The Melodious Warbler - Sudmoor Point

Bird found by Ian Ridett. Video by Iain Outlaw. 

Barwits - Easterlies - SCP

Good first movement of Bar-tailed Godwits this evening with 538 (east) at St. Cath's. Sea watch (on my tod) 17:25 - 20:25 (3hrs, till dusk). Also east: 1 Arctic Skua and four Whimbrel of note. When I left at 20:30, three Wheatears were grounded near and along the lighthouse road/fence line (interesting to see, given time of day). A few hirundines arrived in off during the session including one sand martin. One bat sp was zipping around. [Conditions: Breezy E/ENE. Bright. Pleasant evening]. 

Additional: a second evening sea watch at SCP (winds had changed to lighter easterlies) on Friday 21st, 17:00 - 20:30. More Barwits (219 east), Whimbrel (25), C. Scoter (26), Arctic Skuas (6), terns (commic and sarnie), and at least two Little Gulls east. [Herring Gulls roosted off the point at dusk, c300]

Nice sun set (19th).

Elsewhere: the quality has been a Black-winged Stilt at Brading Marsh/Laundry lane's 'triangle field' for the last few days (and continues), seen by most locals (many photos). It's in the same place the last one was back in March 2017. This spring the triangle field's pulled in Garganey, Ruff, and Wood Sandpiper as well (so far) to name a few. At least one Hoopoe report too (Brading/private garden/lawn). Plus an obvious arrival of groppers, hobby, nightingale, willow/chiffs, sedge/reed warblers, and ring ouzels (various spots) - the 17th being a particular 'fall' type day (my first Whitethroat on 17th). 

Easter easterlies - SCP - Little Gulls

Easter weekend/Sunday: a pretty decent sea watch at 'St. Cath's' this morning, 6:25 - 10:30 [4hrs], and some variety, enjoyed with a few local birders, Dave and co (six in total being quite a turnout these days). Sunny intervals, moderate SE/E. winds. 

Highlight(s) eastbound: 51 Little Gulls and a Garganey, several Arctic Skuas, and an in-off Yellow Wagtail. (Yesterday, a Brambling over Ventnor Downs).  

 

A recent noc-mig session at SCP had been disappointing. Save a local Barn Owl - briefly perched on the wall next to me. 

SERIN - SCP (Another Ring Ouzel)

Post a fairly staid sea watch at 'St Cath's' (early doors with Mark B and Gary H til 09:45), just after I packed up around 10:15 and whilst walking back to my car, the highlight was a single calling (flyover) Serin near the Lighthouse, initially seen heading Westwards away from me before switching back and East over the light house compound at 10:20. Classic time of year and conditions for one - Dungeness B.O had a 'party of three' today too [Variable onshore south winds, light SE to SW, overcast/sunny intervals]. But the sea itself had been stop/start with slim pickings (roughly 3.0 hours from 7am). Three Grey Herons seemed to arrive 'in off' and moved along the coast eastwards. 

Male Ring Ouzel at Ventnor Downs on 7th. Plus, a Lesser Redpoll and trickle of Swallows north. 

Sea watch totals per Gary (with Mark B)

Elsewhere: Tracy had 10 Ruff at Brading Marsh. Also been a couple of Large Tortoiseshells, singles at Newtown and Newchurch (James Gloyne). 

jonspar · Serin SCP20230405 1020c

Spring Woodlark

Up atop Ventnor Downs on 27th, some vis-mig included my first (if later than most including my brother in Scotland) Swallow (north) of the spring and 60 Mipits over. Unusually, a calling Woodlark went over too was a surprise (more an autumn encounter locally). Raptors were up and about in numbers, sparrowhawks (2) and 18 or so common Buzzards; plus, two Red Kites, my second and third birds of the year; always a smart bird even if they are becoming more common. 

Despite breezy south winds on 28th, a morning sea watch from SCP produced little other than a RTD, 12 common scoters east, and evidence of minimal gull passage (a few common and meds). Earlier there had been an Arctic Skua east. A Porpoise was present occasionally breaching east. 

Noc-mig has been quiet since the ouzel: although a noc Mistle Thrush was a first for me. But no waders. 

Although milder, March ends quite unsettled, with blustery south west to west winds and rain. The forecast looks a bit more settled as we go into April and early next week.  

A recent jaunt to the west wight, WHD/Needles headland, yielded very little other than a few wheatear. 

My local (regular) circuit.

 

Noc Ring Ouzel

Still a bit slow going. I haven't yet 'got in' on the recent and remarkable Alpine Swift (UK) influx; despite a couple of IOW records to date, single birds at Culver on 19th and Brading marsh on 20th. But will keep looking..

A Sea watch today (breezy SW conditions) at SCP yielded an Arctic Skua (Dark) east at 08:39 (first of the spring), plus a Sandwich Tern (east). 

The odd Wheatear at various spots. Increase in chiffs etc. 

Noc-mig in Ventnor has been quite interesting including a few waders: Golden Plover, Dunlin, and Eurasian Curlew (18th), and thrushes too (Redwing and Song T). However, the 'noc' thrush highlight came last night (Monday 20th), a Ring Ouzel at 9:07P.M; a first night-time and site record for me. (Its call is superficially similar to a Fieldfare's 'cackle' but differs in being higher pitched with a speedier delivery). 

sonogram 

Normally record some Redwing.

Another first for my local nocmig

Early March

March started off as Feb left: with chilly northerlies and often overcast; and ultimately very little to report. One Siskin over Luccombe Down and a Golden Plover was along the sea wall Wheelers Bay before flying off (yesterday/5th), was about all I could muster; aside from local stuff: Firecrests are active now.

Some early signs of spring/summer migrants from a couple of observers: first Swallow at Blackgang on Feb 26th (GF) and Wheatear at Strawberry Lane/Mottistone on Feb 28th (JM). On the mainland too, House and Sand Martins, the odd LRP, and Osprey, have arrived back. 

Brading Marsh still had a few things: SEO(s), Cattle Egret(s), Hen Harrier, Water Pipit(s) etc. 

However, the weather is about to change somewhat: with variable winds forecast (onshore at times) and quite strong, plus rain - could shake things up/get things going, especially regarding the sea. And some milder temps?.....