A gusty & mild end to the year: New Year's eve sea watch produced low numbers of Kittiwakes, Fulmar, Gannets etc
Sunday, 31 December 2023
End of year review
Bird of the year was undoubtedly the European Roller at Brading Marsh, a great find by Paul White on July 8th. Other memorable moments: joining Neil atop Ventnor Downs and seeing a juv Pallid Harrier on September 22nd. A sea watch at SCP with many large shearwaters, both Cory's and Great, seen to pass by on October 13th. Personal highlights: A Night Heron at Bembridge/Brading Marsh on May 17th. Some pretty decent autumn vis mig stuff: added Bearded Tits (Oct 22nd) and Serin (July 21st) to my local Ventnor Downs flyover list. Also: good numbers of Honey Buzzard, Woodlarks, Tree Pipits, and Crossbill, etc. Here's to 2024....
Tuesday, 12 December 2023
Hooded Crow and RN Grebe
December: back on the 3rd, twitched the Hooded Crow at Cowes high school. Showed quite well.... But the crappy (oft rainy) weather continues - though it is mild again after a brief cold snap.
Ventnor, 14/12: two Velvet Scoter east the sea watch highlight; plus nine RT Divers west.
Bembridge Harbour: the Red-necked Grebe was still present in the harbour (15/12). Off of Spring Vale: GN Diver (x2), plus three distant Diver sp flew off (probably GN too), 1 x Slav, and common scoter (8), on Solent waters.
Christmas period: given the mild weather being more or less stuck with consistent blustery westerlies: most of my birding time and attention has been given to morning sea watches, from either Ventnor or SCP; it's been reasonably productive:
- Christmas Eve: moving west past Ventnor, Kittiwake 17, Fulmar 10, Gannet 88, Auk sp 54, C.Scoter 1.
- Christmas Day: Ventnor: Black-throated Diver 1, RT diver 4, Kittiwake 54, Fulmar 12, Auk sp 200, Gannet 250.
- Boxing Day (calmer day/no sea watch): Black Redstart (Spring Gardens, Ventnor), and two Blackcaps.
- 27/12: SCP; SSW (50mph gusts); 0745-1030; Kittiwake 134, Gannet 300, Auk sp 450, c.scoter 5, and a couple of misses, a skua sp and diver sp.
- 28/12: Ventnor: 07:50-0930: GN Diver 1, RT Diver 26, Fulmar 15, Kittiwake 73, Auk sp 280, Gannet 169.
RN Grebe in Bembridge Harbour on Dec 15th
Extensively walked this area not long ago...😲
Devil's Chimney beauty spot feared 'destroyed' in Bonchurch landslip. #iwnews #IsleofWight https://t.co/HZGRYkFw85
— Isle of Wight County Press (@iwcponline) December 12, 2023
The biggest landslip in 30 years, only just around the corner from me... The smugglers tea rooms, devils chimney all gone..
— Matt Wickham (@MattwicksBMR) December 11, 2023
Thoughts are with those affected 😔#IsleOfWight #Landslip #Bonchurch #Ventnor #SmugglersTeaRoom pic.twitter.com/vnNA5fJ9PQ
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Tail end of things...(Velvet Scoter)
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