August 2024 - broadening

 So, this blog started out documenting visible migration of birds around Ventnor and elsewhere in the Isle of Wight Undercliff. I've decided to broaden its scope to all wildlife in this area. Stay tuned for posts....

Ventnor, 16th September 2023

 Bit of a blogging hiatus again (here at least. I have a main website now, click here). I'll probably post both here and over there.

Anyway, vis mig is beginning to ramp slowly and at Ventnor East Cliffs 7.30-8...

Alba Wag: 3e, 

Meadow Pipit: 3 in off

Phylosc: 3

Then down in Ventnor Bay 8-8.30:

Siskin: 50+ e in three groups

Let's hope it's a good autumn! 

Wednesday 19th October 2022

 With a brisk easterly breeze and overcast conditions I could be forgiven for expecting a bit of excitement today. Not a bit of it! Three fire crests invent the park with a highlight. Virtually no visible migration; just three alpha wagtails and a goldfinches, chaffinches and siskins.

Back in Ventnor for a few weeks

It’s 9th August 2022 and I returned to Ventnor from Cornwall for a few weeks of early autumn birding on the old patch.

I parked the van up on Ventnor Downs last night and awoke at 7.30am. The whole area is parched by drought and birds were few and far between. 

Around the Coombe Bottom Rim:

Redstart: 1

Common Whitethroat: 5

Blackcap: 2

Willow Warbler: 10

Swallow: 22

That was about it!

Later in the afternoon, checked Nansen Hill:

Whitethroat: 3

And, briefly, Steephill Dowm:

Willow warbler: 1

So, an uneventful and very hot day. We have three more days of 30+ degree heat then we’ll finally get a bit of disruptive weather.

Mid summer lull

Mmm. It's that time of year - mid July 2019. Nothing much happening around Ventnor. But there are hints of movements to come. Have had a few swifts passing over Ventnor Downs on recent evenings. The local breeders are still around, but I think you can tell local nesters from birds passing through. And linnet families are going to form larger flocks up on the downs, in with the meadow pipits. 

October 2017

I've trying a new approach to accounting for birding here. Rather than post a narrative account for each day, I'll simply build a monthly systematic list of notable counts and sightings. I've been away, so this starts on 11th October.





Chiffchaff

Royal Hotel: 3 (11th);
Bonchurch: 7 (14th);
Ventnor Park: 5 (14th)

Yellow-browed warbler

Coombe Bottom: 2 (when??)
Down Lane: 1 (when?)
Trinity Street: 1 (13th)
East Dene: 1 (14th)

Goldcrest

Royal Hotel: 5 (11th); 8 (14th)
Bonchurch: 10 (14th)
Ventnor Park: 5 (14th) 

Goldfinch

Ventnor viz mig: 300 (14th)

Redpoll

Ventnor viz mig: 2 (14th)

Two willow warblers, two (local) blackcaps, and two swifts west over East Cliffs. Overcast, warm, with drizzle now and again.....feels good for a melodious warbler.........

Male pied fly and 50+ whitethroats reported up on Ventnor Downs.

Rained continuously all afternoon.......