September, again.....

Here we go again - it's latish September and I'm able to spend some time birding around Ventnor. I've been here a week or so (having returned from the US) and haven't seen much of note yet. Visible migration was good when I first got back but has been quiet over the last few days. There are loads of chiffchaffs around, including c. 8 in the garden willow this morning. My walk down into town this morning was uneventful.

I'm off now, at 1.48pm, to the Botanic Gardens via Ventnor Park - maybe I'll jam into a yellow-browed - there have been hundreds along the east coast these last couple of days. Or maybe a Swainson's thrush - two up north today........

430pm update

Well, I sat for an hour at the Botanics and aside from a steady flow of chiffchaffs visiting the pond, and twenty-off swallows heading east, there was nothing of note. 

Phy: 30
Swallow: 368
Blackbird: 2
Robin: 2
Blackcap: 1
White Throat: 2

Willow Warbler: 5
Phy: 46
Blackcap: 2
Wheatear: 2
Swallow: 15
Hirundine: 20
Redstart: 1

gulls

Greater and lesser black-backed gulls have appeared on Ventnor beach during the last few days, with five greater and three lessers this morning before the hordes of holiday makers hoofed them off.

Quiet

The last week or so has been unsettled and quiet in Ventnor. So again this morning, with just three, then another ten swallows low west over the garden.

A pretty fruitless search around town and walk to Monk's Bay produced 12 swallows, a pied wagtail and c.30 swifts. Meanwhile, four bee-eaters pitch in at Portland!

Serin!

I was just about to sit down on a bench above the cascade when I heard a distinctive trilling coming from gardens behind the Winter Gardens just across the road - SERIN!

I rushed across the road, trilled again. Got my phone out ready to call Andy. Dithered. Still calling, out of view. Then up it got, calling, headed west, then took a sharp right turn in towards the police station clump. I rushed up there but no sign. I headed up the post office path, phoning Andy but had to leave a message. No sign nor sound from Grove Car Park - after which suitable habitat abounds. Bugger.