Review of the year (my year)

 A look back at some highlights. I didn't find anything exceptionally rare as such, but had some nice things nonetheless. It was enjoyable, which is always a priority for me anyway....and there's always next year :)

The early part of the year included a Sibe Chiff, calling as well, at Shalfleet Sewage Farm on Feb 2nd. White-fronts at Brading Marsh as well as a Glossy Ibis on March 23rd. Finding breeding Egyptian Geese on March 15th was a first for the island; initially nine goslings seen but reduced to five juvs later in the season. Sea passage included Pomarine Skua on May 9th. Two booming Bitterns at Brading Marsh on May 16th. 

Summer saw a fairly prolonged heatwave (July). First juv Yellow-legged Gull at Sandown on July 15th. Firecrest bred locally in Ventnor for the fourth consecutive year since I moved here; a daily occurence especially vocally. 

Autumn: a couple of Ruff dropped into Brading Marsh on August 16th. Had a holiday in Scotland, Aug 17th - 29th, and spent some time with my brother at his local patch Ferry Hills (Fife); included a Honey Buzzard. On the journey up twitched the rare Bempton Cliffs RED-TAILED SHRIKE on Aug 18th.  Back home for late Aug. Early September, five Balearic Shearwaters at SCP on Sept 8th. A good day on Sept 12th with probably four different Honey Buzzards over Luccombe Down. This was followed by another Honey B (am) and a Bee-eater (pm) over Luccombe Down on Sept 15th. Several Woodlarks (vis mig/Ventnor Downs, Oct-Nov) and a flyover/calling Lapland Bunting (Bonchurch Down) on November 4th. Twitched the potential EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL at East Cowes esplanade on November 8th; I managed to sound record it whilst others collected a faecal sample for DNA analysis (awaiting confirmation). A couple of notable sea watches: Ten Little Gulls at SCP on Nov 15th followed by a (late) Sooty Shearwater west on Nov 24th. A cold snap during December brought in three Bean Geese sp. (likely Taiga) at Merstone/Rookley on December 15th. 

Bean Geese (Rookley/Merstone)

Three 'Taiga' Bean Geese, in the fields off the Merstone Cycle track: 

There was some debate as to whether they were tundra or taiga - but suspected to be the latter. It was also interesting to see many lapwing and golden plover in the fields, obviously displaced by the cold and icy conditions. We also clocked a Red Kite nearby. 

Bean geese flew over us occasionally calling:

The cold snap is coming to an end: since December 7th temperatures have been near freezing or just below, with the predominantly north easterlies. However, it's about to get milder again this weekend (and wet) as the winds turn southwards...but just before it does it was one last morning of an iced over car windscreen and an iced over Sandown Canoe Lake; quite a few LBB (six) there lunchtime including this 1cy; however, despite some regular coverage there, the gulls have been a bit disappointing esp. given the recent conducive conditions; feel a bit short changed something like a Caspo or a white winger....will persevere...  

Car windscreen (16/12)

Yellow-legged Gull and (putative) scandi herring gull (1cy) Cetti's at Roud

Sandown Canoe Lake:

1cy YL Gull. Occasionally calling (a high pitched eee). Cold snap continues: the Lake had been iced over for a few days...

A Cetti's calling at Roud SW (probably a first for the site). 

With argenteus - both called (YL only singly)

Juv Scandinavian Herring Gull (argentatus) on 7th:

Ringed (alphanumeric code) adult Herring Gull (December 9th) [Yellow 6F2B?] at Sandown Canoe Lake: this is a locally ringed bird, ringed nearly a decade ago at Lynbottom Refuse tip in 2013 (details received courtesy of Roger).

Cetti's at Roud Sewage Farm - 09/12/22:

Yellow-legged Gull (vid)

Mash up of vids: adult, 2nd winter, and juvenile. 

LBB

Sooty Shearwater and little gull (SCP)

St. Catherine's point: sea watch 10am - 1:15pm, southerlies, strengthening [F5-8], overcast/sunny intervals (13c):

The highlights of the three-hour sea watch were a Sooty Shearwater west at 12:59 and a lone Adult Little Gull at 11:53. Leach's petrel still eludes me; though one was reported off Ventnor at 2:30pm, an hour or so after I had left St. Cath's! Thems the breaks huh....Kittwakes were constantly passing, and I counted 370 westward moving birds (adults and first winters). Also, a movement of auk sp (c200) and a couple of divers, singles of BT and RT, all west. One Porpoise present. Some context: Dungeness to the east of me had three sooty shears and 495 kittiwakes etc; Cornwall to the west had a couple of sooty shears too. And one seen off Hants coast a couple of days after on the 26th. 

Nov 25th (Friday): Bonchurch Down, sunny, moderate westerly, early AM: really felt like the end of vis mig for this autumn. A Golden Plover was about it...

Little Gulls (SCP) Woodlark (Ventnor Downs)

St. Catherine's point, 07:00 - 11:05 sea watch (a.m), strong southerly winds, due south, F7 gusting to F9, heavy (squally) showers. 

A morning watch at SCP was overall pretty slow going. However, at 8:20 three birds came in from the east were possibly petrels(?) passed by west: but not fully ID'd so I could only speculate (Leach's have been quite numerous this autumn). Aside from that fleeting moment of mystery: 27 Scoter went west and kittiwakes were moving by if sporadically. The highlight came quite late in the session at around 10:10 when a flock of 10 Little Gulls passed by reasonably close in and west; mostly adults too! so well worth the effort and ending up slightly rain sodden after the four-hour session. Some glaring omissions though: no skuas, divers, nor shearwaters. [Also, there was some cetacean interest as five or so Bottlenose dolphins went by (breaching) west]. 

  

Yesterday (14th): atop Luccombe Down, moderate se, fair conditions, A.M:

Wood pigeons 2500 (south), Brambling five, Siskin 36, of note. Also, four Snipe (three high up and flying eastwards/one booted by a dog walker flew round calling). 

November 18th: another Woodlark over Bonchurch down; my 6th or 7th bird of the autumn. A few Brambling etc. And woodpigs, c2000, moving along the coast on a bright if brisk (westerlies) morning. 

Eastern Yellow Wagtail (probable at East Cowes)

A photograph taken of a wagtail along East Cowes esplanade circulated via social media on November 7th was quickly suspected to be a 1st winter Eastern Yellow Wagtail, a race of Yellow Wagtail (motacilla tschutschensis) and a rarity for the UK; local birders soon investigated and twitched it. Today I caught up with it, easily found along the sea wall (occasionally dropping over to the beach), feeding - it was especially confiding. It also gave a couple of calls when it flew off, though it wasn't particularly vocal otherwise; however, the recording could prove very useful in identifying its race. This is my second UK bird (1st at Prestwick Carr Jan 2020) but my first as a local island tick. If accepted - besides photos and the sound recording: a faecal sample was collected by other birders for DNA analysis - this will be a first for the island. It's also probably been present there since September 21st being only latterly identified on Nov 7th. Certainly, bird of the year (so far). 

Casually strolling towards us seemingly unperturbed.

And the moment it flew up and called

Prestwick Carr bird (Jan 2020 twitch)

Lapland Bunting (Bonchurch Down vis mig)

Bonchurch Down, breezy fresh NW, early morning: the highlight was a calling flyover Lapland Bunting (recorder on near me/sound recorded) at 08:30am; my first of the autumn. Also a few Brambling, siskin, mipits, skylarks etc. 

2018 Luccombe Down bird:

Vis mig (Swifts)

Vis mig on the 25th (breezy SW and showers) at Luccombe Down included some steady overhead passage; six each of Brambling and Reed Bunting, nine L.Redpoll, 30 Siskin, 200 each of Linnet and Goldfinch, and a Yellowhammer. Other news: Mark Buckley had a swift sp at Haddon's Pits on 24th and likely a 'Pallid'; with another seen at Appley Beach on 25th. 

 

End of October, 31st, Luccombe Down (7am-10:45am), cloudy, breezy SE winds, 15c:

Brambling 6, Reed bunt 7, Siskin 27, L. Redpoll 8, Greenfinch 5, Swallow 13, House Martin 2, Stock Dove 45, Starling 95, Rock Pipit. 

Thrushes

Oct 20th: fieldfare and redwing over; also ring ouzel and song thrush seen; and a late Tree Pipit; Luccombe Down, afternoon.

 https://twitter.com/mrtnrey/status/1582754415429050368?s=20&t=Ffx3JdgWUII3vVpgzRN2Pg

Other local news: Snow bunting has been at Culver (Down/headland) for four days. White Storks (two to three ringed Knepp birds) have been seen in Various spots (Horringford, Merstone; originally Brighstone). 

More Woodlark(s)

Luccombe Down (07:00 - 0930), cloudy, SW. 

Woodlark: Two to three flyover(s), first one at 08:30 and second at 09:15; the latter bird was fairly low down and stalled mid-air, giving great views as well as calling constantly! It probably landed as on the way back to the car I heard and saw one near the car park as it flew off low and west. Another Brambling and Lesser Redpoll, and plenty of siskin (mostly SW), Linnet, and Goldfinch. 

Upcoming:

Vis Mig (Sunrise)

The mornings are probably the best time, visually and aurally. 

My second Woodlark of the autumn flew over on the 12th. Plus, good numbers of siskins...A late-ish Tree Pipit on 6th pricked up my ears. 

Angle Shades (I believe) phlogophora meticulosa

Vis mig (Woodlark)

Luccombe (Ventnor) Down:

7am - 10:50am

SE winds/Cloudy.

South easterlies seem to be ideal for this part of the island with birds moving on a broad front over the downs. The highlight was a calling (flyover) Woodlark, always a nice vis mig bird. Also, a decent movement and variety of species. Totals included (eastward movements): 1,500 Mipits, 59 Skylark, 78 Siskin, 117 Pied/alba wagtails; plus, a couple of Brambling and Reed Buntings; masses of hirundines. 

Sound of early autumn, mipits and Brambling. And a Video snippet:

Ring Ouzel

Bits and bobs over the last week or so:

The highlight was a flyover Ring Ouzel on the 28th; I was just packing up ready to go (fairly pedestrian up to that point) when it suddenly came in from the east, not vocal at all, but got my bins on it; nice to get a vis mig one; left in a westerly direction. Otherwise, finches have included siskin and the first autumn Brambling; mipits are obvious in numbers, with a few tree pipits still.

As September closes the winds have picked up this evening, gusting from the southwest. Could well shake things up - with a chance of an American rarity?

WHD - Merlin

Tried WHD and Headon warren today.

Highlight was a fem/imm Merlin seen along the southern fence line in a group of twenty mipits and linnets, causing a stir. It came towards and past me, close in, and continued eastwards. My first of the autumn. Otherwise: low numbers of tree pipit, yellow/alba/grey wagtails, and one siskin etc. Lepidoptera: two Clouded yellow butterflies (Headon warren). 

Early morning at SCP - 22/09/22 

Bee-eater and Honey B (Ventnor Downs)

A day of two halves: (Northerlies F4 broken cloud).  

Following on from the other day, another Honey Buzzard suddenly came up circling over Nansen Hill and departed southwards straight out to sea at an early-ish time of 07:43. Plus, mipits, tree pipits, and hirundines (in 100s) were streaming Northwards into the northerly head wind. 

Then later on this afternoon: a Bee-eater went over Luccombe Down Northwards calling at 13:44; likely to be a bird that was originally at Portland Obs (there since September 11th?) and then seen moving further East of Dorset (Swanage) around midday today. This is (perhaps surprisingly) the first island one I've encountered since 2014, which was the two I saw at Gander Down/ Brading Marsh in June and the (successfully bred) family at Wydcombe NT (July/Aug of that year).

Hummingbird hawk-moth on buddleia outside home on 16th. 

Dodgy vid of the Honey B leaving southwards

jonspar · European Bee-eater20220915

Honey Buzzard(s) - Ventnor Downs

Today was a productive day; Luccombe Down; 06:40 - 15:00. Winds SE/ESE, with sunny intervals. 

The highlight was four Honey Buzzards, presumably different birds: singles at 11:10 (probable adult), juv at 12:30, adult SE at 12:58, another juv, the fourth bird, circled over north (lost sight of it) at 14:00 (seen with Neil Newnam). Plus, a decent movement of hirundines, mipits, and tree pipits etc. 

No photos of HBs this year (presently no camera other than a phone one) - but the dark juvs today were very much like this one we saw Sept 2016 (Headon Warren) and were quite subtle. 

Luccombe Down - vis mig

A better morning on Ventnor Downs today - although still breezy the winds completely changed to Westerlies - and up top I was immediately greeted by a fall of wheatear (14 birds on the deck) and a couple of Whinchat; plus calling tree pipits and grey wags going over etc. 

SCP sea watch (Balearics, YL)

SCP, 06:45 - 09:30, SW/WSW, F6-7, showers...

After yesterday's report of a Fea's type (!!) off Ventnor (seen by NL), and with similar breezy onshore conditions today - a morning at SCP seemed like a good idea. 

It was pretty quiet though, with just enough action to maintain the interest: 5 x Balearic Shearwaters (west), 1 common Scoter east, 37 Gannets, and one Yellow-legged Gull (1cy/1st winter). 

Two Balearics were tagging along with gannets - size difference

Holiday - return home

Sunday 28th: last day in Scotland. As the winds had changed to a NE, during the morning we went back to Kilminning (Fife Ness) with 'drift migrants' in mind; however, the bush bashing in that area produced little, but the sea made up for it: sooty(s), manx, tufted duck, odd skua, and puffins etc. A great finish to a memorable time. 

Later on, I had a walk near where I was staying in the Stirling area (Bridge of Allan) in the pleasant warm conditions - a really picturesque part of Scotland. 

Monday 29th: left Scotland early doors. Stopped at Redcar around 9am to see the Greater Sand plover - but dipped - but my time there was somewhat limited as I still had a five-hour journey in front of me - but still a bit galling to see all the twitchers lined up knowing they were looking at said bird just as I was driving away! That's life. Back home on the IOW at 19:30. 

Tuesday 30th: feeling inspired I didn't waste much time getting back to my patch on Ventnor Downs, early morning, including a session from the 'raptor' mound; but most noticeable was how quiet it was; I'd gotten used to hearing the almost constant calls of Tree pipits, meadow pipits etc of the past fortnight...This was deathly quiet in comparison. However, one bop provided some interest, a ringtail Harrier sp. drifted low and into view, but views I had of it were not enough to iD it with confidence. Also, eight Ravens moving over and northwards was a great sight.  

Holiday - Day 11 - Scotland

The penultimate day of my holiday (with my brother) was another really interesting and productive one: initially at Ferry Hills (A.M) and then Kinghorn (P.M). The highlight at Ferry Hills was undoubtedly a Honey Buzzard at around 10am (a first for the site too) seen to circle to the north of us (Clive, Graham, and myself) and then drifted west; plus a Red Kite low over the Forth southwards - with an array of other species too; and later on two smart Black-throated Divers passed Kinghorn (vis mig/sea watch). The weather was really nice today too (sunny, warm, slight breeze if any). 

Holiday - Scotland - Day 10

Ferry Hills (A.M) with my brother and Alistair, and then later on Letham Pools (P.M), Decent variety including a flock of Whimbrel. 

Holiday - Day 9 - Scotland

Another vis mig morning session at Ferry Hills produced the goods! with 146 Tree Pipits counted, plus an assortment of species on the move. 

Whimbrel flock calling

Holiday - Day 8 - Scotland

 

Juv Med Gull at Kinghorn (A.M)