These Lapland Buntings have been sticking to a weedy field on the west side of Bembridge Airfield for a month. I took these pics on 10th when four were present, at least two are still there. My third (!) IOW tick of the month was a Pink-foot on Sandown Levels, videos of that bird are on my Vimeo channel http://www.vimeo.com/user1187554/videos

Yellow-legged Gull

some shaky footage of a 1w YLG down the canoe lake two weeks ago (watch in 720p)

Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) on the nose of the ringer

part of the flock of Wackos at the top of my road last month. They've cleared out of the area now but hoping for some more to come....

a couple of pics of Gadwall at the canoe lake. Up to ten were present during the cold spell at the end of the year. The flight shot shows the difference in wing pattern between adult drake, 1w drake and female. Ducks are actually pretty cool looking once they get out of eclipse, always seem to forget this and get reminded every winter

New Year's Day

had a wander round Ryde looking for berry trees. Bit of a struggle to find decent habo for Waxwings on the IOW, seems landscapers have an aversion to planting rowan trees here. We dont have the easy sites like supermarket carparks, industrial estates and schools to bring em in. A Raven went over Puckpool, they're regular around here now but ten years ago when I lived in Ryde you'd be bloody lucky to see one in this part of the Island. Quick check of the sea at Seaview revealed distant Slav and GND. Still loads of wildfowl in Bembridge Harbour well after the thaw, 65 Gadwall split between there and the river, most I've seen on the Island. On to Laundry Lane where 12 White-fronts were with the Canadas and the Marsh Harrier flew up the river to roost.