Brading marsh NR

With a great white egret and short eared owl being seen there recently, a trip there seemed a good option to hopefully see two species I haven't had good views for a while. However, strong winds meant very little was showing. A marsh harrier provided most of the entertainment, otherwise v quiet.

Brading wigeon winter flock - though still exceptionally mild for November

Looks like the st caths pipit I had recently was more than likely a water pipit - a good record of much scarcer pipit. These shots show a classic rock pipit hanging about the needles battery.

St Cath's

Headed south again to the coast. Surprisingly not much change in proceedings: vis mig mostly involved finches; 250+ goldfinch; 5 brambling; 40 linnets; 1 siskin; 3 redpoll. Also 20 meadow pipits some of which pitched in. 1 grey wagtail.

Also a bird over the sea was mobbed by a couple of great black backed gulls and moved inland and north. Not a great view but probably a SHORT EARED OWL, which was confirmed by another birder.

Rocken end didn't deliver much other than goldcrests (8 milling about). 2 bullfinch.

The only other bird of interest was a pipit hanging about with 2 mipits and the grey wag along the shoreline rocks. Never got a great photo but it's head markings were quite striking esp. the supercilium. Also its outer tail feathers seemed prominently white, though not seen in flight. Water or maybe a different race of rock pipit?

 



 

  

 

 

 Nice vid of a barred warbler.

Interesting link: https://vimeopro.com/south422/animal-gps-track-animation

 

Locally at night been hearing migrating redwings flying over.

 

S-SE winds/high pressure

Interesting conditions bringing mild and damp weather that looks set to continue including on my days off in the week. Could be promising....

Slight random moment yesterday: my work takes me to different places locally on the Island, and whilst washing up in a house in Ryde , I suddenly looked out of the window only to clock a BLACK REDSTART alight a fence. Only momentarily there mind, before flying off. Had a brief look around the neighbouring properties but not to be seen again.

Reminded me of a wheatear I saw in Wootton about a month ago, also whilst on my rounds, which was quite an in-land sighting as they're probably more a coastal migrant.

Wheatear - September in Wootton

 

My impression of the fleeting encounter with a black redstart

 

Headed south again

Goldcrest predominated at St Cath's and were well represented under Gore Cliff and along the old black gang road. Remarkably I couldn't pick anything out with them. Continued on and a classic long tailed tit/chiff/gc flock flitting about really gave me hope, but again, nothing scarcer tagging along with them. At least nothing vocal or obvious. Still, being surrounded by see-ping goldcrest is always a welcome autumn experience, especially when you think about their migratory feat.

This was posted on my facebook from BBC springwatch:

Fact of the Day time!
People used to think that Goldcrests were too small to cross the channel from Europe, as they only weigh about the same as a 20p coin. This led to the belief that they rode here on the backs of Woodcocks, which often arrive around the same time.
For this reason, Goldcrests were often given the rather lovely name of Woodcock Pilot!
...

Of course, we now know that they do make the mammoth journey all by themselves!

 

The humble goldcrest regulus regulus. Most photographers are aiming for pin sharp shots, normally of the bird perched and posing, which has its merits, but I felt these shots capture what it's like in the field watching these restless little delights. Or maybe I'm just a crap photographer. But I like them.

 

 

Coastal path Atherfield: Common gull with med and BH gulls

 

 

Perched stonechat shots are probably 10 a penny but this shows the underwing quite nicely