A CATTLE EGRET again at Brading Marsh with cattle on the west side of the river. Also 12 Black-tailed Godwits on the marsh.

Cattle Egret by J. Gloyn

Two Ravens at Ryde Esplanade (a regular sight here now).

A Wheatear at Thorness Bay.

The three Tree Sparrows still at SCP early morning but flighty.

Four Hobbies in the air together from Brading old sea wall and a Turtle Dove seen.

Three Tree Sparrows at SCP, firstly in the lighthouse grounds before moving down to bushes by the path between Watershoot Bay and Knowles Farm.

A Pochard at Sandown Canoe Lake.

Tree Sparrows by G. Sparshott

A pair of Roseate Terns feeding alongside Ryde Pier at 17.00, giving very good views.

A BEE-EATER flew west at Culver Cliff at 08.40, heard only.

A female Marsh Harrier, two Hobbies, a Whinchat, a Greenland Wheatear, and late drake Wigeon and Great Crested Grebe (for its second weekend) at the Dynamite Pool.

A Hobby east along the cliff edge at Tennyson Down.

Hobby by G. Sparshott

A Hobby and 80 Swifts at Brading Marsh.

A Brent Goose at Fishbourne.

A CATTLE EGRET on the east side of the Dyamite Pool but mobile, not always with the cattle and seemed to favour the field opposite Hicks' old runway.

A drake Garganey at Yarmouth Station Ponds and a Ruff at Barnes Bridge Scrape.

Seawatching at SCP during 07.00-09.00 produced 72 Manx Shearwaters but virtually no up-Channel passage.

A Red Kite over Moreys at Newport at 12.00.

A Red Kite flying north over the Christmas tree plantation at Knighton at 09.45, then flew over Ashey Down and finally off over Nunwell gaining height. It was wearing green wing tags indicating it had been tagged in Dumfries & Galloway in 2006.

An adult Yellow-legged Gull at Yarmouth.

A Red Kite at Headon Warren at 12.30.

A Shoveler at Sandown Canoe Lake.

A drake Garganey at Newtown NNR on Spur Lake.

Four Purple Sandpipers at Bembridge Lifeboat Station.

Three Turtle Doves at Brighstone Down.

Two Spoonbills still at Newtown NNR plus four Little Terns and five Whimbrel.

Three Common Sandpipers near the green bridge at Brading Marsh.

Two Spoonbills at Newtown NNR on saltmarsh between the Scrape and the East Hide.

Very few migrants in the WHD including a female Pied Flycatcher, two Garden Warblers, one White Wagtail, two Wheatears and ten Willow Warblers.

Black-throated Diver and two Whinchats at SCP.

Coverage at Fort Victoria during 16.45-18.30 produced 15 Bar-tailed Godwits, a Whimbrel, two Dunlin, a Guillemot and 15 Swallows east.

A Common Sandpiper at Sandown Canoe Lake.

Sedge Warbler and Wheatear

A Common Sandpiper at Sandown Canoe Lake.

Very little of note except four Bonxies passing SCP during 07.00-10.00 despite good conditions.

A Hobby and nine Swifts north from St Helens road bridge.

Seawatching at SCP during 06.30-08.45 produced five Arctic Skuas, five Bonxies and two Black-throated Divers, with a Yellow Wagtail on the deck.

A probable Pomarine Skua past Ventnor distantly early morning (times coincide with one at Selsey).

Swift at Sandown.

Common Sandpiper, Greenshank and Lesser Whitethroat at Hersey NR.

Seawatching at SCP during 07.15-10.15 produced three Arctic Skuas, two Bonxies, two Little Terns, six Common Terns, 26 Sandwich Terns, 54 Common Scoter, 33 Whimbrel, ten Bar-tailed Godwits, 17 Manx Shearwaters, three Red-throated Divers, and one Black-throated Diver. An evening visit produced 27 Bar-tailed Godwits, 22 Whimbrel (plus three on the shore) and two Arctic Skuas between 16.30-18.45.

An Alpine Swift over Brighstone for half an hour at around 10am, associated with a movement of Swallows and House Martins.

A Little Ringed Plover at Yarmouth on Barnes Bridge Scrape.

Ring Ouzel at Luccombe Down (two here on last two days).

Lesser Whitethroat and Common Sandpiper at Hersey NR.

A brief visit to the north slope of WHD produced two Common Redstarts, a Lesser Whitethroat and ten Willow Warblers.

Sixty-five Sand Martins at Brading Marsh.

Nine Wheatears at Ventnor Haven and a Whinchat on the downs.

The Imperial-looking eagle again at Ventnor Downs over 100 Acre Field/Coombe Bottom from 15.30 to 15.45 viewed from the town.

The eagle species seen again over Luccombe Down and Dunnose this afternoon.

Easterly passage of gulls through Sandown Canoe Lake included a first-year Yellow-legged Gull.

Yellow-legged Gull videograbs

Seawatching at SCP during 08.30-10.30 produced five Arctic Skuas, four Bonxies, 16 Common Scoter, 98 Gannets, two Red-throated Divers and two Red-breasted Mergansers.

An Osprey flew low north towards Headon Warren near the Tennyson Beacon at 07.18. Otherwise barely a migrant to be seen in the WHD area during 07.00-09.30; of note a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the Spinney above Alum Bay Cottages before flying east.

Two Reed Warblers singing at Rofford Marsh.

A Whitethroat at Hersey NR.

A Nightingale and 45 Med Gulls at Newtown NNR.

Seawatching at SCP during 07.30-11.30 produced east passage of 370 Gannets, 135 Common Scoter, a flock of 43 Brents which included two Pale-bellied, 41 Sandwich Terns, ten Little Gulls, eight each of Bonxie and Arctic Skua, six Red-throated Divers, five Manx Shearwaters (west), a Med Gull and a Black-throated Diver. The rarity highlight was a third-year Iceland Gull passing close east at 10.00.

Three Gadwall and a mixed flock of 60 hirundines including three House Martins at Dynamite Pool.

Seawatching at SCP during 16.15-19.00 produced east passage of five Arctic Skuas, three Bonxies, one Black-throated Diver, two Red-throated Divers, 56 Common Scoter, 11 Manx Shearwaters (+ 1w), 14 Lesser Black-backs, 64 Gannets, 26 Sandwich Terns, a Razorbill, a Guillemot and an Oystercatcher. A further 36 Manx had been seen prior to this.

A Cuckoo at Head Down.

The two Siberian Chiffchaffs still at Sandown Canoe Lake.

A good seawatch at SCP during 06.45-12.30 produced 490 Common Scoter, 280 Gannets, 57 Sandwich Terns, 25 Little Gulls, 20 Kittiwakes, 12 Arctic Skuas, eight Bonxies, six Brents, three Pintail, three Teal, two Red-throated Divers, three diver sp., one Common Tern and one Med Gull, with the rarity highlight being a single Garganey. An evening shift during 16.45-19.00 produced 83 Gannets, 58 Common Scoter, 18 Sandwich Terns, 17 Brents, three Kittiwakes, three Common Gulls, two Lesser Black-backs, two auks sp., one Gadwall, two Razorbills, one Guillemot and one Oystercatcher.

Seawatching at SCP during 08.00-10.00 produced east passage of two Manx Shearwaters, two Sandwich Terns (+2w), nine Kittiwakes, 88 Gannets (+32w), two Guillemots and 13 Black-headed Gulls. A White Wagtail flew over and two Wheatears were grounded.

The eagle sp. seen briefly on the south side of Ventnor Radar Station at 11.10. An Osprey flew north over Stenbury Down at 11.40.

Eagle sp. reported flying south between Cowes and Newport in the evening.

A Sedge Warbler at Sandown Canoe Lake and the two Siberian Chiffchaffs still.

The eagle species (probably Golden/Imperial type) over Luccombe Down and 100 Acre Field during 10.30-11.00 before moving west.

Two Ospreys fishing successfully at Newtown NNR at 10.30.

Despite very promising looking conditions only a small fall at WHD with three Common Redstarts, 33 Willow Warblers, six Blackcaps and two Wheatears recorded during 07.00-12.00.

Willow Warbler at Culver Cliff

An evening visit to the Dynamite Pool area produced one Short-eared Owl, five Gadwall, 20 Sand Martins and 11 Lesser Black-backs.

Sandwich Tern at Sandown this evening

An eagle species seen over Brighstone, mobbed by Buzzards, at 10am before drifting northwest over the downs.

The two Siberian Chiffchaffs still at Sandown Canoe Lake. A decent easterly passage of large gulls through here in the last two days included two second-summer Yellow-legged Gulls together yesterday evening.

Siberian Chiffchaff

The female Marsh Harrier still at Brading Marsh.

Short-eared Owl again at Luccombe Down in the evening.

The first-winter Pale-bellied Brent again at Foreland, on its own today and quite approachable.

Two British Coal Tits in scrub on the top of Culver Down was unusual; shortly afterwards they were seen flying strongly east overhead at Whitecliff Bay.

A Sandwich Tern in Sandown Bay.

A Black Redstart and 16 Wheatears on the coast path between Ventnor Haven and the Old Park. One House Martin, 12 Sand Martins and six Swallows at Ventnor Downs but only one Wheatear.

Pale-bellied Brent

An Osprey came in at the Needles Headland at 11.45 and continued across the Solent in line with Keyhaven. Very few common migrants in that area included a calling Siberian Chiffchaff with five Chiffchaffs at Whitecliff Cottage, seven Wheatears, and north passage of 13 Swallows, 160 Meadow Pipits and 30 Linnets. Two Stoats were seen well. Late news of the first Swallow seen here on 15th.

An Osprey at Newtown NNR at 11.40.

Another Little Ringed Plover at Rofford Marsh, till 2pm at least on the bare mud at the back of the marsh closer to the Yarmouth road, plus one White Wagtail.

A Marsh Harrier and 12 Sand Martins from St Helens road bridge.

A Short-eared Owl along the Military Road at Compton early morning.

A Grey Partridge at Leechmore Cross.

The two Siberian Chiffchaffs still singing in the reeds at the front of Sandown Canoe Lake early morning.

Red-necked Grebe and Pale-bellied Brent at Foreland.

The two Siberian Chiffchaffs still in the reeds at the front of Sandown Canoe Lake this morning. Some more sound recordings below. Note the double 'peep-peep' at 6 seconds on the recording of the call - this bird was often doing this.

Sound file 1 - the song.

Sound file 2 - the song.

Sound file 3 - the call.

A handful of Swallows and Sand Martins at Hersey NR.

A Green Sandpiper at Rofford Marsh.

A Little Ringed Plover on Barnes Bridge Scrape, Western Yar, but flew off north towards the Solent at 11.35 (one of the species which has, at times, been quite a rarity on the Island but has had a good showing in the last couple of years).

Low numbers of migrants at WHD during 07.00-10.00 included two Black Redstarts (one an adult male) at the Needles, two Wheatears, six Chiffchaffs and a Siskin.

The two Siberian Chiffchaffs still present in the reeds at the front of Sandown Canoe Lake early morning, with both birds heard singing. One bird was singing particularly well from trees at the back of the lake at midday before appearing to fly off northwest. Also a Siskin flew over.

Click on the following links to listen to recordings of the characteristic song (which has elements of Willow Warbler and a more 'oily' sound than nominate collybita) and call (an uninflected, plaintive 'peep')

Sound file 1 - the song
Sound file 2 - the call (turn up the volume!)

Black Redstart by G. Sparshott

Seawatching at SCP during 07.30-11.00 produced east passage of one Velvet Scoter, 102 Common Scoter (biggest flock 12), two Sandwich Terns, 17 Brent Geese, five Red-throated Divers, three Black-throated Divers, 18 Gannets, one Guillemot and three auk sp. One Wheatear arrived off the sea.

Two Water Pipits still on Brading Marsh near Dynamite Pool and a pair of Gadwall on the pool.

A Chiffchaff with tristis type vocalisations in the reeds at the front of Sandown Canoe Lake. The bird was highly vocal, giving the classic straight peep call and a distinctive song, quite unlike collybita. Accompanying this bird was another similar looking pale, brown 'eastern' Chiffchaff and two collybita.

reed-obscured pics of the Chiffchaff giving tristis calls

And the other similar looking bird which was not heard to call.....

A Swallow at East Cowes at 17.30.

Five Wheatears at WHD.

The Cattle Egret appears to have left Puckpool; it was last seen yesterday afternoon.

The over-wintering Whimbrel still on the Medina at Folly Lake.

A Short-eared Owl briefly on the west side of Luccombe Down at 16.40.

Three Sand Martins over the undercliff at St Lawrence.

A Black Redstart at Chilton Chine.

Chiffchaff at Luccombe Down

A Nuthatch at St Helens Duver was an extraordinary sighting - the bird was found in bushes behind the beach huts and then flew across the harbour entrance towards Bembridge.

Three female Goosanders at Newtown NNR.

Two Short-eared Owls recently showing well during the day along the Military Road at Compton.

Migrants at WHD this morning included one Swallow, one White Wagtail, three alba wagtails, 38 Redwings and two Song Thrushes.

A Green Sandpiper at Barnes Bridge Scrape, Western Yar.

A Firecrest moving quickly inland along the road at Culver Down.

Nuthatch by J. Gloyn

Four Wheatears at Bembridge Down and four at Red Cliff.

Five Wheatears at Wheelers Bay and three at Ventnor Haven.

One Wheatear at SCP.

A Black Redstart at Mill Farm, Bembridge (near the windmill) and a Short-eared Owl over Brading Marsh in the evening.

The CATTLE EGRET still at Puckpool.

The first Wheatear at Monks Bay (plus the Water Pipit still) and Sand Martin at Ventnor Downs.

Black Redstart and White Wagtail at SCP.

Two Short-eared Owls at Brading Marsh hunting over fields between the Dynamite Pool and Harbour Farm during 1700-1800.

A group of 26 Med Gulls (all adults apart from one second-summer and one first-summer) on the water between the main Yarmouth car park and the mill. This is an exceptional number for the site, despite there being a regular spring build up just along the coast at Newtown. Also two Greylags and a Greenshank at Yarmouth.

The CATTLE EGRET still between Puckpool and Springvale and the Red-necked Grebe offshore.

A rare south coast sighting of a Black-necked Grebe just off Ventnor Haven.

The Water Pipit still at Monks Bay.

A female Hen Harrier over the west spit at Newtown NNR which flew off north-northeast at 13.20. Two Greylags flew south at 08.43 and the spring build up of Med Gulls is well underway with 42 birds counted.

Two Purple Sandpipers at Ventnor Haven.

A Pale-bellied Brent at Ryde West Sands.

The two White-fronts still from the top end of Laundry Lane.

A Brambling west at Culver Cliff and three Stonechats there.

A ringtail Hen Harrier at Newtown NNR.

Fifty Siskins and a Redpoll in alders at Shide-Blackwater.

A first-winter Yellow-legged Gull flew east out to sea from Sandown Canoe Lake with a Chiffchaff singing at the seaward end.

A Black Redstart and two Stonechats at Culver Coastguards.

Black Redstart

A Short-eared Owl just east of Ventnor Downs Radar Station at 17.30.

Three Short-eared Owls showing well all afternoon at Wroxall Down.

An unusually good selection of waders in Bembridge Harbour including 25 Grey Plover, 12 Knot, 19 Dunlin, four Ringed Plover and a Turnstone.

A Firecrest at Ventnor Botanic Gardens.

The CATTLE EGRET still in the fields between Puckpool and Springvale and a Red-necked Grebe offshore before drifting round Nettlestone Point. Numbers of Great Crested Grebes are fluctuating considerably which indicates that there are regular movements back and forth along the local coastline; today only 16 at Puckpool and 16 at the West Sands along with the Black-necked Grebe.

Cattle Egret - immediately south of the Boat House Inn in first pic, then
further back towards Woodlands Vale in the second.

A CATTLE EGRET in the field between Puckpool and Springvale.

A Chiffchaff singing on Sandown seafront at the Dinosaur Museum.

A Firecrest at Tower Cottage Gardens, Shanklin Chine.

The Black-necked Grebe plus Eider and Common Scoter from Ryde to Seaview. Yesterday there was another high count of Great Crested Grebes with 55 at Springvale/Seaview.

The Water Pipit still at Monks Bay.

Two White-fronts still at the north end of Laundry Lane.

The over-wintering Whimbrel still at Folly Lake on the River Medina.

A Tundra Bean Goose with a small Canada flock on the levels just east of Morton. This bird may have been the grey goose seen from a moving train immediately north of Yarbridge yesterday. Videos here.

Tundra Bean Goose

Seven White-fronted Geese still at Newtown NNR, feeding in the second grass field east of the main hide.

An Eastern type Chiffchaff (bearing a ring) amongst eight plus Chiffchaffs at Brading Sewage Works. Out on the marshes were the regular female Marsh Harrier, two Water Pipits (near Dynamite Pool), two Stonechats and 400 Lapwings.

A decent count of 21 Red-breasted Mergansers at Puckpool/Seaview plus three Great Northern Divers and an Eider (Great Crested Grebes only just into double figures at this site today), and c.200 Common Gulls and c.40 Med Gulls on the East Sands.

Is it that time of year already?

Another high count of Great Crested Grebes with 57 off Kings Quay (perhaps including birds from Seaview last week).

Two Balearic Shearwaters west past Ventnor at 10.45, the first winter record for the Island.

The Water Pipit still at Monks Bay.

The Red-necked Grebe again off Springvale.

The first Red-necked Grebe of the winter on the sea at Seaview (adjacent to Hersey Reserve) plus an impressive 51 Great Crested Grebes (including a raft of 47 off Puckpool) which was the largest count there since 50 in January 1990, two Slavonian Grebes, two Great Northern Divers and a female Eider. The Black-necked Grebe still at the West Sands.

The two first-winter Pale-bellied Brents on the sea just northwest of Bembridge Lifeboat Station with nine Purple Sandpipers roosting on the jetty and 17 Shags between St Helens Fort and Black Rock.

Seventeen Shoveler at Bembridge Ponds.

Ten Shoveler at Sandown Canoe Lake.

Surveying the Red Cliff area revealed three Skylarks apparently in off the sea, 20 Song Thrushes, 45 Chaffinches by the coast path and flocks of 200 Linnets and 40 Stock Doves on setaside.

The two adult White-fronts still at Brading Marsh from the north end of Laundry Lane.

A flock of 15 Skylarks arrived in off the sea at Ryde (the Island is largely snow free), with the Black-necked Grebe on the East Sands for a change, and an adult Peregrine sitting on the sand at low tide was unusual.

More evidence of a cold weather movement with a small flock of Fieldfares over Sandown Canoe Lake, also still 29 Pochard there.

Seven White-fronted Geese at Newtown NNR.

The Brading Marsh RSPB walk produced one Jack Snipe and two Water Pipit near Dynamite Pool and another pipit at the sewage works.

A small sea passage at Ventnor between 08.10-09.40 in the continuing easterly wind including seven Brents, two Wigeon, five Red-throated Divers and c.20 Fulmars east, three Common Scoter west and a Lapwing on the shore.

A second-winter GLAUCOUS GULL flew east at Freshwater Bay at 12.38 and was watched until it disappeared around Sudmoor Point. These have become surprisingly rare in recent times - one last year was the first in a decade.

Some more Brent passage with 80 in three flocks flying east into the wind off Sandown in a single scan this morning, indicating that a larger movement was occurring.

The Black-necked Grebe still at Ryde West Sands plus two female Eider and 12 Great Crested Grebes and nearby a Greenshank at Ryde Marina.

Glaucous Gull by R. Wynn.

Seawatching at SCP during 09.00-10.45 produced two adult Little Gulls east at 09.55 plus 46 Brent (first of up-Channel spring passage), eight Red-throated Divers, four Razorbills, 24 Guillemots and two Common Scoter.

Coverage of both sides of the Western Yar revealed 30 Siskins in Alders at Freshwater Causeway, a pair of Gadwall at Rofford Marsh, still at least 200 Golden Plover in fields on the west side of the Yar and 26 Grey Plover amongst the Lapwing at high tide.

The Black-necked Grebe off Ryde West Sands plus three Eiders (one drake).

A small sea passage at Ventnor in the first hour of the morning included 32 Red-throated Divers west and four Common Scoters east.

Again no sign of the Cattle Egret but it is known to have been in the area for over a week.

The CATTLE EGRET again by Kings Manor Farm on the west side of the Western Yar but no sign in the afternoon.

A Black-necked Grebe on the sea 100m west of Bembridge Lifeboat Station and two Purple Sandpipers roosting on the jetty.

Two adult White-fronted Geese in flight over Brading Marsh - they flew in from St Helens direction before flying back the same way. The female Marsh Harrier showing well plus three Pintail.

Three Slavonian Grebes at Seaview (recent winters have seen numbers pick up towards the end of the season) plus a group of four Great Northern Divers, single Razorbill and Guillemot, and passage of two Red-throated Divers and six Kittiwakes east.

A CATTLE EGRET (about bloody time!) at the Western Yar, in fields at Kings Manor Farm on the west side of the estuary. Surprisingly this is only the third for the Island with previous records in 1990 and 1996.

Four Redpolls flew over Newnham Lane and 150 Redwings were counted around the Brickfields Horse Country/ Dame Anthoneys Common area.

Two Water Pipits came in to roost at the usual spot at Bexley Point along Laundry Lane.

An adult Iceland Gull at Ryde East Sands in the afternoon, watched for 20 minutes until it was flushed and flew out into the Solent.

A Bittern at Brading Marsh, seen perched on the reed edge from Bexley Point looking out towards the river.

Two female Eiders on the sea at Puckpool.

The number of Pochard on Sandown Canoe Lake has risen to 33, which in addition to being a new record for the site is also the highest count on the Island for eight years.

Eight Gadwall in Bembridge Harbour.

The Marsh Harrier still around Brading Marsh and the Short-eared Owl adjacent to the sewage works, still only appearing at dusk.

The first Slavonian Grebe of the winter off Puckpool. Also the Black-necked Grebe still at Ryde West Sands and decent numbers of Great Crested Grebes in the area.

A third-winter Yellow-legged Gull and two juv/first-winter Scandinavian Herring Gulls west through Sandown Canoe Lake and a max. of 110 Herring Gulls on the water.

Seawatching at Ventnor during 09.30-10.00 produced westerly passage of seven Red-throated Divers (and two east), 37 auks, 18 Gannets (and nine east) and 12 Kittiwakes.

The first onshore wind for a while produced a surprisingly poor passage off Ventnor, although 50 Red-throated Divers was notable. Also counted flying west in the first full hour of the morning were 100 auks (inc. 25 Razorbills), 15 Kittiwakes, ten Fulmars and c.30 Common Gulls.

A Bittern seen well in flight from St Helens road bridge, raising up from the Bembridge side of the marsh and crossing over towards the Duver.

Two Pochards and three Brents on the sea at Sandown.

A flock of 203 Golden Plovers roosting (at 16.35) in a field just southeast of Marsh Green Farm along the Military Road.

A Firecrest at Tower Cottage Gardens, Shanklin.

The Water Pipit still at Bonchurch, this time on the revetment at Horseshoe Bay.

A female Brambling with Chaffinches in maize stubble by the footpath 500m west of Mersley Farm.

An adult Pale-bellied Brent at Ryde East Sands in front of the marina. The Black-necked Grebe still off Binstead where a flock of 70 Mallard were flying around offshore, and one Nuthatch was present at the feeders at the junction of Quarr Close and Quarr Road. A little further west there were two Great Northern Divers and nine Bullfinches at Woodside and a total of 19 Great Crested Grebes between King's Quay and Quarr.

Pale-bellied Brent

Two adult White-fronted Geese with Canadas in the first field at the end of Quay Lane, Brading early morning only. Other birds seen on Brading Marsh included three Water Pipit around the Dynamite Pool area, the adult female Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, the eight Greylags, one female Pintail and 45 Snipe.

A flock of 127 Golden Plovers between Betty Haunt Lane and Park Green Farm.

White-fronted Geese by G. Sparshott

The White-fronted Goose still from the north end of Laundry Lane.

A flock of 250 Golden Plovers in fields on the west side of the Western Yar.

The Whimbrel still on the River Medina at Folly Lake.

Thirteen Redpolls and ten Siskins at Firestone Copse and six Woodcocks flew in from surrounding fields at dawn to roost.

A Firecrest on the bridleway opposite Quarr Pond.

A Firecrest at SCP.

Two Short-eared Owls and a Marsh Harrier still at Brading Marsh.