Bird Meeting 5th February 2023 at Bembridge Harbour

Thirteen members met in Latimer Road on a lovely, crisp morning. Our first stop was to overlook St Helen’s millpond where there was a bracing wind blowing. From there we were able to see a large number of Teal, possibly 100, 12 Oystercatchers, some Mallard, Cormorant, Redshank, 2 Little Egret, Little Grebe in the harbour, some Gadwall. Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Herring Gull, Black Headed Gull and Mute Swan. On our way to the E. Yar bridge we saw a number of House Sparrow. On a wooden post in the river one of the White Tailed Eagles was perched and we saw another flying over the main marsh. A Great Crested Grebe was feeding amongst some Tufted Duck on the river. We then walked along the old railway track towards Bembridge and there we saw approximately 300 Brent Greese and Canada Geese flying about. A large flock of Lapwing were very restive and they too flew around joining in the spectacle. We saw at least two Marsh Harriers, male and female and heard Cetti’s Warbler, Dunnock, Wren, Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Goldfinch. A Song Thrush was singing in the copse opposite the houses on Embankment Road and later a Collared Dove was spotted. The other bird of prey we spotted was a Buzzard. A Marsh Harrier in flight caused a Water Rail to call out. A male Stonechat was spotted on top of a sedge. A Snipe was also spotted. On our walk back along by the house boats we used the telescope to view distant pontoons where some waders and gulls were at roost, it being high tide. About 6 Common Gulls were added to our list of gulls as were some Dunlin.  In all 51 species were noted during the course of the morning. Jackie Hart