Balearic Shearwater - SCP

Mixture of weather of late, often breezy (westerlies) and temps no more than 18c. 

A sea watch at SCP today was about the best option, 09:45-12:15, on/off drizzly conditions (F5/WSW], managed to scrape one Balearic Shearwater west at 11:20. But precious little else. July closes...

SERIN (and Pied Fly)

Luccombe Down/Ventnor Downs, early doors (6am). Beautiful calm morning - started off with six airborne Kestrels gliding around together, mostly silhouetted, but probably comprised a few juvs and a couple of adults. A fellow birder soon joined me and at around 7:10 a calling Serin went right over us - continued south west towards Bonchurch/Ventnor. My second bird of the year but surprisingly my first flyover up there on the downs; nice out of the blue surprise. 

Also: single siskin and crossbill over; small numbers of xbills being a daily occurrence of late. Willow Warbler juvs turning up now.    

First autumn Pied Flycatcher and many willow warblers (c25) on 26th, along the east side of Luccombe Down. Two more Xbills (over NW) and one yesterday. 

Along Ryde sea front (Ryde youth)

Agapanthus (African Lily?) nr Bonchurch 

Local Herring Gulls - three juvs/nest site - At least five young (three and two) attributable to two rooftop nest sites barely more than 100 yards apart. 

Flight calls of a flock of migrating European Serins (Serinus serinus) recorded by Magnus Robb at Sagres, Portugal, 30th Oct 2019. Background: Yellow-legged Gull, Sardinian Warbler and House Sparrow. Photo, René Pop, Spain, 15th Feb 2022 @dutchbirding @soundapproachuk @xenocanto pic.twitter.com/rHImIa6oh0

— Mark Constantine (@Markatlush) October 30, 2023

Crossbill and YL Gull juv (sea eagle news)

Sea watch at SCP yesterday evening: a Manx and (my first/right on cue) juv Yellow-Legged Gull west etc. Swifts moving west/sw. Also two fresh juv Med Gulls cruised by with a few adults. One cetacean, a porpoise. [Four juv Yellow Legged off SCP on 16th.]

This morning: Ventnor Downs, a perched Crossbill singing was relatively unusual; usually just see/hear them as they fly over. Modest vis mig: one sand martin south with a couple of swallows. A few swifts. A couple of painted ls seen last few days. 

YL Gull juv, distant scope shots - had prey in its bill at times (some sort of flatfish/flounder?)

Sea Eagle news

We are thrilled that a pair of White-tailed Eagles have successfully reared a chick in England for the first time in 240 years this summer. A very significant milestone for the project.
Read more here: https://t.co/31xHZQTsxt@SeaEagleEngland @ForestryEngland pic.twitter.com/4vhwGCkkAx

— Roy Dennis Foundation (@RoyDennisWF) July 18, 2023

ROLLER - Brading Marsh RSPB

A Roller was found by Paul White at Brading Marsh (RSPB reserve) yesterday (July 8th) late afternoon/evening; a local twitch had to be done and fortunately it was still there early this morning (July 9th). I watched it from nearby Gander Down: it was often on the wires just to the north of the Old sea wall. [Overall it stayed around in that area till  July 11th, at least). A cracking find for Paul and Brading M delivers yet again. I assume it's the first IOW record - at least as a confirmed and twitch-able bird. [Supporting cast of Hobby, marsh harrier (juv), and WTE etc]. 

Otherwise fairly quiet: Crossbills (singles and twos) have been relatively regular over Ventnor. Signs of autumn.....

Couple of record shots on a somewhat murky morning - looked better in real life!

Roller still Brading Marsh but very distant on wires at 10:44 @RareBirdAlertUK pic.twitter.com/1bIS2OuqI7

— Wallsend Wildlife (@WallsendWild26) July 11, 2023