Tail end of things...(Velvet Scoter)

Following a protracted mild period since the summer, conditions suddenly changed with the first frost (Nov 20th) and a light dusting of snow (Nov 21st). However, it looks short-lived (here at least) with a return to milder temps along with stormy weather (Storm Bert) this weekend. Unsurprisingly, the vis-mig has somewhat dropped off - but still worth a punt. 

A morning sea watch at SCP on Sunday Nov 24th: dry, gusty F7-8/SW/SSW: 07:50-0920: a single Velvet Scoter (west) at 08:34 was the highlight. Also: Common Scoter E, Kittiwake 121 (88E/33W), Gannet 36, RTD etc.... 

Crisp morning - November 20th 

1st winter YL Gull - Wheelers Bay - Nov 28th

Winter magic at Winkle Street ✨

Today’s snowy scenes are straight out of a postcard ❄️😍

📸 @Siennaeve101#IOW #IsleofWight #LoveGreatBritain #UNESCO #AONB #IsleofWightNationalLandscape #IsleofWightNL #Coast2024 pic.twitter.com/uRIodI55T1

— Visit Isle Of Wight (@VisitIOW) November 21, 2024

A couple of LITTLE AUK off Mudeford Quay today brought in by Storm Bert today @CHOG_birds @DorsetBirdClub @BirdGuides pic.twitter.com/qIaJ9ZTC5i

— Scott Usher (@SStanpit) November 24, 2024

Sound recordings (Hume's)

Recent uploads: all of my recordings of the recent (October) Ventnor Hume's warbler calling merged into one track;  and the same with most of the vis-mig autumn (Sept/Oct) Hawfinch recordings.

Flushed a Woodlark on Luccombe Down (Nov 12th). My recent run of Hawfinches seems to have come to an end, as well as generally across the Island; though one was in a Freshwater garden on Nov 14th. A likely flyover Snow Bunt on Nov 9th was a near-miss of sorts; distantly heard only (Luccombe Down/A.M); and the recorder failed to pick it up....

jonspar · Hume's Warbler (Ventnor Isle of Wight)

jonspar · Hawfinch(s) 2024

Another Hawfinch - seen and heard over the fields near Luccombe Village - November 5th.

Nice to see the sun again after the recent daily grey and overcast conditions. 

Firecrest - one of two outside my window - a few pairs breed close by and hear/see them almost daily; but always a treat!

Redwing - 'gak' type calls 

BOOM! What a morning. Caught this Estonian 8th Hume’s Warbler in the Sõrve B.O garden this a.m. Second humei which has been ever ringed in the country. Also long waited Estonian tick for me. pic.twitter.com/2F42Q5oFAv

— Tarvo Valker @birdinghaapsalu (@TarvoValker) October 23, 2024

Two call-types of a Hume's Warbler (Phylloscopus humei) recorded by Arnoud B van den Berg at Geldermarsen, Gelderland, Netherlands, 12:23, 29th November 2020. Background: Eurasian Magpie. (Photo: Toon Pop, Texel, Noord-Holland, Netherlands, 30th October 2022) @dutchbirding pic.twitter.com/zKDfb1lWRq

— Mark Constantine (@Markatlush) November 29, 2022

Hawfinches

November kicked off with more Hawfinches: x3 this morning (Nov 1st) seen and heard together over Ventnor at 07:12 [c18 so far since end of September]. Plus, some reasonable vis-mig atop the downs including an unseen calling Golden Plover. 

November 4th: another Hawfinch over Ventnor (heard only just after 7am) that involved possibly more than one bird. Also, atop Luccombe Down were two Woodlarks: one heard and seen flying Eastwards at 08:03; followed by another single at 08:45 flushed from the ground and northwards (calling).

November 5th: a single Hawfinch went over Luccombe Farm (fields) NE at 13:36. And a Black Redstart along Leeson Rd (Ventnor) this morning...

November 6th: more Hawfinch (heard only/calls) near Luccombe Copse (east side of downs) at 08:08am. And a Brambling, Redwing etc....

And my first Fieldfares (x2) on Oct 30th:

And numerous Redwings:

One of 5 Hawfinch over Victoria Tower this morning, that’s 21 so far in the last week 😁 good numbers passing through us, mimicking that of Southern England.@BirdGuides @NatTrustJersey @Soc_Jersiaise @BirdTrack @jsynationalpark #BirdsSeenIn2024 pic.twitter.com/coW6VfWSfp

— Jersey Birding (@Jerseybirding) October 30, 2024

HUME'S warbler and Sibe Chiff (Ventnor)

Yesterday (Saturday Oct 26th) Steve Jones put out news of a Yellow-browed Warbler and a possible Hume's Warbler, both along Bath Road in Ventnor. I got down there from midday or so - where quite a gathering of local birders had formed (plus, the odd visiting birder too) - and we all soon got to see and hear them in the area; often favouring a clump of sycamore and ash; but ranging further at times. Gradually, with reasonable views and listening to calls, we soon gained enough confidence say one was indeed a Hume's; an excellent find for SJ and great to share it with a bunch of locals (and a few visitors too). A bonus later on was suddenly hearing a calling Sibe Chiff just across the road from the Hume's - and at one point both ended up together in a tree right above us too?! Plus a random Ring Ouzel briefly landed nearby for good measure....A very memorable day. 

The Hawfinch daily tally continues to build with more flyover(s). One particular single seen over Nansen Hill and Luccombe Copse on Oct 28th showed very well as it circled round above me, calling frequently - seen to depart southwards over the tree tops. [c12 birds so far...].

Areas the Hume's kept faithful to - Ventnor/Bath Road

The sibe 'tristis' chiff (SJ's Vid) - Bath Road - Oct 26th.

More Hawfinch (Oct 28th) - including this single over - seen and heard.

And a heard only on Oct 29th:

Southern England is experiencing an influx of Hawfinch, with bumper sightings of the species during the second half of October: https://t.co/8PCiTIEGHs

— BirdGuides (@BirdGuides) October 29, 2024

Who will be this year's Standard Chartered Public Favourite Weather Photographer of the Year?

Vote for Evening Shower Over the Needles by Jamie Russell at https://t.co/ENHnhMZwIo. pic.twitter.com/4XCMK6Wob3

— Royal Meteorological Society (@RMetS) October 15, 2024

Yellow-browed Warbler (Whale Chine)

The highlight this morning was a calling (if brief) Yellow-browed Warbler that must have randomly pitched-in (more or less) right next to me?! As I was walking along the coastal footpath not far from the cliff edge - it called three times at least - but tricky to see - it then fell silent. However, a minute or so later I heard it call again much further East of me. It was obviously passing through following the coast-line as any cover there amounts to longish grass and patches of scrub; and certainly no trees between there and Blackgang. Never had a vis-mig type one before; seems to be a YBW autumn! Plus some good passage totals in general (to tot up)...... 

Where the YBW was last heard - looking east towards Chale

Yellow-browed Warbler number FIVE ringed @CareysSecret ringing station this AM @DorsetBirdClub @BirdGuides pic.twitter.com/J1XGI8q9Nd

— Birds of Poole Harbour (@harbourbirds) October 23, 2024

Hawfinches Ventnor Downs

Today's (Oct 23rd) highlights were two separate Hawfinch encounters: firstly two flyovers (S.W over Nansen Hill at 08:12) followed by four in the trees at Luccombe Copse nr Corner Cottage - seen to leave southwards calling at 09:40. [Making it nine in total so far - on the back of three singles earlier this autumn]. 

Yesterday, (Oct 22nd) a static vis watch (also Nansen) saw quite a substantial movement of Woodpigs [5,125] south/s.w. Plus, bits and bobs going over including Bramblings (x9).

Vocal four in the Luccombe Copse trees - seen to fly off southwards:

Late October Wood Pigeon fest - movements over S.W in the 1000s 

Clouded Yellow (flighty) Bonchurch Down - 24/10

Although not rare by any means, first time I've seen a Blackcap outside of my window - smart male to boot.

Richard's Pipit SCP

A couple of days ago (October 15th), George found a Richard's Pipit along the coast and just west of the Lighthouse, which again was seen and heard later the same day by Ian & Ollie. I got down there mid-morning the following day (Oct 16th) during a spell of sunny weather, and sure enough I got to experience it too - albeit somewhat briefly and also just west of the Lighthouse: it came up from the long grass next to the footpath, calling away, and seen to fly towards the cliff edge before turning back towards me - whereby it finally dropped out of sight back into the long grass. I did manage to get a sound recording and noted various features (large pipit shape/long tail/proportions/contrasts/head pattern etc) when it was airborne. 

Sonogram - anthus richardi [16/10/24]