Ryde pier Brent

Italy 2

Sorrento - Mount Vesuvius and Gulf of Naples

Montecassino - from the A1 south east of Rome

Vatican Square and St Peter's Basilica

Part of the Roman Forum 'ruins' (I believe). 

Arch of Constantine (Arco di Constantino)

 

Colosseum

Piazza Venezia - Rome

Trajan's Column 

Trevi fountain

The Spanish Steps

 

Amalfi Coast 

Capri (one of many stunning views from the island west of Sorrento)

 

 

Italy

Back from a holiday to Italy. Not a birding holiday; but more a sightseeing coach trip. But still managed some birding at times.

 

 

 

Headon and WHD

Forecast wise today looked the more suitable of my two days off to check the west wight: though foggy and damp, it wasn't ideal, especially for overhead migration. But something scarcer, surely, was grounded somewhere.

After covering some ground, I ended up feeling a bit short changed in that respect. Though a nice enough variety of common migrants about to keep things interesting and 'hopeful'.
One each of Lesser Whitethroat, Tree pipit, restart and yellow wagtail; three spotted fc.

 

spot fly - lonesome bird along cliff fence line

 

Wheatear

 

Goldfinch

 

Kes

 

 

 

Headon warren and WHD

Fairly productive morning. 06:30 - 12:30

Yellow wagtail 43 (28 with cattle; 15 flyovers)
Tree pipit 13 (10 over HW; 3 on WHD. Min.count; birds high up)
Whinchat 3 (1 HW, that became 2 on leaving; 1 on WHD)
Blackcap 12 (at least)
Redstart 3
Spotted fly 6

 

 

whinchat

 

 

spot fly

 

 

 

yellow wags

 

 

Tree pipits with a wheatear - had to settle with these pics as they were very flighty and prone to bombing off. But compared with a mipit they show a stouter bill, more striking head pattern, and finer streaking along the flanks.

 

 

 

 

 

Brading

Tuesday 22nd

Day started off considerably misty again, so decided against trying for vis mig.
Visited Brading instead. Quite a raptor fest all round : buzzards, kestrels, marsh harriers. And one smart hobby.

 

Jersey tiger - along the embankment f/p