Isle of Wight
Jan 26th
Back down south for a quick visit. Would have liked to it to have been under less sad circumstances, due to family illness but me and the bro managed to get some birding in on the Friday.
A visit to Seaview on the Islands north-east (Solent) coast was productive. This area is good for divers and grebes but the main highlight was a first W Iceland Gull that took us by surprise by flying west close inshore. Also 3 GN Diver, Red-necked Grebe and 3 Slav Grebes while a Firecrest was calling from gardens.
A late pm visit to Brading Marshes produced 8 European White-fronted Geese, 2 Water Pipit and a pre-roost gathering of 5 Marsh Harrier.

Brading Marshes at dusk