Category

Fourteen members of IWNHAS and the Facebook social media group Wight Swifts met for an evening Swift walk, coinciding with the start of National Swift Awareness Week, jointly led by Caroline Dudley and Jim Baldwin. Starting at Quay Street, Newport, the group observed a long established pair of nest boxes on a house which is still thought to be occupied by one pair of Swifts. We then walked up the High Street to watch an active nest in the eaves above the TUI travel agents shop. There was several visits to the nest with adults bringing food while our presence staring up at the nest site attracted a lot of attention from the passing general public, several of whom stayed to watch! We then concluded the walk at the County Records Office at Hillside where another active nest was seen. Unfortunately, the recent weather had forced the screaming parties of immature Swifts seen a few evenings earlier to temporarily depart to more settled climes. This was the first time a Swift walk had been arranged on the Isle of Wight and the positive response suggests this will become an annual event.

Ten members met at the main car park at Parkhurst Forest for an evening walk. Although the prime site for Nightjar is now getting overgrown for this species, we were treated to some good views of at least four birds hunting for moths at around 10pm. They were typically using a dead tree to hunt from, and we saw their distinctive flight as they twisted and turned after their prey. There were several unidentified bats of differing sizes on the wing at the same time. Three passes of roding Woodcock were seen at the site and we were also treated to the bonus of a Long-eared Owl flying low over us.

Jim Baldwin

Saturday 6^th May at Laundry Lane and Sunday 11^th June at Mottistone Down

Unfortunately, both of the walks were cancelled due to heavy rain and the forecast of further rain throughout the morning.

 Eight members met at the National Trust car park at the far end of Culver Down for a walk led by Jackie Hart. Despite the grey cloud and light rain which greeted us, we went ahead with the walk and thankfully the weather improved as the morning wore on. As per last year’s spring walk at the site, it was notable for the number of singing Skylark on the downland east of the coastguard cottages. This is certainly an improvement to prior years. Conversely, Meadow Pipit numbers seemed to be lower than last year. It was pleasing to see a pair of Stonechat, hopefully they will remain to breed. As the walk was aimed for spring migrants, we all had good views of a Wheatear while two Chiffchaff were calling and up to four Whitethroat were present along with a single Blackcap. The footpath along the edge of the down rewarded us with lovely views of prospecting Fulmars, a male Peregrine and two Raven.

In total, 27 species were seen: Linnet, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Woodpigeon, Pheasant, Jackdaw, Raven, Crow, Rook, Stonechat, Herring Gull, Fulmar, Peregrine, Wheatear, Grey Heron, Dunnock, Green Woodpecker, Magpie, Robin and Wren.

Jim Baldwin

Thirteen members and three visitors met at the National Trust car park at Newtown for a walk led by Toni Goodley. Ten species were recorded as we walked down the road to the church before taking the footpath to view Causeway Lake. Although the majority of the wintering wildfowl had departed for their breeding sites, there was still a few Teal, Pintail and Wigeon present. We retraced our steps and then walked through the Coastguard Meadow and along the board walk to the wooden boathouse, also known as the Black Hut. It was here that we recorded our bird of the day. A Golden Plover was initially sighted on the saltmarsh and after further checking, there were over 130+ Golden Plover well camouflaged in the vegetation. A lovely sight. Three Red-breasted Merganser and two Great Crested Grebe were also seen at the harbour entrance. The latter two appeared to be a pair which was interesting. We then walked to the main hide where the Black-headed Gull colony was noisily vying for the best breeding sites in the Scrape, along with a few Mediterranean Gulls.  In total, 30 species were recorded during the morning plus seven Grey Seals. The birds seen were as follows: Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Great Tit, Robin, Blackbird. Wren, Teal, Pintail. Wigeon, Carrion Crow, Little Egret, Oystercatcher, Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Common Gull, Black-headed Gull, Curlew, Herring Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser, Shelduck, Peregrine, Golden Plover, Canada Goose, Cormorant and Long-tailed Tit.

Jim Baldwin

This virtual event will showcase some of the fantastic initiatives collating data gathered by volunteer biological recorders and delve into what the data is telling us about UK wildlife and how you can get involved.

Learn about how local groups are improving our understanding of their patch and how a national recording scheme is pulling together data from across the UK to better understand the species that they cover.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/why-irecord-virtual-symposium-tickets-568719113177

Six intrepid members met at the Medina Riverside Park picnic site under leaden skies and a stiff breeze for a walk led by Toni Goodley. Thankfully, there were only a couple of light showers during the morning which did not spoil an enjoyable walk. Eighteen species were recorded during a brief watch at the picnic site and the car park. We returned to the cycle path where we had a lovely close view of a Buzzard as we headed towards Dodnor. Gadwall is a species of duck which has now established itself on the Isle of Wight and over 20 were recorded together by the waters edge. The male Mandarin Duck was looking splendid in his breeding plumage at Dodnor Pond but only had female Mallard to attract! We continued our walk past the Vestas wind turbine factory and stopped to view the Medina at the gateway. The hoped for Bullfinch did not appear, passerines were in short supply due to the blustery wind. A pair of Peregrines were observed in a field on the opposite bank at Heathfield Farm. We then returned along the cycle path. 36 species were recorded during the morning as follows:  Goldfinch, Song Thrush, Black-headed Gull, Mallard, Herring Gull, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Grey Heron, Mediterranean Gull, Common Gull, Redshank, Robin, Woodpigeon, Jay, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Cormorant, Buzzard, Magpie, Coot, Teal, Rook, Gadwall, House Sparrow, Tufted Duck, Little grebe, Pied Wagtail, Carrion Crow, Mandarin Duck, Moorhen, Wren, Peregrine, Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Blackbird and Shelduck.

Mandarin Duck, Dodnor Pond

Jim Baldwin

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

Just 3 brave soles meet at the car park on a very wet morning. We decided on a quick visit to the field overlooking Causeway Lake before headed to the bird hide for shelter. We could see a few Teal, Wigeon, Mallard and Pintail, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit from the field. Although we were shielded from the rain in the hide visibility was very poor and we spent about an hour there. Dunlin, Redshank, Grey Plover were in the scrape and on the main marsh a flock of about 20 Knot was seen with a larger number of Golden Plover nearby. Cormorant were hanging around and a Little Egret feeding. We also saw Blacked Headed Gull and Brent. On the way back to the car park 2 Collared Dove, Great Tit, House Sparrows, Jackdaws and Woodpigeon were noted. We finished with mince pies and a hot drink in the car. Jackie Hart

Eight members met at Blackgang viewpoint car park for a walk led by Jim Baldwin. An overcast start with sunshine later in the morning although a brisk wind kept temperatures down. A Blackcap was heard in the car park before we set off along the path at Gore Cliff. A brief sea-watch at Blackgang produced the only Gannet of the morning, along with Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull and Great Black-backed Gull. Two Peregrines were seen briefly flying along the edge of the cliff. C.140 corvids (c.80 Jackdaw, c.30 Carrion Crow and c.30 Rook) were observed in an adjacent field which had flowering Ragwort so a likely food source of caterpillars and other insects. Passerines were in small number with only two Linnet and four Goldfinch representing the finches and a couple of Skylark was seen plus a solitary Swallow. We continued along the path until we were adjacent to St Catherine’s lighthouse and then opted to return along the same route rather than walk inland. Two Ravens were seen and heard on our way back to the car park.18 bird species were recorded during an enjoyable morning which also produced a good count of over 20 Wall butterflies which appeared to be newly emerged. Other butterflies seen were 6 Marbled White, 4 Common Blue, 2 Large White and singles of Painted Lady and Small Copper. Also recorded were single 6-spot Burnet and Jersey Tiger moths plus two caterpillars of the Cinnabar moth on ragwort. A couple of Bloody-nosed Beetles were also observed.

Jim Baldwin