End of Feb

Nice spell of weather at the moment. Spring like with cool temps...see what March brings...(A Siskin over Nansen Hill on Feb 27th).

St. Lawrence 

Orchard Bay

Much in song including this firecrest (a ubiquitous species nowadays)

A Black-throated thrush found in nearby Hants (I've not been over to see yet) brought back memories of the Whipsnade Zoo individual I did see (and photographed) back in January 2020

Caspian Gull (Sandown)

Feb 14th: Found a 1st winter Caspo today (around midday) at Sandown Canoe Lake (in brisk easterlies), which didn't linger unfortunately: after bathing/preening for a few minutes or so, it departed westwards (NW/inland). Managed a few record shots (phone/scope). A good bird for the island given the lack of recent records - no doubt overlooked.....

Feb 19th: Sea watch (SCP), 07:25-08:55 [S.E winds]: RTD x31 (including 27E) and one Diver sp, Auk spp x93E, a few gulls etc. And after quite a protracted period of easterlies and chilly temps, it's due to become much milder with southerlies, which could encourage the first early spring migrants to arrive.  

Caspo with a 'classic' look - Sandown - Feb 14th

Woodside beach (Solent) - looking east

Velvet Scoters (Little gull)

Short sea watch at SCP this morning (Feb 6th): bright conditions with NE winds: unsurprisingly quiet save two Velvets (east) at 07:55, something (at least) and quite close in/good scope views... 

I then went over to Western Yar where a (2cy) Little Gull was found a couple of days ago: still there favouring the 'scrape' near Mill Copse. Always nice, and at least the second island LG this winter, on the back of the adult found at Atherfield (Ash Hill Farm) last month. 

Little Gull - Feb 6th - Mill Copse scrape

At least one Spoonbill (distant) - as many as five have been seen this winter.

Western Yar

Back in 2020 - Little Gulls on spring passage (April/south coast)

BN Grebe

Personally, January was some what of a lean month, to say the least...but spring is getting closer...

A Black-necked Grebe was off Ryde Pier with a slav (yesterday/Feb 1st). And DB Brent(s) x300+ along the strandline, though nothing else apparent with them (either PB or Black). A couple of Bearded Tits have been regularly seen at Yarmouth (I haven't been over yet). Otherwise, usual fare it would seem...

WTE flyover - end of Jan