September Shearwaters

Shearwater influx along the south coast. Winds: SSW/F7 gusting. 28/09/2021.

A quick look off Ventnor 7am: 1 Arctic Skua and two Balearic Shearwaters. West.

Then moved onto SCP (8am), met Derek there (he'd already had a few Balearics before 9am) and had a total of 17 (west) by 10:15, including a flock of five, close in. 

Back to SCP later on, afternoon, 14:45 - 17:00, and one Sooty Shearwater and two more Balearics went by west. Nick had three sootys at Ventnor (28th) and one on 30th. 

Blast....2013

Blast from the past..looking through old photos..

Rosy starling at SCP, September 24th 2013....

Photo by Graham Sparshott - 24/09/2013

Honey

Ventnor Downs 07:00 - 12:00 

Southerlies and broken cloud; became more overcast by lunchtime. 

Highlight from the 'raptor' mound watchpoint: ad male Honey Buzzard at 09:35, my second HB of the year/autumn; picked it up over the east corner of the Radar station compound; carried on eastwards and circled; left southwards. Vis mig included 1000's of hirundines (in every direction), one tree pipit, two grey wagtails, a couple of hundred mipits (some grounded near the old car park), and a wheatear.

Photo by Derek Hale - departing adult male Honey Buzzard

 

YL Gull

Fort Victoria 14/09

Visited Fort Vic in the morning as the wind direction was ENE; had terns in mind; but was quiet in that respect. A 1st winter Yellow-legged was at least something to admire; seen to leave over Solent waters in a westerly direction.

Yellow-legged Gull comparison with Herring 

Cone Head on Bonchurch Down 13/09

HB Ventnor Downs

September 6th:

Ventnor Downs highlight was a Honey Buzzard south over Luccombe Down and Bonchurch Down past the radar station at 11:45am; seen with Neil & Perry, from the 'raptor mound'. Also southbound Marsh Harriers (x3) including one male as well as at least 10 Tree Pipits etc. Nick had a Wryneck near Coombe Bottom too later in the day. [Light ESE winds, bright & sunny, 18c].

Noc

Back in August I purchased some new equipment: