulls, early a.m.

 

 

Jersey tiger moth settled on the hebe in the garden

 

 

 

 

 

 



Brading

'New bridge'

First visit for a while with a few waders now starting to frequent the area - including two green sands early AM. And despite the seemingly endless hot dry weather of late, at the moment the pools are looking ok.