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Seventeen members joined Dave Fairlamb of Natural Links for an enjoyable morning’s birdwatching.

Meeting at the start of the Yarmouth to Freshwater cycle track in Thorley Road, we immediately had signs of autumn with small groups of winter thrushes flying over, with at least 24 Redwings, a couple of Fieldfares and a Mistle Thrush. The water levels on Rofford Marsh were very high but did we did still manage to see a Common Snipe on the far bank, while dabbling ducks amongst the reeds included Shovelers, Teals and Mallards. A Cetti’s Warbler was heard singing and a couple of Chiffchaffs were calling, with one eventually seen feeding in the reeds, almost certainly birds that will overwinter.

Common Snipe                                                Shoveler (male)

As we neared the Mill, a flock of Golden Plovers were seen flying high and as we reached the main estuary, large numbers of Wigeon were on the water, many calling as they pair bonded even at this stage of the year. Several species of waders were on the mudflats and saltmarsh including Curlews, Black-tailed Godwits, Redshanks, Lapwings and Dunlins and as we watched, a Kingfisher flashed by.

Dunlin                                                                   Kingfisher

Making our way along to the Mill Copse pool provided some excellent birdwatching, with first, a Peregrine flying fast over the copse, followed by a sighting of a female Marsh Harrier quartering low over the reeds at the back of the pool. A few other new species for the day were added to the list at this point with Little Grebes, Mute Swans and Cormorants on the open water, Grey Plovers, Oystercatchers, Little Egrets and Grey Herons on the saltmarsh edge and several passerines including Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail and Stonechat. In all, 52 species were recorded during the walk.

Grey Plovers                                                                             Rock Pipit

Dave Fairlamb

Sixteen members of IWNHAS joined Dave Fairlamb of Natural Links who led the walk on a lovely morning.

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 were several Chiffchaffs in the hedges, along with Robins and Chaffinches. Kestrels were seen on several occasions, especially when we reached the open ground of West High Down, where we also had views of Buzzards and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Kestrel                                                                      Great-spotted Woodpecker

The gorse covered ridge of the Down is always a good site for Stonechats and it did not disappoint, with at least 5 Stonechats seen, with a few Meadow Pipits, Skylark and Linnet. With bird migration in full flow, it was no surprise to have a constant flurry of Swallows flying by, with well over 20 recorded during our walk.

Stonechat                                                                 Skylark

Long-tailed Tit and Great Tit were seen on our return to the main path back to the car park. Several species of butterflies were on the wing including Red Admiral, Small White, Chalk Hill Blue, Gatekeeper, Small Heath and a Small Copper. An impressive array of Parasol Mushrooms was also spotted on West High Down.

Dave Fairlamb

Saturday 12th November, Arreton Community Hall, 13:30hrs – 16:30hrs

All IWNHAS Members welcome and also anybody with an interest in Wildlife Recording.

Click here for further info

4 members met at the small National Trust car park at the end of the Old Blackgang Road at Windy Corner. It was a beautiful, clear morning with fabulous views. Whilst in the car park we saw 4 Ravens, a Peregrine, two Buzzards, a Jay, and two Magpies. We then walked in the fields down to the stile at St Catherine’s Road, up Sandrock Road, along Old Blackgang Road before once more walking along the fields. Unfortunately, there was not much bird life around although we did hear and see Chiffchaffs. Other than that, there were Jackdaw, Robin, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon. Crow, Blue Tit and Great Tit and a Kestrel hung in the wind. The stunning views made up for the lack of birds. Jackie Hart

12 members met at Latimer Road St Helens on a beautiful morning. Our first stop was on the bridge overlooking the Eastern Yar and we then walked along the footpath that runs adjacent to Embankment Road to Harbour Farm entrance. We then walked east a little way by the road beyond the houseboats so that we could get a good view of the mud flats before turning round and walked by the road back to our cars. Some extended the walk and had a look at the mill pond. It was a delight to show two new members a variety of birds from a much-loved walk of mine. There were at least 14 Cormorant roosting on the trees lining the river and 8 Tufted Duck swimming on the river. Two Great White Egret were seen flying and the size difference was very evident when compared with four Little Egret. A White-tailed Eagle was perched on the tree with a nesting platform in the distance. Fortunately, we had the telescope which gave us a better view. Several Cetti’s warbler gave their very distinctive call as were a couple of Water Rail. We had a distant view of a Peregrine flying, as well as Kestrel, Buzzard and a Marsh Harrier. There were 11 Black Tailed Godwit in one of the pools. 15 Sandwich Tern were roosting on the mud flats as were two Common Gull, Great Black Backed Gull, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull and Mediterranean Gull. Oystercatcher, One Whimbrel and a Redshank were seen. The mill pond produced 14 Redshank, 6 Ringed Plover, 2 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper and 43 Mediterranean Gull. In all 40 species were recorded.  Jackie Hart

Unlike last year’s meeting which took place under perfect summer evening conditions to view and hear Nightjars, this year was the opposite. The forecast was for light, patchy rain but by the time I arrived for the evening meeting at the car park in Strawberry Lane, the rain was torrential. Incredibly, 6 other members and a guest turned up although two decided the weather was too bad for Nightjars. The Met Office app forecasted the rain to clear by 9pm so the remaining six optimists stayed put. Incredibly, the rain did cease as forecast and a Buzzard then flew overhead. Although it was a strong wind, which was not conducive for Nightjar watching, we decided to walk up to the main viewing site. Against the odds, within ten minutes of arriving at the watchpoint, a Nightjar flew up from the common and over us to the heathland. We then had two other sightings of birds flying across the heathland during the next five minutes. Three birds in such unlikely conditions was an excellent outcome and it was a happy group who made their way back to the car park. A Barn Owl flying across the road as I left Calbourne was an additional bonus and a lovely end to the evening. Jim Baldwin

Eleven members met under leaden skies and a fresh breeze for a walk along the cycle path from Shide to Blackwater led by Toni Goodley. Thankfully, the weather stayed dry and we were rewarded with sunny periods during the morning. The highlight of the walk was the excellent close views of a Goldcrest, our smallest breeding bird in the UK. Considering the conditions, we did well to record 28 species during the morning. Other birds seen or heard were; Goldfinch, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Chaffinch, Wren, Feral Pigeon, Blue Tit, Song Thrush, Blackcap, Magpie, Black-headed Gull, Chiffchaff, Robin, Moorhen, Mallard, Carrion Crow, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Collared Dove, Stock Dove, Buzzard, Kestrel, Long-tailed Tit, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Green Woodpecker, Canada Goose and Grey Heron.

We also had the bonus of seeing a Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly along the Medina plus Speckled Wood and Small White butterflies and a pair of mating Harlequin ladybirds.  Jim Baldwin 

10 members meet on a beautiful sunny and warm morning for a walk along Laundry Lane and track towards Brading returning to our cars via Bexley Point and the pools southwest of Carpenters Farm. A very leisurely pace was set as the bird life was good throughout the morning. Our first stop was by the gate overlooking the main Brading Marsh with the first bird spotted – the White-tailed Eagle perched in his favourite tree. He was later joined by another. The trees lining the Eastern Yar were occupied by many Cormorants although not as many nests were seen this year possibly because some of the old trees have blown down. A Wheatear was in the field for a time before disappearing. A Marsh Harrier was quartering the reed beds; later we were to see another one perched on a tree, this one with a cream-coloured head. We could hear the explosive call of Cetti’s warblers, a number of Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs and a few Blackcap. The air was filled with the song on Skylark. Grey Herons were seen flying from one reed bed to another. Walking further on we could hear Reed Warblers singing and then had very good sightings of them singing at the top of the reeds. We also saw three Reed Bunting, their distinctive call was first heard but then spotted at the top of the reeds. A Little Egret spent some time in the triangular field but we were unable to see the Little Ringed Plover although we did see a Lapwing which flew near us to distract us from his nest site or youngsters. Throughout Brading Marsh there were Canada geese with goslings, Mallard with ducklings, Tufted Duck, Coots, a couple of Moorhen, a pair of Shoveler, pair of Teal, pair of Gadwall, two Shelduck on the pools SW of Carpenters Farm as well as Mute Swan on a nest with her mate swimming on the pond, and to the right of the bridge Sedge Warblers could be heard singing and one was spotted. Three Swallow were catching flies on the surface of the pool. We should also mention that there were four Pied Wagtail, 4 Linnet, at least 4 Wren, 5 Great Tit, Blue Tit, Blackbird, House Sparrow, Starling, 4 Swift, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Jackdaw, Crow and Rook, Kestrel and 3 Buzzard. In all 47 species were noted during the morning. Jackie Hart

Sixteen members met at the Fort Victoria car park on a sunny but chilly spring morning, due to the brisk north-easterly wind, for a seawatch and walk, led by Jim Baldwin.

A brief seawatch for spring passage migration through the Solent was rewarded with 3 Whimbrel flying east on their journey from Africa to Iceland, and good views of 4 Common Sandpipers by the sea wall signalling their arrival from Africa before continuing their journey and two Common Tern flew east. Other birds seen during the seawatch were Gannet, Cormorant, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, two Gadwall and a Curlew, all in flight heading into the Solent. Two Oystercatchers were seen on the beach while 3 Shelduck flew across the entrance to Hurst Narrows.

The circular walk started through the woodland in the Country Park and returned through the fields, via the footpath off Monks Lane, to Norton and back along Westhill Road to the car park. The combination of shelter from the wind in the woodland and rising temperatures during the morning made it a pleasant walk. Chiffchaff and Blackcap were singing in the woodland while there were good views of several Whitethroat in the scrub at Monks Lane, recent arrivals from Africa proclaiming their territory with their scratchy call before diving down into the vegetation. A light passage of Swallows, in excess of 100, were noted during the morning arriving in off the sea and flying north over the fields.

Other birds recorded during the morning were Buzzard, Pheasant, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Rook, Magpie, Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Blackbird, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wren, Dunnock,  House Sparrow, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Linnet. In total, 36 species were seen along with good views of Red Squirrel and five species of butterfly; Brimstone, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Comma and Speckled Wood.  Jim Baldwin

Ten members met at the NT car park on a sunny but breezy morning for a walk around Culver Down led by Jackie Hart. Unfortunately, the stiff NE wind meant there was a lack of early spring migrant species present (Wheatears had been seen earlier in the week). However, it was lovely to see so many Skylarks during the morning with a minimum of 26 recorded. A number of males were bravely singing up in the sky, proclaiming their territory, despite the windy conditions. The other highlight for many was walking to Bembridge Fort to look for the Short-eared Owls which have been present during the winter. One was still present but took a while to be found as it was hunkered down in the scrub out of the wind, so it was well camouflaged.

In total, 15 species were seen on the down along with a White-tailed Eagle which was spotted in a tree down on Brading Marshes RSPB reserve. The other species seen, and not mentioned above, were; Herring Gull 9, Jackdaw 4, Kestrel 2, Dunnock 4, Meadow Pipit 4, Chiffchaff 1 heard in the car park whilst waiting for everyone to arrive, Magpie 2, Carrion Crow 5, Stonechat 2, Buzzard 2, Raven 1, Wren 1 and Woodpigeon 1. Jim Baldwin