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Eighteen members met at Thorley Road for a walk along the cycle path to the scrape in front of Mill Copse led by Jim Baldwin. It was a glorious sunny morning with a light north easterly breeze and a rising tide making perfect conditions. As a result 62 species were seen during the course of the morning. We stopped at Rofford Marsh with the highlights being 5 drake Shovelers, 3 Gadwall, a drake Pintail, 6 Snipe and 2 Kingfishers while 2 Sky Lark few overhead and a Cetti’s Warbler was heard. Moving on to the Western Yar estuary there was c.900 Golden Plover and Lapwing which made a lovely sight when they all flew round the estuary as a result of a passing Sparrowhawk before returning to their roost site in the marsh. Everyone managed to have great views in the telescopes of a confiding Kingfisher which sat on a post in the scrape. Further sightings of Kingfisher ensued with two together over the Yar and another one catching a fish with an overall total of five different birds seen during the morning. Turnstones were busily turning over the seaweed close to the cycle path while a Curlew was also observed at close range. 30 Black-tailed Godwit were at roost, 2 Greenshank was a nice bonus while other waders seen were Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, Dunlin and Redshank. Wildfowl was represented by Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal and Mallard. 12 Little Grebe were fishing in the Yar. The elusive Spotted Redshank was not seen at the scrape but a number of passerines were observed including Stonechat and Yellowhammer. The walk concluded with a Marsh Harrier quartering the reed bed opposite Off the Rails café. Jim Baldwin

The Great Solent Birdwatch takes places 30th November – 8th December.

This is a new citizen science project which aims to raise awareness about the amazing range of overwintering birds that visit the Solent each year and hopes to inspire everyone to become more involved with birdwatching. (more…)

The Centenary year of the IWNHAS kicked-off in style with a special event held at Caffe Isola on Friday 8th November – 100 years to the very day of the first meeting of our Society!

Read more here

Join us to celebrate the founding of our Society 100 years ago to the very day at a special evening event taking place at Caffé Isola, Newport on Friday 8th November 2019, 7pm – 9pm.

Click here for further details on how to register for this free event and pre-order your food.

Caffé Isola are opening especially for us, so please do come along and help us celebrate!

Join us to celebrate the founding of our Society 100 years ago to the very day at a special evening event taking place at Caffé Isola, Newport on Friday 8th November 2019, 7pm – 9pm.

Click here for further details on how to register for this free event and pre-order your food.

Caffé Isola are opening especially for us, so please do come along and help us celebrate!

Eight members met at the National Trust car park for a walk let by Nicky Falconar on the nature reserve.  It was very windy and the tide exceptionally high. Despite this we saw 44 species during the course of the morning. One of our number saw a Pied Flycatcher by Causeway bridge on his way to the car park. A few Swallows flew by and about 10 Meadow Pipits were disturbed from the marsh near the salt pans by the rising tide, a few Sky Larks were in the meadow. Lapwing was seen in the distance.  Flocks of about 50 Dunlin and 60 Ringed Plover took to the air. 12 Turnstone were seen on the remnants of the causeway as were one Grey Plover, 7 Cormorants and 2 Sandwich Terns.  We also saw a Mediterranean Gull with 28 Black-headed Gulls on Gull Island. About 50 Canada Geese were dotted about. 35 Curlew and at least 40 Oystercatcher too were seen as were 7 Little Egret a Greenshank and at least 13 Redshank.  We were hoping for an Osprey but were not lucky, however a Peregrine obligingly sat on a post for us to admire through the telescope. We also had a Marsh Harrier, Buzzard and a Kestrel. The ducks were represented by Wigeon, Mallard and Pintail as well as 18 Shelduck.  Jackie Hart.

The IW Embroiders exhibition ‘Wild on Wight’ showcases a series of specially created, intricate artworks to highlight and celebrate ‘100 years of the IW Natural History & Archaeological Society. (more…)

Five members, including one new to the section, enjoyed a walk from the Jubilee NT car park down Strawberry Lane, then taking the footpath to The Longstone. We then wended our way along some footpaths up to Harboro and Mottistone Down and back to our cars. Although it was overcast to begin with it brightened up but the windy conditions persisted resulting in few birds in exposed spots. However, the footpath at the foot of the downs was sheltered and we found a variety of birds which were on migration: Spotted Flycatcher, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Tree Pipit, Yellowhammer, only the odd Swallow and House Martin. At the beginning of the walk we saw two Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel  vying for airspace and a Buzzard. During the course of the morning we also saw or heard Woodpigeon, Pheasant, Crow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, a juvenile Great Black Backed Gull, Chiffchaff, Wren, Blue Tit, Herring Gull, Green Woodpecker, Magpie, Blackbird, Robin and Jackdaw. A Weasel ran across the path in front of us – my first for the year. 24 bird species. Leader: Jackie Hart

There were 6 people on the Bird Walk 2 of which were thinking of joining the Society.  The weather was slightly cooler with a nice breeze.

We did some sea watching first and even managed to see the odd gannet.  We then did our usual round walk along the cliff and back over farmland but it was rather quiet.

Pied Wagtail, Wood Pigeon, Black headed Gull, Gannet, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Great Black-backed Gull, Shag, Cormorant, Mediterranean Gull, Jay, Magpie, Wren, Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pheasant, Robin, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chiffchaff, Blackbird, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Swallow, Herring Gull, Linnet, House Sparrow, Rook, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow were the bird species seen and/or heard.

Marbled White, Common Blue, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Red Admiral, Large White, Small White, Brimstone, Small Copper, Ringlet, Comma, Meadow Brown, White Admiral were the butterflies seen and we also saw a female Emperor Dragonfly.

Leader: Toni Goodley

Ten people met in the main car park at Parkhurst Forest at 8.30 pm for a short walk to the site where we have seen and heard Nightjars in previous years. Although this meeting was about three weeks later than usual after a patient wait a very soft churring sound was heard and a bit later much louder. After waving a white handkerchief in the air a Nightjar came to investigate shortly followed by another. As night was closing in a bird came to sit on the top of a nearby bare tree and we had good views of its profile and we could also hear it constantly calling. Two Woodcock were seen flying over. David pointed out a Glowworm in the vegetation nearby. On our way back to the car park we heard Nightjars churring so we think we probably had five birds in all. We also spotted two more Glowworms and a Toad. Jackie Hart