Sea watch

The strong westerlies (WSW/F6-7) continue to pummel the south coastline. A morning sea watch from La Falaise was interesting enough with quite a few balearics passing by: at least eight, plus another three distant shearwater sp that were more than likely of the same ilk. A few auks and terns too; and mipits were over the sea trickling through, plus a few hirundines etc.

Sooty shearwater

Sea watch from La Falaise (Ventnor) 7am - 9:15am: strong southerlies [F6-7] and rain. Very quiet up until one sooty went by west.

Record shot - but its distinct shape is at least apparent - with a bit of imagination.

Sprawk over St. Boniface

Sky high spoonbills

Just after 9:30 two came over Ventnor Downs at extreme height. And both were headed on a southward line and moving at some rate - no doubt aided by the tail winds. [Clear skies/ENE/breezy F4].

Practising digi-scoping with my new scope - bear in mind: v windy and through glass; no adapter used and no post editing. The buddleia attracted three painted lady and a hummingbird hawkmoth.

21/09: an obvious increase in stonechat near the south fence line (St. Boniface)

Honey Buzzard

This morning (14th@8:45) a HB (looked like an intermediate-type juv with a dark-ish mask and white in the breast etc) flew along Bonchurch Down and circled over Nansen Hill before leaving our coast line to cross the channel (over Monks Bay). Somewhat unprepared - with the camera in my rucksack - but still managed to get some record shots in the dimmest of light as it got ready to leave. And surprisingly, despite staking out the 'raptor' mound for most of the morning, nothing else of that quality followed. [Conditions: Easterlies/F3/Overcast then bright later on]

 juv common buzzard

CB vs HB (textbook)

Black redstart (15/09)

Trying to find

the sweet spot...

Certainly with a Northerly wind it's as good a place as any - this morning it was pushing birds low over Bonchurch and at eye-level.... The south facing fence line has much potential too.

Crude map

 Another hobby - I like to think there's a turnover of these.

This one came in from the west on the same line as the passerines.

NF

Juv gos circled in front of me.

Tawny owl - my guess.

St Boniface

A few more holiday

Pics...Blacktoft: curlew sand, monty's, barwit, tree sprogs..

My first IOW barn door

September