Long-tailed Duck

 

First winter LBB at Sandown Canoe Lake.

LTD off Spring Vale 30-12-20

White fronted geese

 

'Russian' WTG; 27 at Atherfield Point. Also: 6 Brents and 100 Golden Plover

Ring-necked Duck - Rookley

 Found by Nick. Bird stayed into January 2021 at least. This North American vagrant is a first (if overdue) for the island. 

The Lakes Rookley 16.12.20

1st winter Med Gull - Hersey

YBW

Good vismig counts recently (Bonchurch Down/Ventnor): redpoll, siskin, crossbill, linnet, goldfinch, chaffinch etc; the odd Brambling and Reed Bunting; mipits and skylarks; Rouzel etc. Hirundines: house martin>swallow; 'Crests & chiffs. Another Woodlark went over (third one this autumn). And sound recorded a Yellow-browed Warbler (Oct 9th).

Honey Buzzards and Lapland Bunt

September 21st: interesting morning on Luccombe Down (bright and calm conditions) began with two Ring Ouzels and 20 Lesser Redpolls - and then put up a Lapland Bunting (2nd one of the autumn) with mipits before it dropped down again and out of view (sound recorded). With plenty of interest overhead I joined Perry for a watch at the 'raptor' mound; and Andy and Neil soon joined us. After an hour or so I noticed two raptors way out to the north of us - though distant - I was struck by how their wings were often held flat; together both birds occasionally circled but generally kept moving south over Wroxall. As they came progressively closer all four of us agreed they were Honey Buzzards and both continued southwards out over Bonchurch. Closer views of one showed it to be a typical brown morph juvenile. A flyover Woodlark nicely capped off the session. 

Volucella zonaria at St. Catherine's Point (28-09-20)

Osprey

One Osprey went through and south over Bonchurch on the 14th. Big numbers of hirundines (1000s) and siskins (100s) consistently pass by. A couple of Lesser Redpoll have already gone over the Downs (singles on the 13th & 15th) and judging by the observations from other UK vis miggers - like the big crossbill & siskin movements we've seen so far this year - it's lining up to be a productive autumn for them too. Two Ring Ouzel at St. Martin's Down (19th). 

Lapland Bunting

As has been witnessed at many other vis mig sites nationally (record counts), the last few early morning sessions has seen siskin streaming through in big numbers along the island's south coast too; plus an assortment of other species. However, yesterday morning a highlight came just after I collected my nocmig recording equipment from the downs at 06:50: a Lapland Bunting persistently called right in front of and to the East of me as it rose up above Nansen Hill; it seemed to stall mid-air before deciding to head WSW in the direction of Ventnor Town. Of course, I'd already shut off the recorder and diligently disconnected everything?! School boy error....But the calls were predominantly the 'rattle' type - plus in the bins I at least had good views of mostly its underside. Not long after a flyover was reported in Dorset the same morning. 

Pallid Harrier

A juvenile Pallid Harrier was found by the RSPB warden (Keith) yesterday (02/09) at Brading Marsh and I got a chance to connect with it this morning, as did many others; smart bird.

Recent juvenile Bar-tailed Godwit at Browns GC Sandown.

1cy Pallid Harrier soaring high up over Fatting Marsh nr Brading (04-09-20) 

Honey Buzzard Ventnor Downs

 Distant - but jizz and flight action gave it away - (probably an adult female) Honey Buzzard over Bonchurch @08:55 [2020-08-28]. Of late, good numbers of tree pipits going over Ventnor; plus a decent variety on the downs on calmer days. 

Juvenile common buzzard (01-09-20)

And good to see the official 2017 bird report land on the doormat; front cover showcasing Andy's fine photo of the Eastern Subalpine Warbler.

Flycatchers NFCs

Recently the recorder picked up continuous calls (in every segment) over Ventnor, between 10pm - 2:15am - some identifiable to pied flycatcher. Interestingly, it mirrored recent sessions at Portland and other coastal sites. 

Needs further analysis - but potentially 100s of calls recorded over a four hour period. 

The rain swept in just after the movements. 

Juvenile buzzard - one of two on the wing - Bonchurch

WT Eagle news (second release): https://www.roydennis.org/2020/08/18/successful-second-release-of-white-tailed-eagles/

Aug - YL Gull

Fairly quiet of late save a few more Tree pipits (three/south) over Bonchurch Down on the 4th. One Jersey Tiger on the buddleia and another on the wing. And the warm sunny weather is set to continue (25 - 27°).

A brief Yellow-legged Gull (1cy) at Sandown Beach flew South west and inland (and one on 11/08 on the groyne, Sandown). 

Blast from the past found on an old hard drive: Ring-billed Gull, Hants, Gosport (c2013?):

About time there was another island one - but as records nationally have dropped off in recent times, they are harder to come by. 

LBB (July juvs) Med (poss Dotterel August)

Probable, heard calling over Bonchurch Down nr Ventnor. Two separate tracks (WHD & Bonchurch Down) merged for comparison. Sonograms match (bird not seen).
Also today: my first whinchat (Luccombe Down) and yellow wagtail (Bonchurch Down). Painted Lady on the wing at Spring Hill.

jonspar · Eurasian Dotterel

Yesterday's (again 'fresh-looking') LBB juvs at Ryde

White 34K6: thanks to Mark and Renaud I've since found out this Med gull was ringed back in 2007 (May 17th) at Noordelijk Insteekdok, Flanders, Belgium; and this was only its fourth ever reported sighting. Seen shortly after at Weymouth on July 17th.