Pied Fly & Tree Pipit (Xbills)

Luccombe Down and Nansen Hill this morning (July 26th): First Pied Flycatcher of the autumn and 188 Xbills (most over but some landed). Willow Warblers have suddenly increased (30+)...

July 28th (A.M): single Tree Pipit (calling) flew north; first of autumn; seen with Steve and Andrew. Plus, xbills (c100) etc. 

A sight and sound I'm yet to get bored of!

Crossbills (more counts)

Nansen Hill/Luccombe Down (this morning, July 21st, 06:45am onwards): c90 Xbills over (most North). Mark had 150+ at nearby Haddon's Pits over a similar time period. Also, a Sedge Warbler calling and seen; and c50 Swifts milling about. Some signs of early autumn migration. 

My first (juv) Yellow-legged Gull (SCP sea watch) back on July 7th. 

Interesting location: Common Sandpiper - Ryde Canoe Lake - July 15th

Crossbills (Parakeet)

Recent Xbill counts: 59 (North) over Haddon's Pits yesterday (July 3rd) and 51 (various directions) over Luccombe Down/Nansen Hill this morning (July 4th). Plus, a few Siskin starting to appear. Otherwise, pretty quiet for me of late - but proper autumn migration isn't far off now....

An odd 'Island tick' for me came in the form of a Ring-necked Parakeet heard (calling) at a Ryde location not far from Appley on July 2nd. Local IOW sightings of this species have increased in recent years it would seem. 

Painted Lady - Nansen Hill - July 4th

Haddon's Pits - July 3rd