Culver cliff

YOU SHALL NOT PASS

Black red

Newly arrived chiffchaff

Male and female kes

As it's nearly easter

Just help yourself

Whale chine - Roud - Brading NR

Feeling somewhat under the weather at the moment it took me a while to get going today. Eventually decided quite late in the day to head to the south coast first, maybe chance a wheatear, but no such luck along the coast there - sure there have been. The temp was much more spring like today.

Second stop was Roud sewage works. Really want to keep an eye this spot as it's always teeming with food. Again it was late in the day so wasn't overly surprised to find it quiet. A few chiffs, though didn't spot the sibe candidate this time. A few redwing still about and fieldfare too.

Third stop was Brading NR. Again fairly routine stuff as I worked my way along the lane, though I did pick out a white wagtail in the field east of me, and two other wags (poss white) flew off north too.

Also tried the MACRO setting with my camera combined with my bins and really pleased with the results.

Admittedly this raven was unusually close and didn't seem to mind my proximity, but probably as good a pic as you could ever hope for. 

This lone fieldfare has been hanging around this area near Bexley point Brading nature reserve for the most part of the winter. Again using macro setting. 

Brading NR - early evening

The northerly wind continues, so still chilly. But vis mig has picked up, though not much locally it would seem.

A late in the day visit to Brading didn't produce much really, beyond the usual anyway. Although two cetti's warblers rose to the top of the reeds - faced one another - and sounded off with some sort of display/territorial exchange. You don't often see one exposed, so to see two was interesting. Also their vocalizations were new to me in that context.

The fading light made it difficult, but I tried to capture the cetti's 'face off'
There was regular wing flapping and posturing from both, which lasted maybe 3 mins. It ended with the lower bird retreating first.

Last day (of my holiday)

Started off at St.Cath's - gorgeous weather if fresh. Mipits and alba wags predominated flying over. And one chiffchaff, obviously fresh in, dropped in near the lighthouse, called once, then flew north over the fields. No wheatear though - checked both sides of the lighthouse/headland.

Second stop was Whale chine/Atherfield. Again mostly mipits, but possibly a wheatear in/off? headed north across the field. Not enough to say with certainty.

Nice walk though...

Dunnock singing and alba wag over - St caths

Stonechat - Atherfield

New Forest - sunny early spring like weather...

Spent a day on the big island. Went to a place where I stood a pretty good chance of seeing a goshawk, but with time against me, and having no real knowledge of the area, it was always going to be a long shot - suffice to say I didn't get to see one. However, another novelty bird (based on the difficulty of ever seeing one on the IOW - though not impossible) in that area that I did get to see was woodlark. Again, i didn't know exactly where to look really, but suddenly heard one, then almost stepped on it! It flew to the nearest shrub, with a second bird with it. Managed a (crappy) recording of them. And took pics - they were quite camouflaged.

Didn't score much else though, but lovely area, need more time etc....

Piper's wait

Said woodlark - Lullula arborea

Marsh tit was near Shatterford (Denny wood) - again a very rare if almost obsolete island species presently.

Red Sky on the Black Isle from Li Marley on Vimeo.

Roud sewage works

Sibe chiff still present? And still no obvious vocal contribution from this tristis candidate.
Added to flikr album: https://www.flickr.com/photos/139729595@N08/albums/72157663987567145/with/24331317970/

Both photographed in the same tree these show a comparison - and allowing for light and 'morphing' - the top tristis type collybita looks quite, if subtly, different. Both photos have been cropped only.

Caching