Monday, 23 November 2015
West high down/Tennyson down A.M
Went west: -2 temp so nice and crisp, icy and frosty, but bright, so layered up and had a good walk around the headland. Highlight was a SNOW BUNTING. First obs was hearing interesting chu like calls over me but never saw it. Almost dismissed it really, the call sounded familiar but I couldn't pin it down immediately, but lap/snow bunt came to mind. But about 10 mins after the first encounter again I heard the repetition of that call (no rattle call or any other call heard) and this time I clocked the bird making it; it came in from the west and headed due east. Views of it were wholly from below obviously, with very white underparts. Shape/jizz suggested bunting; forked tail noted; flight quite bouncy and slightly undulating. Went out of sight but interestingly towards an area where one had been grounded two or three years ago, near the monument, so I headed that way.
When I arrived there I clocked a bird along the Tennyson down cliff edge that soon dived out of sight. But when it reappeared it turned out to be a Black redstart, a nice enough substitute. No sign of the snow bunting.
Group of seven rock pipits feeding nearby too. Otherwise a showy Dartford warbler provided the only other interest.
Went west: -2 temp so nice and crisp, icy and frosty, but bright, so layered up and had a good walk around the headland. Highlight was a SNOW BUNTING. First obs was hearing interesting chu like calls over me but never saw it. Almost dismissed it really, the call sounded familiar but I couldn't pin it down immediately, but lap/snow bunt came to mind. But about 10 mins after the first encounter again I heard the repetition of that call (no rattle call or any other call heard) and this time I clocked the bird making it; it came in from the west and headed due east. Views of it were wholly from below obviously, with very white underparts. Shape/jizz suggested bunting; forked tail noted; flight quite bouncy and slightly undulating. Went out of sight but interestingly towards an area where one had been grounded two or three years ago, near the monument, so I headed that way.
When I arrived there I clocked a bird along the Tennyson down cliff edge that soon dived out of sight. But when it reappeared it turned out to be a Black redstart, a nice enough substitute. No sign of the snow bunting.
Group of seven rock pipits feeding nearby too. Otherwise a showy Dartford warbler provided the only other interest.
Very close Dartford warbler that appeared to be bathing in a puddle - ice cold mind
Black redstart
Dartford warbler
Fox: on the Needle's 'old battery' headland. Plenty of wabbits in the vicinity, but at times looked perilously close to the cliff edge.
P.M: Then went to Brading late afternoon. Shorty(s) have been seen there quite frequently recently and not long after scanning out saw one ranging over the fields south of the old sea wall. Then saw another, so two present.
Low level light - SE owl Brading
Wednesday, 18 November 2015
Tuesday, 17 November 2015
Monday, 16 November 2015
St Cath's
With the ongoing movement of 1000s of woodpigeons (Portland and generally along the south coast) I thought I'd head to the most obvious watch point. However, due to a work commitment I didn't arrive there until about 10am, so probably missed any 'big' movement if it had encroached the island.
A black redstart hanging about the lighthouse was the only real thing of note.
With the ongoing movement of 1000s of woodpigeons (Portland and generally along the south coast) I thought I'd head to the most obvious watch point. However, due to a work commitment I didn't arrive there until about 10am, so probably missed any 'big' movement if it had encroached the island.
A black redstart hanging about the lighthouse was the only real thing of note.
Distant black red sheltering from the SW winds
And a link to the new IOW sightings website: http://www.goingbirding.co.uk/isleofwight/birdnews.asp
Thursday, 12 November 2015
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