Six members met at the bottom of Latimer Road for a walk led by Jackie Hart on a lovely sunny morning. Starting at St Helens Mill Pond, we recorded Greenshank and four Mediterranean Gulls among other species. Viewing Brading Marshes RSPB Reserve from St Helens road bridge produced good sightings of the pair of White-tailed Eagles as well as at least two Marsh Harriers. Two Great White Egret also gave great views and the opportunity to compare them to Little Egret. A bonus sighting was two Common Sandpipers, who had stopped off on their migration south to Africa, flying down the Eastern Yar and passing under the bridge to the Mill Pond. The walk along the footpath to Bembridge Lagoons was notable for the lack of migrant passerines seen with only three Chiffchaff recorded. A bonus at Bembridge Ponds was 26 Little Egret roosting in the trees. Returning along the Embankment, we were treated to close views of 10 Black-tailed Godwit, some still showing their summer plumage.
In total, 33 species were recorded during an enjoyable morning: Buzzard, Kestrel, Marsh Harrier, White-tailed Eagle, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Great White Egret, Little Egret, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Mute Swan, Mallard, Coot, Tufted Duck, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Water Rail, Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Lapwing, Coal Tit, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Wren, Chiffchaff and Swallow.
Jim Baldwin
