Yellow-legged Gull (Sandown)

My 1st juv Yellow-legged Gull at Sandown Beach (North of the pier/typical spot for them) on July 15th and 17th.. probably my earliest by dates - but nationally this year they've already been reported since end of June...

Sad gull related news, avian flu related, on July 15th, 40 + dead gulls were found at Scratchell's Bay by a local...

https://twitter.com/islandecho/status/1548177395709927425?s=20&t=vvz4EkZHWOSL9td6yl_dSw

SCP

Ongoing dry conditions and heatwave.

3 x Meds at SCP/Watershoot Bay.

Four juv herring gulls at Sandown Beach (no yellow-legged yet). 

Ad med gull off SCP

Juv BH gull at Sandown Canoe Lake

Watershoot Bay

July - juvs

Still not much happening...but proper autumn's not far off..

Looking for the first fledged juv gulls....one Black headed juv was on the beach. Unfortunately a dead gannet was found further up the beach, perhaps or even likely a victim of the avian flu outbreak currently affecting birdlife nationally, esp seabirds up North.  

Viper's bugloss - echium vulgare 

June - plady - one that got away?

A bit quiet of late....

Morning sea watch at SCP, breezy southerlies, 7am - 9:30, on the 28th: produced a few bits, c9 manx, 8 scoter, one adult med gull, kittiwake...and a lone tern sp?? that looked 'big' and perhaps more gull like - I pondered 'Caspian' but only pondered?! Given it was heading away from me and the headland, SE, and then continued east (with an occasional dive), views of its head (esp bill) remained a mystery.. 

Near home - Painted Lady - also: peacock and red admiral

BT Skimmer - not able to fly - pumping blood to wings? Brading Marsh area..

Iris foetidissima - aka stinking iris - Coombe Bottom..

Barn owl juvs

 

Local success 

Local nest and chick

Good numbers along Bonchurch Down

MH juvs and Egyptian Geese (family)

June is starting to warm up (at least 20c today); winds moved to the SE.

Brading Marsh (from St. Helens Bridge and f/p): two WT Eagles, two marsh harrier juveniles, hobby etc. Also (my first of the year) a Hummingbird hawk-moth on the honeysuckle along Latimer Road. 

Checked on the Egyptian Goose family...five juvs and one adult. 

Firecrest and Egyptian Goose juvs

Though not seen, what sounded like juvenile firecrests begging could be heard today, plus a nearby adult singing. This is the fourth year in a row they've bred in this area near where I live in Ventnor, as noted since I moved here (2019, '20' 21' and 2022). 

Other bits: a painted lady, two bee orchids, two swifts. 

June 6th: Luccombe Down, one juvenile Long-eared Owl heard around dusk/9pm (West facing slopes/usual breeding spot). And two Stonechat juvs on the bracken nearby. 

Bee Orchid ophrys apifera

Two occupied Herring Gull larus argenteus nests seen along Leeson Road

June 7th: checked on the local breeding Egyptian Goose family and five juveniles seen, but no sign of the adults. Also one juvenile Coot seen there too. 

Southern marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza praetermissa

One of five juveniles (Egyptian Goose)