PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER

A Pacific Golden Plover was found on October 13th at Western Yar near Yarmouth and yesterday (15th) I caught up with it. A great rarity find by Michael Caponi (a series of his photos on GoingBirding Isle of Wight). It showed well for us (myself, Neil, Andy etc) from 10:30 am onwards - hanging with European GPs. Another (likely) first for the Island and a quality find following the recent Franklin's Gull. An Island 'tick' for me....

Pluvialis fulva

Through the scope - the PGP seemed quite relaxed with Golden Plovers

Long-tailed Blue and Honey Buzzard

Today, a lepidoptera highlight (and Island tick for me) was a Long-tailed Blue at Wheelers Bay, Ventnor, favouring Sweetpea along the south-facing slopes - up to three had been seen/reported this morning (Andy B and Pete C) - another scarcely seen (tho perhaps increasing?) migrant species to UK suitably in the company of a few Clouded Yellows. Otherwise and bird-wise, a dark morph juv Honey B went over Luccombe Copse on September 18th at 08:40, and yesterday a Bonxie went east (strong westerlies) and Manx west at SCP; plus decent numbers of mipits and hirundines seen over the Downs. And I've been trying out my new (2nd hand) Canon camera...September 21st: 20+ Spotted FC on Ventnor Downs was good count in times recent..

Bonxie - SCP

Taken with the Canon camera

Lampides boeticus at Wheelers Bay - record shot

Spot FC - Shanklin Down - Sept 21st -

and Luccombe Down

FRANKLINs Gull Sandown

Yesterday evening (Sat Aug 22nd), I couldn't resist a local twitch of the rare Franklin's Gull at Sandown Canoe Lake - local birder Jay Amor had found it there back on the Aug 19th - but it's routine had been to disappear for most of the day before returning. A very nice rare (American gull) find! And a first for the Island. Got some record shots.. [bird moved on to nearby Dorset]....Also a juv Yellow-legged Gull briefly dropped in. An advanced juv YLG and another ringed (Red) Med Gull at Shanklin Beach on August 20th. 

The star gull - Franklin's - Sandown Canoe Lake - Aug 22nd

Franklin's aged as a 2cy (first summer) - flight shots showed such moult

Advanced YLG - August 20th - Shanklin Beach

LBBs of various ages on Shanklin Beach

LBB juv

Ringed (juv/1cy) Med HL3M (Red ringed pertaining to Budapest Hungary) - Shanklin Beach - Aug 20th

Common gull (Juv) - Shanklin Beach - Aug 14th

Nice to finally connect with the lingering FRANKLIN’S GULL @MudefordQuay this evening , phew! @RareBirdAlertUK @chog_nature @RSPBbirders #Franklinsgull pic.twitter.com/poLB7x04of

— Scott Usher (@SStanpit) August 30, 2026

Queen of Spain IOW

Today, I finally caught up with the rare Queen of Spain fritillaries that have been hanging around a 'west Wight' site for a couple of weeks or so (since end of July). We saw at least two together but likely a total of three have been reported. And more have since been found at other Island locations and on the mainland too. A rare species of butterfly and migrant to the UK. They were quite active but I managed some phone camera record shots at least. Also, four HB Hawkmoths seen was quite notable. Otherwise: the bright sunny warm days continue unabated with another 'heatwave' forecast.

Issoria Lathonia

Clouded Yellow - noticeably numerous this year - this one on Nansen Hill on July 30th

Yellow-legged Gull and ringed Meds

Juv YL Gull at Watershoot Bay on July 11th and 16th. And some (yellow/German) ringed Med gulls of interest on Shanklin Beach. 

Watershoot Bay - YL Gull

July 6th - German bird ANNS (Shanklin Beach)

July 17th - AL.AH from Saxony - Shanklin Beach

Red-veined Darter - Nansen Hill - Aug 8th

Sea watches (Poms)

Some recent sea watches (bright easterlies) at St Cath's were punctuated with moments of interest.

April 24th (evening 16:50-19:50): included 4x Pomarine Skua (together) east at 17:20. And 69 Manxies and smallish flock of barwits (x22) was all I could muster...

May 1st (Morning 06:00-11:00 with nine! observers, GAH, MB, IMR, OD, SS, IO, DS, DJH, NW): a steady mix included four Poms and eight Arctic skuas, and a single Bonxie; the latter skua type being the only one I've seen this year...Routine fare but with good company..

Silver Y at Haddon's Pits recently

CIRL BUNTING

Not something you hear everyday, emberiza cirlus, especially on the Island. While sea watching (alone) I suddenly heard one singing behind me (unseen) for a few minutes in the lighthouse grounds (SCP) - I just managed to get a (video) sound recording before it fell silent.

jonspar · Cirl Bunting20260420_064458bb

Lesser throat are comparable

Migrants Luccombe area

Nice morning and walk around Luccombe: including (East side) downs, Village, farm, and Haddon's Pits. Aside from an obvious fall of willow warblers (50+): a single Redstart, three Groppers (Luccombe Down and Haddon's Pits), and a Whinchat...Plus, back on territory Lesser and common whitethroats, chiffchaffs, blcakcaps, and a Swallow over the farm. Numerous Firecrest singing too...

Nightingale Luccombe Down

This morning, a common Nightingale briefly singing and calling atop the downs (before melting away). Blackcaps and whitethroats aplenty. And a late-ish Redwing heard. Little moving overhead tho...

SERIN

St Cath's Sea watch (light SE and bright conditions) this morning with George, Steve, Mark, Naomi, and Andrew, produced a few bits moving eastwards: common scoters, sarnies, and an Arctic Skua etc. But yet to get really going in that respect. The highlight was a calling Serin just after 7am: came in from the west and landed next to us in the tamarisk - for a time perched calling away and just visible - before (typical of most our spring serin encounters) departing eastwards....

Puffin

Unfortunately I found the remains of an (Atlantic) Puffin today, not far from SCP. On the back of quite a few washed up birds found around the Island's coast and beyond: thought to be a consequence of the recent stormy conditions. IOW Puffin sightings are usually during spring with the odd one or two seen passing by St Cath's/Ventnor etc. 

Heartbreaking: Right now, thousands of Puffins are washing up along our coasts and further afield. It is devastating to see. These birds are Red-listed in the UK and already under serious pressure. Mass deaths like this, known as a “seabird wreck”, can take years for colonies to recover from...

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— RSPB (@rspb.bsky.social) February 19, 2026 at 11:53 AM

Wheatear

Signs of early spring migration recently: today the first Wheatear near Watershoot Bay (SCP). Also, mipits and alba wags over and the odd siskin. Sea passage (light SE winds) was limited to a reasonable sum of common scoters (x24 East) and a few RTD.....

Woodlark

A singing Woodlark was recently found by Graham Andrews (at an undisclosed Island location) and thanks to Graham providing info I got to experience it today. I often encounter a few vis mig 'flyovers', especially during October/November, but to hear a singing individual at this time of year is quite novel, especially on the IOW; places like the nearby New Forest still have healthy numbers breeding as far as I'm aware. Got some some record shots and something of a sound recording (an ill-timed overhead plane didn't help). Plus, after so many wet dreary days this winter it was nice to experience some sunshine too. 

SCP (sea etc)

Using up some annual leave presently and over the last week or so. Weather's been a mixed bag (showery) and quite blowy at times, from the south, so I tried sea watching at 'St Cath's' a few times: fairly low/average numbers of passing RTDs (38 on Jan 18th), kittiwakes, etc. Plus, 2x DB Brent, 2x common Scoter, and a shelduck (all Eastbound on Jan 22nd). Enjoyable nonetheless and something about a stormy sea....

A Black-necked Grebe was a highlight off Ryde Pier back on Jan 19th (and a collective total of c50 GC Grebes on Solent waters West and East of the Pier).

Overall a fairly mild winter - Spring not far off now

Sibe Chiff - New Year

Having not posted anything for a while I thought I better post something....first post of the year too. A cold start to 2026, frosty and icy, North westerlies - but nice and bright. 

A Sibe-looking Chiff was the highlight today (Jan 5th) at Roud (Sewage Works), a typical spot to find a tristis with common chiffs (10+) feeding in and around the clinker beds. Plus, a calling Cetti's nearby and two Egyptian Goose flew over..

Record shot at least - stood out next to the more typical common chiffs

Back end of last year - 'Russian' White-fronted geese with Canadas - Brading Marsh (40+ since December 27th 2025)

Ventnor Bay - Jan 2026