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Confirming that this season’s IWNHAS Nightjar walk will take place this Saturday 30 May. Weather forecast is looking good (dry, gentle breeze). Nightjar already here and have regularly been spotted along the route. If we’re lucky we may hear a Nightingale on our return.

Meet at Strawberry Lane car park, Strawberry Lane, Mottistone. SZ 41218E 83722N (what3words gown.voices.observers). 2 miles, gentle uphill, some uneven ground requiring footwear with ankle support. Return in darkness so torches essential.

Saturday 11th April 9.00 – 11.30 am led by Keith Marston

As fifteen members gathered at the end of Stag Lane we were serenaded by a Song Thrush on a branch just 10 metres away! This was not unexpected as the What3Words description of the meeting point was offhand.bless.songbirds! Above the hum of the Biogas Plant the sound of three species of corvid could be heard, Rook, Carrion Crow and Jackdaw, all year round visitors to the heaps of organic ‘fuel’ for the plant. Jackdaw were nesting in the box on the Vestas building, and a Peregrine sat on a nest built on the east side of the building. New rookeries are establishing in two nearby copses, and birds were at the nests. A pair of Firecrest hold territory in the copse alongside the cycleway, and one of the birds came near. Two Blackcap were in song in the linear woodland either side of the cycleway (the Merlin App. hedging its bets by suggesting both Blackcap and Garden Warbler!). Over 100 Mediterranean Gull were seen flying from the estuary to feed on a field on Werrar Farm.

We entered Dickson’s Copse Local Nature Reserve and were pleased to see a variety of spring flowers along the track adjacent to Dodnor Creek, including bluebells, that had responded to the increased light following management of the site in the autumn. Wren, Great Tit, Blue Tit and Robin were vocally holding territories in the Copse. Coot, Moorhen and Mallard on the Copse pond are likely to have a nest under the willows at the eastern end of the water. The oviposited egg scars of the Willow Emerald Damselfly were evident on some of the willow stems and engendered great interest from the birders!

Drama ensued on Dodnor pond when a pair of Canada Goose landed close to the Mute Swan sitting on a nest in the reeds, and the cob went on the attack, not relenting until the geese retreated to the estuary. A Reed warbler sang in the reedbed and bursts of Cetti’s warbler song came from the scrub adjacent to Dodnor pond. Three Tufted duck swam through Moorhen and Coot territories on the Pond, while 3 Swallow flew overhead heading north, and a pair of a Collared Dove and a Stock Dove made an appearance. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming in adjacent trees and the only Starling of the morning sat on a telephone wire. As the walk came to an end a distant soaring Buzzard was the only raptor seen, but became the 44^th species of the day.

Thanks to Keith for a most informative guided tour.

Join us as we look for Spring birds in the Medina valley. Meet at 9am Stag Lane, at crossing with cycleway. Parking on Stag Lane – usually space between Biogas plant and cycleway. SZ 50357E 91643N (what3words offhand.bless.songbirds). 1½ miles with some soft, uneven ground, requiring footwear with ankle support. Leader: Keith Marston, Tel 01983 527857.

A fine spring day provided the perfect backdrop for a guided walk at National Trust Dunsbury Farm, led by Mark Larter of Natural England. Since 2018 the farm has been undergoing a gradual transformation from intensive agriculture to a more sustainable, wildlife-rich landscape.

We set off accompanied by the song of Skylark, numbers of which have doubled since 2021 thanks to the short swards maintained by grazing Galloway cattle. In contrast, areas of longer grass support Meadow Pipit, already pairing up for the breeding season. We flushed Red-legged Partridge from the path ahead, while in the distance came the distinctive “yaffle” of a Green Woodpecker. Hedgerows were lively with the calls of House Sparrow, Dunnock and Goldfinch. Canada Goose and Mallard were present on the reservoir, while from the reedbed came the explosive song of a Cetti’s Warbler. A detour to a bird seed plot, managed by Compton Farm, revealed a flock of around eighty Linnet, several Woodpigeon and a single Yellowhammer (back on territory). Nearby, a mature hedgerow held Blackbird, Robin, Wren and Long-tailed Tit. On the Hebridean sheep grazed slopes beyond, Rook and Carrion Crow foraged for invertebrates.

Returning along the greensand ridge, we admired a growing diversity of arable wildflowers. We were stopped in our tracks by a striking female Kestrel perched on a post, repeatedly dropping into the grass to hunt caterpillars. As the walk drew to a close, Magpie chattered ahead, a Pied Wagtail flew by and two Buzzard circled overhead. At Compton Grange, we were delighted to encounter three Wheatear – among the earliest returning summer migrants, and a Brown Hare. The surrounding scrub and bramble held Chiffchaff and Stonechat. The walk concluded with a notable sighting of a Dartford Warbler, the first record for the monthly transect (which started in late 2020).

Twelve members took part in the walk, recording a total of 27 bird species. A big thank you to Mark for sharing his considerable conservation knowledge with the group.

Our Spring Programme kicks off with a walk around National Trust Dunsbury where we will see the impact of the Trust’s arable reversion on bird populations. Meet at 9am at the National Trust Hanover Point car park, Compton Bay. National Trust Isle of Wight are allowing IWNHAS members to park free for this event. SZ 37804E 84065N. what3words divorcing.gazed.pest

Our quest for divers and grebes got off to a promising start. Several Great Northern Diver and Great Crested Grebe were spotted at some distance towards the forts — photographs were necessary to confirm identification! Closer to shore, Cormorant were busy fishing, while a small group of Sanderling dashed along the tideline, busily feeding in their usual energetic style. Further along the beach, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, and Great Black-backed Gull were making the most of exposed cockles and other marine invertebrates. Just offshore, a small party of Dark-bellied Brent Goose drifted on the water.

Waterbirds took centre stage at the Hersey Reserve. On the water we recorded Teal, Tufted Duck, Northern Shoveler, Mallard, Little Grebe, and Mute Swan. A noisy band of Coot chased one another along the muddy margins, sharing the shoreline with Moorhen and Oystercatcher. At the edge of the reedbeds, a single Common Snipe and a Little Egret were roosting. In a field on the far side, a sizeable flock of feral Barnacle Goose (ex-Seaview Wildlife Encounter) grazed alongside several Magpie. As the weather turned increasingly misty, passerines were in shorter supply, with only Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Blue Tit, and a distant singing Robin recorded.

On our return along the sea front we witnessed a much larger flock of Sanderling. This time they were desperately flying around as they tried to dodge people and dogs in search of a quieter stretch of sand. A single Turnstone completed our coastal sightings.

Nine members took part in the walk, recording a total of 27 bird species. We rounded off the morning with well-earned hot drinks at Lily’s Café in Seaview.

Teresa Tearle

Saturday 21 February – Ornithology walk along the shore road at Seaview followed by a visit to Hersey Reserve. We will be on the watch for divers, grebes, gulls on the Solent, and (with care) waders on the shoreline and also at Hersey. Looking forward to seeing you. Meet at the west end of Bluett Avenue, Seaview SZ626917 at 9.30am.

Forthcoming meetings

Ideal conditions for a winter bird walk as we met under sunny skies at Newtown National Nature Reserve. Starting at Coastguard Meadows the surrounding mature hedgerows hosted a range of species – Goldcrest, Wren, Robin, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Jay, Song Thrush, Redwing, Starling, Blackbird, Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit. Flyovers included Jackdaw, Rook, Raven, Skylark, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a large flock of Lapwing. The Newtown River afforded views of Canada Goose, Mallard, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Greenshank, Little Grebe and a distant view of a Peregrine being mobbed by Carrion Crow over Hamstead. As we reached the boat house high tide meant little mud was exposed so Grey Plover, Turnstone and Dunlin were making the most of the last remaining islands and posts in the water while numerous Cormorant gathered along the spit. Nearby an adult White-tailed Eagle sat in a tree at Brickfield (we just missed it fishing at the spit). High tide around the boardwalk brought us close to many Brent Goose and several Meadow Pipit and Rock Pipit. Out in the Clamerkin Channel we picked out Shelduck, Wigeon, Pintail, Teal and Red-breasted Merganser, with Black-headed, Herring and Common Gulls scattered among them. The saltmarsh hosted numerous roosting Curlew, and a few well-hidden Snipe lurked at the back of the scrape. From the hide, Ringed Plover were spotted feeding on the final patches of mud, while a Kingfisher provided a moment of pure magic, fishing among the flooded roots of an oak tree. And a final highlight – six Spoonbill lifted from Lambsleaze and settled at the edge of the marsh in front of the hide, perfectly timed as we prepared to depart.

Twelve members took part in the walk, joined by a guest—the County Bird Recorder for Devon — whose knowledge and insights added greatly to an already memorable morning. 50 bird species.

Teresa Tearle

Three members of IWNHAS braved the wet and windy conditions to join Dave Fairlamb of Natural Links for an Ornithology Group outing to St. Helens Duver & Bembridge Harbour on 29 November, and despite the difficult birdwatching conditions and a shortened session, we still managed to see 30 species of birds.

Amazing to hear a Song Thrush already singing on breeding territory as we approached the path down to the Duver. Rock Pipit numbers building up in their traditional wintering area on the east side of the Harbour near the Causeway, with at least 10 seen, some bathing and preening in the freshwater rain pools on the path.

Song Thrush                                                       Rock Pipit

Several species of waders feeding in the Harbour including Oystercatchers, Lapwings, Redshanks, Curlews, Black-tailed Godwits and a single Greenshank. Dabbling ducks were also feeding in the shallows with good numbers of Gadwall and Teal. Most of the gulls were roosting, mainly Black-headed Gulls with a few Mediterranean Gulls, giving an opportunity for ID comparisons.

Greenshank                                                                       Teal

A couple of Great Crested Grebes and 2 Little Grebes were continually diving out in the deeper waters of the Harbour, all now in their winter plumage. Other birds around the Harbour included Starlings, Cormorants, Coots, Great Black-backed Gulls and a Little Egret.

Dave Fairlamb

29 November 2025

Following the success of the 2025 IWNHAS New Year Lunch, we are delighted to announce the date for our 2026 Celebration Lunch.

Friday 16th January 2026 at the Isle of Wight College Restaurant.

No action required yet, we will circulate more details and menu choices after Christmas.