Thu. 23.6.22. Day 1.
Getting there.. .. 270 miles to an overnight caravan site was tough in the heat. Campsite very spacious if a bit rural. 16 miles from ferry terminal.
Some good birds though with a singing Yellow Hammer as I 🔌 the electric.
Song Thrush, Linnet , Pheasants dashing about , Blackcap , Mistle Thrush, Heron, Cormorant also.
Fri. 24.6.22 Day 2.
Made good time to ⛴ terminal hoping for any earlier ferry but not to be.
A good crossing but few birds on offer as I gawped with bins and camera from the top deck on the way to the "IOW".
A few very distant Terns a Great Black-backed Gull and a few Black Headed Gull.
Our 7th visit to this St.Helens's farm caravan site and just as good - quiet, nothing happening at all!
An enjoyable walk from St. Helens to Ryde (once we got settled on the farm caravan site) did not reveal many birds ("tide" was way out) but was enhanced by the mussels and sour dough bread and ' lemon sherbet' in a small place on the sea front. yum...yum.
Sat 25.6.22 Day 3.
Biggest yacht race in the world happening in IOW today.
Boats passing on the distant horizon as we walked all day.
1,400 boats in total we were told.
A windy at times day, hot inland dry throughout.
A long hike so no heavy bins or camera as we left St. Helens for a coastal hike to Sandown. Bus back to Brading then some footpath negotiating to get through Braden Marshes.
Passing through Braden Marshes without bins and camera was a 'bad idea' .
Two "large" bird sightings as we went along here.
1. Heron look alike ..but not a Heron.
2. Large "goose" but not a Goose.
As we exited the marsh I asked a young birder( with a massive camera) ...have you seen the Marsh Harrier.
Yes it passed near you , you must have seen it!
Also a White Tailed Eagle passed that way as well.
So the "Not, Not" large birds were????
Definitely. 1 Redshank, 4 Little Egret seen on the coast path.
Started out at 9:45 home 4:45 pm phew!!
I need a holiday to recover.
Sun 26.6.22 Day 4.
1st real birding outing of the holiday on a dry , windy sunny day.
We walked across the St. Helens Duver to the beach.
We then found a cracking hidden café in the harbour.
A look at Braden Marshes from the main track next to the marsh waters.
Some great birds seen today with a lifer in the shape of a White Tailed Eagle.
2 Mediterranean Gulls on the coast.
I tried out my Merlin bird app and it reported a Lesser Whitethroat although a "hang about" did not reveal it.
5 Marsh Harriers some mobbing the W.T.Eagle.
A fantastic looking Hobby fired through over the water was soon lost behind trees.
1 Little Grebe , lots of Little Egret.
Sedge and Reed Warbler heard.
Cormorants in trees.
2 Buzzard ,Great spotted Woodpecker and Sparrowhawk over the caravan site earlier.
28.6.22 Day 6.
Late pm a walk over the Duver walkway to look for the White Tailed Eagle which I saw, miles off- still not a decent phtot.
Others:-
Raven, Oystercatcher , 2 Heron, 2 Gt Black-backed Gull, Little Egret not much else.
Too early on for most Waders.
29.6.22 Day 7.
Sandown to Ventnor.
A tough day with some "footpath issues" and a dead Barn Owl alas.
Out 10.00am home 7pm!
01.07.22 Day 9.
Bembridge to St. Helens via Braden Marshes.
Another sunny but extremely windy day and a look for exotic butterflies 🦋.
Awkward with the strong wind.
The RSPB path is poor for seeing birds here... good for bird protection, but won't encourage birders to holiday here!
No sign of a W.T.Eagle today.
Possibly 6 Marsh Harriers but distant in glare.
Kestrel, Heron , Lapwing, 2 Egyptian Geese, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, not a lot else on our 2hr 40 min outing today.
Sat 02.07.22 Osborne House.
A visit to "Vic's" old place this aft.
Not many birds heard / seen.
Osborne House.
The entry to the house was £19 each (if you ignored the 'extras' asked for as you paid).
Inside the house it is extremely dark with the curtains drawn to protect the artefacts.
The Swiss Cottage is a nice place to see, next to the beach with a pleasant café.
The museum building holds some exhibits but here again apart from the odd LED light you cannot see what's on show!
Our 2nd visit here, 1st one some years back - I wonder why we came again?
C500 Woodpigeon , Gt. Spot Woodpecker called.
On the walk home later from Ryde a juv. Black Headed Gull was my 1st juv. this year.
Little Egret, Med Gull etc.
Mon. 04.07.22 The Duver...last day.
Sue saw a Red Squirrel crossing the road...I didn't.
A late evening look for the Red Squirrel failed to find it, just the usual birds this evening.
Gt. Spot Woodpecker. Raven. Little Egret.
Med. Gull. Oystercatcher etc.
Loads of Jackdaws and Rook about.
Tue. 05.07.22 Drive Home.
Lots of Red Kites and Buzzards seen.
A Few Photos:-
Hi John - 23 & 27 Marbled White, 28 Small Skipper, 25 Comma and 24 Meadow Brown. Sounds like you're having a nice time - enjoy !!
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