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United Kingdom Isle Of Wight

Puffin Fratercula arctica ŠNigel Blake http://www.nigelblake.co.uk/

The Isle of Wight is situated just off the south coast to the south of Portsmouth & Southampton. But more importantly it lies between the well-known birding sites of Portland Bill & Beechy Head and is slightly further out to sea than the latter.

Add to this such diverse habitats as saltwater estuary, freshwater marsh, coastal headlands and south facing chalk downland. All on an Island 15 miles by 23 miles at its widest points, and it doesn`t take a genius to work out that you have an excellent birding venue.

Unfortunately we are very under watched with only a handful of good birders to cover a large area. We regularly record between 200 & 250 species a year. The New Years Day count has not failed to produce less than 100 in the last 5 years and 113 on one occasion.

Spring and Autumn are obviously the best periods, and, in recent years our small band has turned up some outstanding birds. Including: Little Shearwater, Bulwers Petrel, Purple Heron, White Stork, Black Stork, Black Kite, Red footed Falcon, Long billed Dowitcher, Roller , Little & Alpine Swifts, Raddes & Dusky Warblers, Humes Warbler, Yellow browed & Pallas Warbler (near annual); Rose Breasted Grosbeak, Plus regular overshoots. Below are some of the more productive sites on the Island.

top sites

Alum Bay & West high down

(SZ305855)Best in Autumn for migrants Yellow browed are found most years. It can also be good visible migration Larks, Finches, Pipits & Thrushes often pass over in good numbers.

Bembridge Harbour & Brading Marsh

(SZ635887)A good all year round site the harbour and surrounding area can hold up to 100+ Med Gulls in late summer though birds are present all year round. In winter the marsh usually holds Short eared Owls & Hen Harriers. It regularly throws up scarce and rarities.

Newtown Estuary

(SZ421910)Good numbers of waders and wildfowl in winter. Breeding Terns and Gulls in summer. Little Egrets out number Grey Herons here most of the year.

St Catherines point

(SZ495765)The southern most tip of the Island good migrants and sea watching, try to get a SE wind for best results. Resident Dartford Warbler & Peregrines can be seen in most months. Try late April or early May for Pomeranian Skuas & Mediterranean Shearwater.

Ventnor Downs

(SZ568782)This site has come into it`s own in recent years, and regularly turns up high numbers of common migrants as well as some scarce ones. But is best known on the Island as a raptor watch point I have seen 8 species in a day here mid August to mid September are best.

contributor

Darren J Hughes

county recorder

G Sparshott
Leopards Farm, Main Road, Havenstreet, Isle of Wight, PO33 4DR
01983 882549
grahamspa@aol.com

useful reading

Isle of Wight Bird Report 1998

(Isle of Wight Ornithological Group) price ?6.50 inc p&p from D J Hunnybun, 40 Churchill Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 8HH

Where to Watch Birds in Dorset, Hampshire and The Isle of Wight

George Green and Martin Cade Series: WHERE TO WATCH BIRDS IN BRITAIN AND EUROPE: HELM SERIES 308 pages, 44 b\w illus, 60 maps. Christopher Helm 2001
ISBN: 0713656921
Buy this book from NHBS.com

useful information

B&B

Some good friends of mine own the pub at the bottom of the downs, and do b&b. In the past month just from two of us walking our dogs we have turned up 3 wrynecks 5 honey buzzards 2 monty`s 1 ortolan + large numbers of common migrants, goodness knows what is missed. The pub is a little lively on the weekends but they are really good, friendly people & most accommodating, + the path on to the downs is only 20 yrds from the front door. The address is as follows: ask to speak to: terry or sue the terminus public house, 1 Mitchell Avenue, Ventnor, Isle of Wight, PO38 1DJ , tel: 01983 856348.sue@terminus-iow.fsnet.co.uk

Proact

Coordinator: none (why not apply?)
see http://www.proact-campaigns.net/coordinators
Members: 3
Join us at http://www.proact-campaigns.net/team

Swennsons Holidays

62 Gills Cliff Road, Ventnor, Isle of Wight. For accommodation & up to date news Tel : 01983 854684 or e-mail ornibreaks@aol.com

clubs

Isle of Wight Ornithological Group

http://dbhale.members.beeb.net/IWOG.htm
Contact details etc...

Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

http://www.hwt.org.uk/
We are the leading local wildlife conservation charity in the Island. The Trust seeks to increase peoples involvement in their local environment and in turn achieve better conditions for wildlife. We care for over 60 wildlife reserves more than 6,500 acres of valuable wildlife habitat and by providing volunteering, education and training opportunities, we enable individuals and communities to provide sustained benefit to these essential wild places.

reserves

RSPB Reserve - Brading Marshes

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bradingmarshes/index.asp
Brading Marshes is a new reserve acquired in 2001. Currently, visitor access is restricted to a network of footpaths from Brading Town and Bembridge Harbour, which provide attractive views across the reserve`s mix of wetlands...

trip reports

Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you cant find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page give them a try!

places to stay

Appuldurcombe House

http://www.appuldurcombe.co.uk/
Our very individual and picturesque stone holiday cottages are set within the 300 acre Appuldurcombe Estate, with wonderful views across the surrounding countryside. An excellent location for family holidays and from which to explore the Island both walking and cycling. Our Owl and Falconry Centre offers flying displays daily with birds of prey from around the world. You can also learn to fly with confidence one of our trained birds on our residential/non-residential falconry courses. Please note, no dogs allowed in the Falconry Centre. Dogs allowed ON LEADS in Appuldurcombe House and Grounds.

Bembridge Marina House

http://bembridge.marina.users.btopenworld.com/
The house is on the quayside at Bembridge Marina with spectacular views over the harbour on one side and long reaching views over the Yar River Valley to Brading on the other. Birdwatchers have a fantastic watch-tower view over the newly acquired RSPB Reserve. Close by are beaches, scenic walks, fishing, sailing and the Brading Haven Yacht Club. There are many delightful pubs and restaurants in St. Helens and Bembridge.

Brambles Chine - Colwell Bay

http://www.wight-self-catering.co.uk
Brambles Chine is a fully furnished self catering holiday bungalow on the Isle of Wight, located by the sea at Colwell Bay, near Freshwater sleeping up to 6 people. Nearby are the towns, beaches and attractions of Yarmouth, Colwell Bay, Freshwater, Totland Bay, Alum Bay and The Needles rocks and lighthouse...

Caravan - Nodes Point

http://www.domusdomi.supanet.com/
Handy for reserves - 01983 810631

Maple Cottage - Ventnor

http://www.ventnorholidaycottage.co.uk
Maple Cottage is an idyllic holiday cottage in Ventnor on the Isle of Wight with stunning sea views. With excellent sea views and good sized gardens front and back "Maple Cottage" is a an excellent holiday location for the smaller family...

Maple Villa B&B

http://www.maplevilla.co.uk
Maple Villa is a spacious victorian semi in a quiet country lane only 200 metres from the beach. Close by is the picturesque yachting village of Seaview, near Ryde, noted for its friendliness and relaxing pace of life the beach at the bottom of our road is a SSSI.

Maytime & Plum Tree Cottages

http://www.maytimecottage.co.uk/
Both set in rural locations ideal for nature lovers...

Mulberry Lawn Apartments [Self Catering Cottages] - Brading

http://www.wightonline.co.uk/mulberrylawn/
At the end of Quay Lane walkers and bird watchers will be delighted with Brading Marshes now mostly owned by RSPB - where the river Yar flows eastwards to Brading Haven (now known as Bembridge Harbour). Here can be seen a great variety of birds at different times of year, including hen harriers, buzzards, peregrines, stonechats, warblers, waders and migrating geese.

Nettlecombe Farm

http://www.nettlecombefarm.co.uk/
...ully self-contained and comfortably furnished self-catering apartments...

Newnham Farm B&B

http://www.newnhamfarm.co.uk/
Newnham Farm is a beautiful 17th century farmhouse with extensive garden. The house is situated in the middle of the 350 acre working farm. Although only 5 minutes by car from the centre of Ryde and the Fishbourne car ferry terminal, guests experience total peace and quiet as the house is surrounded by green fields and woodland. The area is listed as outstanding landscape with ancient woodland and medieval fish ponds.

Birding on the Isle Of Wight

http://dbhale.members.beeb.net/iow.htm
The IOW is situated about 3 miles off the South Coast of England. The Main ferry routes being - Portsmouth (to Fishbourne and Ryde); Southampton (to Cowes); and Lymington (to Yarmouth) The Island is about 22 by 15 miles a total of 147 square miles! Apart from being a popular holiday destination, it also attracts walkers, sailors, naturalists and even birdwatchers. Many varied habitats and the unspoilt nature of much of the Island make it an ideal spot for many species of bird. At most times of the year you can expect to see about 50 species in a morning`s visit to a good site. On New Year`s Day some people can amass over a 100! but this requires skill and planning and even a bit of luck.

Wight Conservation - Bird Species

http://www.wightconservation.co.uk/birds.html
Interesting species of birds sighted over Wight Conservation` property, or close by, and recorded in 2002 by the Isle of Wight Ornithological Group, or reported direct to us include...

artists

Photographer - Wight Vogels

http://mysite.freeserve.com/wightvogels/home.html
A photo gallery of birds on the Isle of Wight with some images from the rest of the UK and western Europe...

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