Balearic Shearwater - SCP

Mixture of weather of late, often breezy (westerlies) and temps no more than 18c. 

A sea watch at SCP today was about the best option, 09:45-12:15, on/off drizzly conditions (F5/WSW], managed to scrape one Balearic Shearwater west at 11:20. But precious little else. July closes...

SERIN (and Pied Fly)

Luccombe Down/Ventnor Downs, early doors (6am). Beautiful calm morning - started off with six airborne Kestrels gliding around together, mostly silhouetted, but probably comprised a few juvs and a couple of adults. After a fellow birder joined me, at around 7:10 a calling Serin went right over us - and continued south-west towards Bonchurch/Ventnor. My second of the year - but surprisingly my first flyover up there on the downs; a nice out of the blue surprise! (Portland Obs had one same day/morning). 

Also: single siskin and crossbill over; small numbers of xbills being a daily occurrence of late. Willow Warbler juvs turning up now.....   

First autumn Pied Flycatcher and many willow warblers (c25) on 26th, along the east side of Luccombe Down. Two more Xbills (over NW) and one yesterday. 

Along Ryde sea front (Ryde youth)

Agapanthus (African Lily?) nr Bonchurch 

Local Herring Gulls - three juvs/nest site - At least five young (three and two) attributable to two rooftop nest sites barely more than 100 yards apart. 

Flight calls of a flock of migrating European Serins (Serinus serinus) recorded by Magnus Robb at Sagres, Portugal, 30th Oct 2019. Background: Yellow-legged Gull, Sardinian Warbler and House Sparrow. Photo, René Pop, Spain, 15th Feb 2022 @dutchbirding @soundapproachuk @xenocanto pic.twitter.com/rHImIa6oh0

— Mark Constantine (@Markatlush) October 30, 2023

Crossbill and YL Gull juv (sea eagle news)

Sea watch at SCP yesterday evening: a Manx and (my first/right on cue) juv Yellow-Legged Gull west etc. Swifts moving west/sw. Also two fresh juv Med Gulls cruised by with a few adults. One cetacean, a porpoise. [Four juv Yellow Legged off SCP on 16th.]

This morning: Ventnor Downs, a perched Crossbill singing was relatively unusual; usually just see/hear them as they fly over. Modest vis mig: one sand martin south with a couple of swallows. A few swifts. A couple of painted ls seen last few days. 

YL Gull juv, distant scope shots - had prey in its bill at times (some sort of flatfish/flounder?)

Sea Eagle news

We are thrilled that a pair of White-tailed Eagles have successfully reared a chick in England for the first time in 240 years this summer. A very significant milestone for the project.
Read more here: https://t.co/31xHZQTsxt@SeaEagleEngland @ForestryEngland pic.twitter.com/4vhwGCkkAx

— Roy Dennis Foundation (@RoyDennisWF) July 18, 2023

ROLLER - Brading Marsh RSPB

A Roller was found by Paul White at Brading Marsh (RSPB reserve) yesterday (July 8th) late afternoon/evening; a local twitch had to be done and fortunately it was still there early this morning (July 9th). I watched it from nearby Gander Down: it was often on the wires just to the north of the Old sea wall. [Overall it stayed around in that area till  July 11th, at least). A cracking find for Paul and Brading M delivers yet again. I assume it's the first IOW record - at least as a confirmed and twitch-able bird. [Supporting cast of Hobby, marsh harrier (juv), and WTE etc]. 

Otherwise fairly quiet: Crossbills (singles and twos) have been relatively regular over Ventnor. Signs of autumn.....

Couple of record shots on a somewhat murky morning - looked better in real life!

Roller still Brading Marsh but very distant on wires at 10:44 @RareBirdAlertUK pic.twitter.com/1bIS2OuqI7

— Wallsend Wildlife (@WallsendWild26) July 11, 2023

NIGHT HERON - Bembridge Ponds

Walked the footpath to Bembridge Ponds from St Helens Bridge and heard a Black-crowned Night Heron, really vocal, initially distant, then flew (practically) right over me at dusk (21:30), sound recorded. Also, a Bittern 'booming', several Reed Warblers in song, and a hobby hawking just south of the road bridge. Vis mig Spotted FC on 22nd (Bonchurch Down) and Wood Sandpiper (Laundry Lane) on 23rd. 

There's been a recent national influx of these into Britain, probably due to the drought conditions on the continent.  

Night Heron sonogram - Appears to show a kink - which is diagnostic for this species (referencing The Sound Approach team's website)

2020 sound recorded Night Heron for comparison:

Recent pics:

It's been a good spring for Wood sands at Brading, Laundry Lane. On occasions, been up to four in the 'triangle field'.

Ventnor from Coombe Bottom (day) and Bonchurch Down (dusk)

jonspar · Night Heron (20230517) Bembridge Marsh

Poms - SCP (YB Kite)

Evening sea watch at St. Cath's, 15:30 - 18:45, started alone, then joined by Mark B (and then ABr and a visitor). Winds had veered more southwards by mid afternoon. Broken sunshine/odd shower.  

Two Pomarine Skuas east the highlight - I guess today's south coast bigger numbers either went through the Solent or followed a different line (east Sussex had 50 odd), as can often be the case. Also, four Arctic Skuas, four Manxies, brent, and kittiwakes etc. Soon petered out around 6pm though. 

First Swifts over Ventnor this week. 

Painted Lady (Luccombe) on 7th. 

Misty day. Looking north from Nansen Hill. With Luccombe Chine in the centre and looking in the direction of Haddon's Pits (out of view over the crest of hill, left of centre). Mark had a Golden Oriole at HP on the 7th. I walked there and back - the habitat looking so great - the coastal manicured gardens could (and probably do) entice hoopoes etc..But as is generally the case with the island, with so much to cover, it's a challenging task. 

A Yellow-billed Kite was discovered at Lynnbottom Tip (landfill site) on May 11th. Suspected to be an escape (with a question mark), though hasn't been claimed as such - locally at least (Robin Hill etc). Created both local and national interest. [It was seen and photographed in Cornwall after it left the island]. 

Deterred by our presence, the (unringed) Yellow-billed Kite lingered for no more than a flyby. I suspect it'll be back tomorrow morning when it apparently stays longer - tho' access to the tip is limited.

Whilst the birds origins are questionable, at least it's acting properly. pic.twitter.com/SX84Q58V5M

— Ashley Howe (@Ashley_Howe1990) May 12, 2023

Bonxie and Manx

Evening sea watch, SCP:

16:55-19:30

Bright day, fairly light easterlies, E/ESE. A Great Skua east was the highlight (my first of the season and only the second reported so far?), obviously scarcer this year after being hit by avian flu last year. Conditions seemed right for poms too - but not a sniff this evening (as was reflected at other south coast watchpoints today - aside from one at Portland). A couple of Arctic Skua, RTD, whimbrel, and three Manxies of note. Easterlies continue tomorrow/April closes out... 

[Some context on IOW Bonxie records: the latest official annual bird report 2020 cites a total of 52 east that year up to May 3rd.]