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The Car Ferry trip across the Solent to the Isle of Wight is normally fairly quiet birdwise, so an adult Little Gull flying across the sea was somewhat a nice surprise. The bird was nearer the Isle of Wight side as it flew off heading west low over the sea.
It was a grey day with visibility about a couple of miles but it stayed dry and mild throughout the day. A good flock of around 20+ Commic Terns were on the sea though some distance away from the Ferry to be properly identified but as I neared Fishbourne, at least four Common Terns were seen perched on a post in the sea. A couple more month ticks included several Common Gulls and a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying over the Solent.
It was still grey and overcast when I arrived at St. Catherine’s Point but there was a hint of winter in the air so I kept my wax jacket on to keep the chill out. A Yellow browed Warbler was reported here yesterday but no sign of this delightful bird today unfortunately.
Walking down the road leading to the Lighthouse, there was plenty of activity with ‘ticks’ and ‘squeaks’ being heard all around in the bushes and hedges. What secret had the Point on offer this afternoon? There was a good fall of Chiffchaffs around with at least 10 birds seen but how many were really here? A couple of showy Wrens were seen close by and a Green Woodpecker flew past and up the hill. I walked down to the Cottage and scanned the hill looking north. From here, several Chiffchaffs were seen but no Ring Ouzels were present today. At least 7 Ring Ouzels were seen on Culver Down this morning apparently. A female Stonechat was seen perched on a barbed wire fence, while later this afternoon, the bird was seen again by the Lighthouse with its male companion. Also by the Lighthouse, a Wheatear was seen too but flew off when a couple of walkers went past. It was seen again briefly in the Lighthouse garden. I wonder what rarities have turned up in that garden over the years.
Back to the gate overlooking south towards the sea, I picked up a male Blackcap perched in a bush but photographing the bird in this poor light was proved fruitless.
Both Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were seen well with the latter, a male, seen chasing passerines along a hedgerow. Whether it caught anything I don’t know.
The sea was very calm with just a few Gulls flying over it. However, an adult Mediterranean Gull was seen flying east low over the water.
Before my second appointment at 6pm, I spent an hour checking the seafront at Seaview where I connected with some more interesting species. The tide was now high and from the seafront opposite Hersey Nature Reserve, I picked up two Wheatears feeding by the rocks and on the seaweed along with four Rock Pipits. These provided me with a good chance of taking some photos. Also present was an adult winter Sandwich Tern perched on a post with a Mediterranean Gull below it preening with a couple of Black headed Gulls. At least two more Med Gulls were seen resting on the sea but no sign of any Divers or Grebes. Interesting sightings today in Hampshire included a reported Richards Pipit at Mill Rythe, Hayling Island. Also, a Yellow-browed Warbler was found in Staunton Country Park this morning too.
St. Catherine's Point, Niton & Seaview seafront, Isle of Wight.
Left, one of the two Wheatears on the beach at Seaview. Right, the adult winter Sandwich Tern at Seaview this afternoon.
