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)