Ring Ouzel(s) Marsh Harrier & Hawfinch(s)

This morning (Oct 3rd) my first Ring Ouzel of the autumn was just below the top fence line of Bonchurch Down - calling away and seen in flight going eastwards towards Nansen Hill; perhaps not surprising on the back of the NE/ENE winds; the odd song thrush looked fresh-in too. Another highlight was a departing Marsh Harrier (female type) initially seen being mobbed by a couple of corvids over Nansen, circled over me before heading southwards and straight out to sea at 08:38: next stop France?! Also: 100 mipits, hirundines, Siskin, Goldfinch, Reed bunt, GS Woodpecker, and my first Brambling of the autumn. 

Oct 4th (S. Easterlies), Luccombe Down (7am-8:45am): Hawfinch over calling (07:45); second of the autumn. Plus: single Ring Ouzel, first Redwings, 100s/1000+ swallows/House Martins/mipits (Eastwards), Grey Wagtail, Skylarks etc. 

Oct 5th: Luccombe Down A.M & P.M, Southerly breeze/sunny/cloudy: good raptor selection included a Merlin east at 08:08 followed by an adult Hobby in from the north, south, then west. Plus sprawks, kestrels, and buzzards, all quite active. Plenty of hirundines and mipits, finches (Siskin, linnet, chaffinch etc), one Yellowhammer (NE), and the odd Jay etc. A brief visit later on: 1x Redstart and whinchat. 1x Painted Lady, Wall, and a couple of commas.  

Oct 6th: Another Hawfinch (poss two) over, Luccombe Down, calling. Plus, the usual selection of finches, mipits, and hirundines etc...Reasonable numbers and steady. Mixed weather with heavy showers at times. 

Sky-high Marsh Harrier departing southwards from Bonchurch Down - early morning Oct 3rd.

Hawfinch (sonogram) - Oct 4th - more distant than the previous September bird.

Haddon's Pits

Ventnor - early October, nice spell of weather - though it's about to change

White-tailed Eagle, G818, is back after spending the summer in Scotland. She is now nearly an adult. ⁦@DorsetWildlife⁩ ⁦@DorsetBirdClub⁩ pic.twitter.com/Mnn9igvUnB

— CHOG (@CHOG_birds) October 7, 2024

Hawfinch (sound recorded) and Harrier sp (Ringtail)

Nansen Hill and Luccombe Down, 06:50 - 08:50, SSW breeze, overcast, some rain.

An interesting early morning vis-mig session and wander. Mipits and hirundines were on the move westwards and immediately obvious, plus Tree Pipits (10+), Yellow Wags, Siskin, and Reed Bunting overhead. One of the highlights was a calling Hawfinch that suddenly landed in the trees near me at the top of Nansen Hill (around 7:30am); and after a couple of minutes it took flight again eastwards/SE and out of view. Mark B had one at Blackgang the other day, so perhaps it's going to be an autumn/winter for them? [My last one, also over Ventnor Downs, was on November 10th, 2021].

More frustrating was a Ringtail Harrier sp that came in from the WNW, low down, and carried on eastwards low over the trees towards Nansen; however, it turned southwards and dropped out of sight towards Bonchurch (around 08:15); and I didn't see it again. Most views were of its upperparts and going away from me - but ultimately, views were not conclusive beyond that of it being a 'ringtail'.

Also: Blackcaps and Chiffs have been well represented in the area with 100+ around, plus Firecrest (12+), Goldcrest starting to increase, and Robins & Blackbirds etc.

Hawfinch - video (phone) - audio of it calling (ripped) - Sept 25th (and Oct 4th).

Close to October - starting to feel and look autumnal

Honey Buzzard

After missing a couple of autumn HBs (so far) over Luccombe/Ventnor Downs, it was nice to get one Honey B today (Sept 4th) over the downs. Watching with Neil, we picked it up at around 11:50am just to North of us, high-up and seen to circle for a time before making its way south-west passed the Radar Station towards St Lawrence. The local common buzzards were also out in force with at least 12 airborne and seen at any one time; plus sprawks etc. And very early on this morning a Falcon sp, perhaps a hobby, was seen heading on similar line to the honey. [Conditions were light North winds and broken clouds]. Also: hirundines aplenty/c100, Tree Pipits 10+ over, a few Grey wagtails etc. A female/juv Marsh Harrier over the downs midday back on Sept 1st; same day the lads had a honey as well. Plus, an interesting 2nd-hand report of a Hoopoe seen in nearby Coombe Bottom on Aug 29th. 

Luccombe Down

Hornet mimic hoverfly

100s/1000s of House Martins Whale Chine to Atherfield (17/09)

Atherfield Point and Cottages 17/09

Looking towards St. Catherine's Hill at sunrise

Sea watch - Sooty & Balearics

SCP (St Cath's Lighthouse):

Late afternoon/early evening (Aug 22nd), 15:50 - 18:40, blustery SW and drizzly conditions (Storm Lilian).

An intermittently interesting sea-watch at the 'point' with a single Sooty Shearwater (at 18:15) and Balearics x3 singles (West). Also, a few passing Manx and Kittiwakes x11. Etc. 

Otherwise, Tree Pipits have been steadily going over my usual Ventnor Downs site most recent mornings. 

28/08: Luccumbe Down: Tree Pipit x32 over (noteworthy morning count), Yellow Wag x6, Pied Flycatcher x1, Spot FC x3.

Great Green Bush-cricket Tettigonia viridissima - Ventnor (24/08)

  

Tree Pipits and Pied Fly (etc)

First half of August:

Sunday (Aug 4th) the more productive day so far. First tree pipits went over.

Luccombe Down: Tree Pipit x5 

Gropper (Nansen Hill)

Luccombe Farm area: c30 Willow Warblers (collective total). Spot FC x1.

And heading home via Bonchurch Down there was one Cuckoo on the slopes. 

Saturday 10th, Nansen Hill, AM: my first autumn Pied Fly, Spot FC, WWs c10, Siskin, and a flyover Green Sandpiper (calling/sound recorded); the latter being a site first for me. PM: met Neil atop Luccombe Down - but seemed quieter (breezy westerly). Wheatear, Swifts c20 overhead, hirundines including a few Smartins, etc.

Tuesday 13th, 06:15-08:15, Nansen Hill/Luccombe Down: Tree Pipits x26 (south/sw), Yellow Wags x5 (N/ENE), Green Sandpiper over at 06:26, c15 Willow Warbler, steady trickle of hirundines (mostly swallow), etc. 

My first autumn Pied Flycatcher (record shot) - Nansen Hill - 10/08

We are delighted to report that two White-tailed Eagle chicks have fledged from a nest in Southern England this summer. This is the second year that the adult birds have bred successfully.

Read more on our website here: https://t.co/WkuxLETjNn@SeaEagleEngland @ForestryEngland pic.twitter.com/Y0qfQ4HFY5

— Roy Dennis Foundation (@RoyDennisWF) August 7, 2024

Groppers

Some signs of early autumn migration have begun:

Yesterday (27th) on Nansen Hill, two active groppers showed well in a patch of buddleia, along with a Sedge Warbler seen and heard. More gropper-like calls were heard in the vicinity, so there may have been more hidden in the scrub. Willow Warblers were very evident too, working their way through the bushes, with c8 a very conservative count. One wheatear seen further up the slopes (and a Painted Lady). Overhead has been very quiet so far; yet to get a tree pipit even. 

From Nansen Hill looking towards Culver - a calm warm spell of weather - July 27th.

Yellow-legged Gull (4cy & juv)

As it's that time of year, I went looking specifically for a juv YL gull near Sandown Pier this morning, but instead came upon a mature individual, preening and resting. Age-wise, I assume it's a sub adult (4cy) as it appears quite advanced; and P10 appeared to have a mirror - but not an age I'm overly familiar with. [Single juvenile there on July 24th].

Not much else to mention: a couple of Siskin went over Luccombe (Village) back on 2nd. A Roseate Tern has been seen by other birders off Fort Vic/Solent waters. Sand Martins are starting to move south...

Yellow-legged Gull larus michahellis - Sandown Beach - July 10th

My first juv YL of the year - Sandown beach - 24/07

Juv Black Headed gull

At least nine juv Med Gulls - July 20th - Sandown

Marbled White - melanargia galathea

Ventnor Bay