Category

It is with regret that we have taken the decision to postpone the trip to the Natural History Museum, London due to take place on 3rd June.

We are hoping to re-schedule the visit for 2021.

Maggie will be in touch shortly with those that have booked on the trip.

Stay safe and well.

Cancellation of all IWNHAS meetings until further notice

We regret that due to COVID-19 restrictions we have cancelled ALL Society meetings (both indoor and outdoor) until further notice
(more…)

11 members enjoyed a pleasant morning led by Toni Goodley, an interlude before some more rain fell about lunch time. The tide was far out so we looked over the estuary and St Helen’s mill pond where we saw Teal, Redshank, Greenshank, Curlew, Black-headed Gull, a couple of Mediterranean Gulls and Mallard. We then looked up the eastern Yar from St Helen’s road bridge and saw Coot and in the distance a Great Crested Grebe. Cormorant were sitting in the trees where they nest. A Cetti’s warbler was calling, the first of 11 heard during the morning. It was not long before we had our first sighting of a Marsh Harrier. We then moved on to the old railway line and looking over the first gate we saw a pair of Gadwall and in the pool we had good views of a pair of Great Crested Grebe. Looking over the RSPB reserve we noted a Grey Heron, Little Egret, Mute Swan, Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk. Near some Canada Geese, a lone Brent Goose was spotted. In a copse at the beginning of the old railway line we had good views of Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Wren and also Dunnock, Robin, Great Tit and Blue Tit. One of the lagoons held 12 Tufted Ducks, six of male, and six of female and in the opposite field six Pochard. Two Water Rails were heard and three of our members at the front were fortunate to see two Kingfishers together. On the return to our cars we looked over the estuary between the house boats and checked through the flocks of gulls and were able to add to our species list with Common Gull and Great Black Backed Gull. In all we noted 34 species. Jackie Hart

It is with regret that we have to postpone the forthcoming IWNHAS Conference – Sat 4th April and ‘Bioblitz’ on Sunday 5th April due to the coronavirus emergency.

We are hopeful that we can reschedule the conference for Spring 2021. (more…)

Visit tinyurl.com/sxzpskv for tickets to our forthcoming conference ‘Environmental Change on the Isle of Wight: past, present & future’ on Saturday 4th April 2020 at The Riverside Centre.

There’s a packed programme for this special event featuring local and regional speakers and national experts all with knowledge of the Island (more…)

Four intrepid members met at Shalfleet for a walk down Mill Road to the quay, led by Jim Baldwin. Luckily the weather forecast of 50+ mph winds and rain did not materialise but obviously deterred a lot of people. We started in cloudy conditions and a moderate breeze but enjoyed some sunny periods during the morning and only a couple of short showers. The wind began to increase towards the end of the walk. The conditions were not ideal for seeing the passerines but we still managed to record 32 species during the morning. The Rooks were busily building their nests as we set off and a Green Woodpecker was heard briefly in the vicinity of the woods. The highlight of the morning was the pre-breeding flock of 300+ Mediterranean Gulls at Shalfleet Quay. They congregate in the Newtown area before dispersing to their breeding sites along the south coast and in Europe. It is hoped some will stay and breed at Newtown as in recent years. Some of the wintering waterbirds are beginning to leave but there was still good numbers of Brent Geese, Wigeon and Teal in the creek and quay along with a female Pintail and a female Red-breasted Merganser. Four Little Grebe was seen in the creek while waders were represented by Oystercatcher, Curlew and Redshank. A single Buzzard was the only raptor recorded during the  morning. Jim Baldwin

Visit tinyurl.com/sxzpskv for tickets to our forthcoming conference ‘Environmental Change on the Isle of Wight: past, present & future’ on Saturday 4th April 2020 at The Riverside Centre.

There’s a packed programme for this special event featuring local and regional speakers and national experts all with knowledge of the Island (more…)

Tickets are now available online at: tinyurl.com/sxzpskv for our forthcoming conference ‘Environmental Change on the Isle of Wight: past, present & future’ on Saturday 4th April 2020 at The Riverside Centre.

There’s a packed programme for this special event featuring local and regional speakers and national experts all with knowledge of the Island (more…)

New to birdwatching? Want to learn more about bird identification, bird behaviour and the fieldcraft of birdwatching? (more…)