Debsie

Hi Debsie,
Thanks for your welcome comments, look forward to more of your work also, the images in your albums are superb, love the Isle of white images.

excellent photos in your albums, are they digiscope or camera lens?

Hi Debsie, yes I'm sure it isnt a Spotted Redshank lol , a bird in this plumage is a juvenile, a Spotted Redshank would be much dusker on underbelly and sides (usually obviously barred). The upperparts colouring is also slightly darker on Spotted Redshank and the warm tones to the plumage in your photo are spot on for Common Redshank so Im afraid it's a Common Redshank

A big thanks Debsie, i will check things out before i make the trip, i got caught out at Hawk Talk where the venue left a lot to be desired.
My latest camera shoots at 10 frames a second, more than fast enough to capture them swooping downward
Thanks for the info it will come in very handy when i eventually go.


Best regards Paul

Thanks for the nuthatch comment Debsie. It has been back a few times and last visited yesterday. Our garden is tiny and the nearest oaks are at least a hundred yards away so I was very surprised (and delighted) to see this bird.

Chaz

Nice to see your dartford pictures Debsie. Sue and I "did" the reserve at Dunwich in the spring. We walked all round, taking over an hour and saw nothing but a kestrel until in the last few yards seeing stonechats, a pair of wheatears and a couple of dartfords. My dartford snaps were too blurred to use but i did get some nice ones of a wheatear.
Did you do nearby Minsmere as well?

Chaz

I have been to The IOW many times,
One of my favourite places. September should be good.

Newtown Harbour for ducks and waders - Brent Geese
To the west the Hamstead Trail (woods and creeks)

The Tennyson Trail from Freshwater Bay to The Needles
Fulmar, ravens, stonechats etc
Headon Warren, just to the north best place for dartfords
(you need luck - didn’t do well last winter)

St Catherine’s Point good for departing migrants.

On the east side Bembridge Harbour along with the marsh inland
Ventnor pleasant town, the coastline either side charming
excellent walk to the east to Luccombe Chine
Undercliff and Landslip are magical
Sandown and Shanklin are best avoided but NE is
Bembridge Down & Culver Cliff worthwhile

IOW has network of footpaths
OS Explorer sheet OL29
No dartfords on the Island? take ferry from Yarmouth
to Lymington walk the coastal path west
likely spots are close to Lymington
or at the Keyhaven end
Hope that gives you a few ideas?

Just tried to send you two messages about the IOW, both appear to have failed. i will send you details tomorrow evening.
Chaz

Thanks for the comments about the Coot Debsie, they have got enormous feet just like the Morehen.

And as you pointed out they are a black and white, very strange!.


Paul

Thanks for the comments - birdwatching helps me keep my sanity out here.

Glad you had a good time in Wales. I'm flying home tomorrow night for 16 days. Spending a few days up at Kielder while I'm home. I'm hoping to see the Ospreys there - never seen one in the UK.