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Six members met at the bottom of Latimer Road for a walk led by Jackie Hart on an overcast morning accompanied by a blustery wind. The meeting got off to a great start with a Kingfisher seen in flight at St Helens Mill Pond. Among the other species seen included five Mediterranean Gulls, excellent close views of three, out of an overall total of five, Great Crested Grebe in the harbour where there was also approximately 200 Dunlin busily feeding on the exposed mud along with other waders. The walk along the footpath to Bembridge Lagoons resulted in views of two Marsh Harrier on Brading Marshes RSPB Reserve, along with the grazing flock of Dark-bellied Brent Geese while approximately 110 Lapwing were seen flying over the marsh. Passerines were in short supply, the windy conditions resulting in most of them hunkered down. A small mixed tit flock containing Blue Tit, Great Tit and 4 Long-tailed Tit was seen. 11 Tufted Duck were in the large pond by Harbour Farm, 9 male and 2 female. In total, 39 species were recorded despite the blustery conditions: Coot, Kingfisher, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Grey Plover, Curlew, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Great Black Backed Gull, Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Canada Goose, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Marsh Harrier, Carrion Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Robin, Blackbird, Wren, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Little Egret, Little Grene, Great Crested Grebe, Mallard, Teal, Gadwall and Tufted Duck.

Great Crested Grebe                                                                                                                                                                       photo: Jim Baldwin

Jim Baldwin

Just a reminder that booking is required on the forthcoming Winter Tree Walk, Northwood Park Cowes, Saturday 27th January 14:00hrs.

A chance to observe some very large historic trees and try identifying trees by winter twigs.

Meet by the large Plane Tree by the Public Toilets near the car park in Park Road, Cowes

Leaders Dave and Hazel Trevan.

Booking essential phone 01983 853927

Eleven members met at Thorley Road for a walk along the cycle path to the scrape in front of Mill Copse led by Jackie Hart. A strong south-westerly wind, near gale force in gusts, kept any rain at bay but it also meant a lot of the birds were hunkered down out of view. 43 species were seen during the course of the morning which was not bad considering the conditions. We stopped at Rofford Marsh, which had a higher water level than normal, with the highlight being a Marsh Harrier flying low over the marsh. Cetti’s Warbler, one of three heard during the morning, was present further down the path. Moving on to the Western Yar estuary there was the usual overwintering wildfowl and waders present, excluding Golden Plover, while among the flock of gulls at Yarmouth was at least one Mediterranean Gull. The species recorded during the morning were: Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Pheasant, Woodpigeon, Starling, Blackbird, Cetti’s Warbler, Coot, Mallard, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Great Black Backed Gull, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Shoveler, Little Grebe, Carrion Crow, Moorhen, Jackdaw, Wigeon, Pintail, Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Shelduck, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Cormorant, Dunlin, Teal, Curlew, Wren, Robin, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Lapwing, Grey Plover, Greenshank, Meadow Pipit, House Sparrow, Reed Bunting and a male Stonechat.

Jim Baldwin

Ten members joined Dave Fairlamb of Natural Links for an Ornithology Group outing to West High Down on 22 October 2023.

Starting from the National Trust car park at the old chalk quarry near High Down, we walked along the main footpath on the northern slope of Tennyson Down and there was a flock of at least 15 Long-tailed Tits making their way along the hedge. Other birds in this area included Blackbirds, Robins, Magpie, 2 Jays, 4 Chiffchaffs and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Long-tailed Tit

Great-spotted Woodpecker

As we reached the gorse covered ridge of the Down, a Green Woodpecker gave its presence away with its loud `yaffling’ and a few Greenfinches flew over, accompanied by a Siskin calling.  The open grasslands held at least 5 Meadow Pipits and 5 Skylarks, with one of the Skylarks still managing to remind of summer with its beautiful song as it flew overhead.

Meadow Pipit

Skylark

A couple of family groups of Stonechats were still on territory amongst the gorse bushes, seen along with Dunnocks, Wrens and Chaffinches. Jackdaws, Herring Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls patrolled the cliffs and both male and female Kestrels were hunting over West High Down. Both Red Admirals and Speckled Wood butterflies were still on the wing.

Speckled Wood

Dave Fairlamb

Nine members and two prospective new members met at the National Trust visitor centre car park for a walk in the area. We walked along High Street to the short footpath to the field overlooking Causeway Lake and noted the birds congregating there. There were Pintail, Wigeon, Lapwing, Oystercatcher and Black-Tailed Godwit. On one of the fields opposite was a flock of Brent Geese feeding. Blue Tit were flitting in the hedgerow and a Buzzard flew overhead. We noted a total of three of the latter during the course of the morning. We heard a Raven calling and saw three Carrion Crow and a small flock of Fieldfares with three perched on the top of a tree on our continued walk to the flower meadow. This was very muddy and water had accumulated in the area of the gate which leads to Newtown River. Having successfully negotiated this we then walked around the saltpans to the boathouse and back along the wooden footbridge to the main hide looking at the birds on the way. There was a lovely spectacle of Dunlin twisting and turning in flight before landing on the Main Marsh. There were Cormorant, Redshank, Shelduck, Little Grebe, Red Breasted Merganser, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Little Egret, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Curlew and in the Scrape, two Greenshank. On the Marsh near the boathouse were two Meadow Pipit. Two seals were resting on the mudflats. 35 species were noted during the morning. Jackie Hart

Thirteen members of IWNHAS joined Dave Fairlamb of Natural Links for an Ornithology Group outing to Laundry Lane overlooking Brading Marshes RSPB Reserve on 23 September 2023.

While waiting for the start of the event, several members saw a Marsh Harrier hunting over the reedbeds and after our introduction it was not long before we began to spot several species of birds in the surrounding hedgerows and fields such as Common Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Linnets, Meadow Pipits and Greenfinches. At least 2 Cetti’s Warblers gave small bursts of song as we walked further along the path.

                                                                                   Marsh Harrier                                                           

Greenfinch

Large numbers of Canada Geese were on the `Triangle Field’, along with Grey Herons, several Mallards and at least 3 Shovelers. Overhead the sky was full of House Martins and Swallows, in their hundreds, with a few Sand Martins in amongst the feeding flocks. A few Gadwall took flight and it was at this point that a bird of prey was spotted drifting over the field, but then quickly flying away beyond a line of trees, it had all the hallmarks of a juvenile Pallid Harrier but we could have done with a more prolonged sighting for definitive ID.

One of the large pools out on the marsh held a Great Crested Grebe and at least 4 Little Grebes and several Lapwings were loafing around the edges. A Little Egret flew by in the distance and a Water Rail was heard `squealing’. Buzzards wheeled around overhead, catching the thermals and a Kestrel was seen hovering.

Little Grebe                                                                    

                                                                      Kestrel

Several species of butterfly were on the wing including Red Admirals, Small Whites, Speckled Woods and we all had lovely views of a Comma.

Dave Fairlamb (with pictures supplied by Graeme Ruthven)

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

Eight members met at Blackgang viewpoint car park for a walk led by Jim Baldwin. An overcast start, plus a forecast of heavy rain later in the morning, along with a strong south-westerly wind no doubt deterred some members from attending while the passerines mainly stayed hunkered down out of view. Four Herring Gulls and a Woodpigeon were observed from the cliff edge at Blackgang. As per last year’s walk at this site, there was a large group of approx. 300 corvids (c.100 Jackdaw, c.180 Rook and c.20 Carrion Crow) in an adjacent field which had recently been cut. 6 Swallow and a singing Skylark braved the conditions and were the sum total of the passerines seen and heard. A pair of Raven treated us to a brief aerial display along the path at Gore Cliff while a Gannet was observed fishing off Rocken End along with 8 Herring Gulls. With the rain clouds gathering, we decided to retrace our steps at this point and managed to beat the rain. In addition to the birds, we also saw 2 Humming-bird Hawk-moths and several species of butterfly (6 Meadow Brown, 2 Marbled White and singles of Large White and Wall).

Jim Baldwin