Graham visited the island September 22nd - September 25th, so a shortish visit, but as ever, we maximised the time spent out in the field.
Day 1 (Monday): an afternoon visit to Luccombe Down and Farm showing Graham my local 'haunts'. Day 2 (Tuesday): an early morning vis mig session at Whale Chine: the hirundine passage was impressive with an estimate of 20,000 swallows and House Martins moving eastwards along the coast. A Merlin was hunting over the nearby fields too. Later on, midday we tried WHD for migrant raptors, but the locals only put on a show including a Red Kite. Day 3 (Wednesday): another vis session on Luccombe Down; plus grounded migrants included two Groppers. Final day, day 4 (Thursday), we went back to WHD, and the highlights there were a male Ring Ouzel and 250 siskins east. However, for Graham at least (we'd parted ways at WHD!), the overall highlight during his afternoon visit to SCP was a Wryneck near Watershoot Bay, which stayed for a couple of days at least, so many got to see it too. A pleasant time and got lucky with the weather (bright/North Easterlies).
Prior to Graham coming down, some raptor watches atop Luccombe Down in conducive conditions produced very little other than an Osprey back on September 21st. Plus, singles of hobby knocking about or heading through.
IOW Trip 22/9-25/9 The best was saved to last, literally, in my last few hours spent at St Catherines Point, one of my favourite Island spots. I almost stepped on a cracking Wryneck which proceeded to give great views. Two Juv Hobby hawking insects added to a nice finish to the week.
— Graham Sparshott (@fifevismig.bsky.social) September 27, 2025 at 8:48 PM
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