April 8th
Isle of Wight Day 3

Brading Marsh area

After a dull drizzly start the weather improved and so did the birding. Highlight was Glossy Ibis seen in flight near the St Helens Roadbridge, presumably one of the two that have been around in the winter. This area can throw up a good variety of birds and today was no exception with a Siberian Type Chiffchaff bearing a ring showing well at Brading Sewage Works, a Water Pipit out on the floods and a nice Hobby circling high over the area. The latter was another quality moment as I wasn't expecting to catch this species this early in Spring and they are my favourite Falcon. I haven't caught up with one where I now live in Fife but they are scarce here.

This bird looks reasonable for tristis -cold grey brown lacking green and yellow  but with  rusty  tinted  ear coverts and supercil. Unfortunately it didn't call during the time we were there.