Friday 28 July 2017

Blowy from the west and overcast. A cursory glance at the East Cliffs produced a chiffchaff and invisible blackcap singing to itself. 

Thursday 27 July 2017

Westerlies and showers with dry sometimes sunny intervals.

Two willow warblers at East Cliffs first thing; 20-odd swifts.

Wednesday 26 July 2017

Just five willow warblers and a female blackcap at East Cliffs today, with a male sparrowhawk through there.

Tuesday 25 July 2017


Finally the birds are starting to move properly in Ventnor, with a Pylosc flock of 20 odd willow warblers on Zig Zag Road and another 15 willows and chiffchaff and whitethroat at Devonshire Terrace, and three more willows at Wheelers. Ten sand martins headed east with 10 swallows. 60 odd swifts in the area.

Sunday 9 July 2017

It's nice to be back on the island after a few weeks away. Had a quick look down East Cliffs this morning and was rewarded by views of fledgeling blackcaps! There's been a male singing in The Glen for the summer and I clocked an adult female but proving successful breeding is nice.

There were 60+ swifts feeding over Ventnor Heights - presumably a mix of local breeders and early movers hanging around to feed. There was a similar number here yesterday.

Two swallows rushed west past Salisbury Gardens this morning too - a hint of early migration.