Embsay Crag and The Isle of Wight July 20th – 23rd 2015

Embsay Friday 31st July 2015.

A visit to friends at Long Ashes, Grasssington and a walk up Embsay Crag and along to Embsay Reservoir this afternoon, followed by some lunch in the Elm Tree Inn. Nice pub and nice grub, an enjoyable few hours.

Birds:-

Buzzard, 6 Mistle Thrush, 2 Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, Remains of a Heron, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Oystercatcher, Tree Sparrow, Lapwing, 2 Stock Dove.

A possible Rock Pipit that I dismissed immediately as a juv. Starling before realising that I’d done exactly the same thing on the Needles before paying a bit more attention to the bird!!

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Isle of Wight - final days.

We are travelling to a new campsite today and the weather has taken a turn for the worst with heavy rain and mist – good day to be on the move.

A gull seen with some BHG gave me cause to get excited but I think it’s a Common Gull.

The sun soon returned in earnest. 

There were several Green Woodpeckers calling on the campsite and a few obliged me with a late evening visit.

On a visit to Sandown we spotted some Starlings sunbathing – they too were on their hols.

Mystery Bird

A late evening stroll near the campsite brought with it a mystery bird.

I'm guessing it’s got to be a Yellowhammer but it has too much orangy/ brown on it for my liking - the only other possibility is a Cirl Bunting  but that seems to be stretching things a bit far! 

Alas, it gave me only one quick chance to get a photo before it disappeared into the bushes so the photo is not great.

I was hoping for Rosefinch when I first saw it, but looking at the books It’s not one!!

Arreton Down.

We had a shopping trip near to Arreton Down and, with the shops being a bit of a disappointment, we decided to opt for a tough hike to the top of the downs, in the now sweltering heat.

Yellowhammer were calling and a few were perched high in the trees.

A Tufted Duck was on a small pond with several Mallard and a Pheasant was knocking about here as well (not many Pheasant about on the I.O.W.).

There were butterflies in huge numbers on the very pretty flowers as we climbed to the top, and several Buzzard were calling.

Another Kestrel like bird made a fast, high flypast. I just got the camera on it before it disappeared – probably wishful thinking that it’s not Kes.

Pretty sad to leave this lovely Island.

Common Gull - looks a bit big though

Mystery Bird above - Yellowhammer most prob?