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Isle Of Wight Ornithological Group (I.W.O.G)
40 Church Hill Road, Cowes, IOW PO31 8HH.
(Current subscription only £10 pa. birders from the mainland are welcome to join.)
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Monthly field trips. (See below for details)
AGM 19.20 -for19.30 @ Medina Valley Centre (12/4/08)
Annual Bird Report-free to members.
Sea Watching at St. Catherine's Point (Weekends around April)
3 newsletters.
Annual BBQ at Fort Victoria August 08
News of local rarities (CROWS Network).
Garden Bird Survey-something all members can participate in.
Breeding Bird Survey-choose a 1km square and record the birds seen there.
The usual Cormorants on Bembridge ledge included 2 Shag, one showing it's crest, there were 9 Red-breasted Merganser on the sea, 2 Redshank with Oystercatchers and a Curlew, 5 Purple Sandpipers were found perched on the end of the rock ledge, these then flew onto the Lifeboat Pier where we were able to watch them by Scope.
The female Black Redstart was found straight away at Seaview Tollgate Cafe, with a Grey Wagtail on a nearby roof.
Our next stop was the Hersey Reserve. There were numerous Snipe hidden in the grass, at least 20 were counted, the regular Greenshank was seen, also 11 Little Grebe, 30 Oystercatcher, and a female Stonechat near the entrance gate.
Offshore were more Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Great Crested Grebes and 2 Sanderlings on the water's edge.
The expected Marsh Harrier could not be found, but there were 9 Barnacle Geese (Esc.) with the Canada Geese
c120 Lapwing flew over, at the Horse Paddocks there was a Buzzard on the ground with c20 Redwing feeding nearby.
At the Sewage works we saw 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Reed Bunting and up to 4 Chiffchaff with 10 or so Chaffinch.
a Pipit on the filter beds was possibly a Water Pipit (2 were reported here later)
Most of the group then moved on to Meadow Way, Sandown to visit the marsh behind Sandown Zoo.
About 60 Common Snipe were soon flushed from the wet fields, along with 30 or more Teal.
Then our target bird Jack Snipe flew up from a pool. We saw this one again and a second flew up.
-a "Lifer" for some
The Bk-throated Diver and Spotted Redshank could not be found, but a Greenshank was seen on the Scrape,
In the Estuary we had good views of the Drake Goldeneye also c30 Curlew, 90+ Black-tailed Godwit,
There were plenty of Wigeon and Teal around.
On the path back to the Station we found a male Bullfinch feeding on a bush,
-a great sight in the scopes.
The Ponds and Marsh provided more ducks, with Shoveler and a single Drake Pintail.
Groups of Snipe could be seen hiding in the grassy patches.
A dissapointing start as Ryde Sands was devoid of waders, but there were plenty of Mediterranean Gulls along the shoreline.
The hoped for Grebes and Divers were missing apart from 5 Great-crested Grebes off Appley and Puckpool.
Things improved with 2 Drake Mergansers close in and 2 Common Scoter flying West on the other side of the Solent
Hersey NR produced single Redshank and Greenshank, 3 Lapwing, 9 Little Grebes and 27 Oystercatchers.
The best was yet to come. A distant Little Auk was seen by some going East at 10.05,
Then another flew just off the seawall West towards Puckpool at 10.55. A "lifer" for most.
The regular Little Owl was on the cliffs at 8.00 but had gone by 8.30!
(The expected Peregrine and Ravens were also absent).
A Merlin came over the Car Park at 8.15 so was missed by some.
On the walk proper, we saw 4 Wheatears, 3 Stonechat and large flocks of Linnet as well as plenty of Meadow Pipits.
Moving inland added 4 Yellowhammer and 20+ Skylark -over the fields and passing over,
together with more Linnet flocks
Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were seen here, with 2 more Stonechat.
At the "Pepper Pot" about 7 more Stonechat and some more Meadow Pipits were seen.
The highlight was an immature male Black Redstart at the "Salt Cellar" (the old lighthouse).
Back at the Car Park an impressive 18 Buzzards could be seen soaring together over the downs.
Species seen;- Before the walk, 1juv Marsh Harrier (W along coast @ 7.45)
More than 30 Ring Ouzel (Largest flock of 11 over, 3 in Pit on route back)
A Merlin (Chasing birds over Quarry Car Park), 15 Siskin(Over E), 5 Redwing (over, 1 in bushes)
c12 Blackcap, c30 Chiffchaff (In bushes all over), 1-2 Wheatear, 100+ Swallow,
1000+ Meadow Pipit (Streaming over E all morning), 60+ Linnet, c80 Goldfinch (E, in off sea)
1 Whinchat, 12 Stonechat, 2 Raven, c50 House Martin (Alum Bay)
4+ Goldcrest, 1m Yellowhammer.
From the Ferry:- 1 Arctic Tern, 3 Eider and a Wheatear.
The first stop was at Stanpit Marsh to view birds roosting on Blackberry Point.
Where 2 Curlew Sandpipers were seen in flight.
In Cristchurch harbour:- Large numbers of Coot, 1 Great Crested Grebe, plenty of Wigeon, and several Lesser Black-backs
Our next stop was Brownsea Island where the ferry costs even more than the IOW!
there were 100s of Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits
also Little Stint, Spotted Redshank, 4 Curlew Sandpipers, 22 Greenshank, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits,
with Ringed Plover, Redshanks, Dunlin and Knot, Teal and Shoveler.
3 Spoonbills -unexpected, and 1m Garganey landed beside the hide. 1 Water Rail also showed well.
The highlight was a juv Nightjar -flushed from the path on Bonchurch Down,
Migrants included;
4 Redstart, 3 Wheatear, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Hobby, (circling over Luccombe bowl with a Peregrine)
10+ Chiffchaff, 6+ Willow Warbler, 100's of mixed Hirundines, mainly Swallow.
Also heard; 1 Dartford Warbler.
From the "Recyling Centre" next to the "Horse & Groom" PH, we walked NNW to the recently opened Ningwood Common reserve.
The target species was the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Dragonflies;- Emporer, 2 Black-tailed Skimmers and 2 Broad-bodied Chasers
En Route we saw Whitethroat & Bullfinch and heard Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff,
there were plenty of Meadow Brown Butterfies in the fields and a Yellow Shell moth.
, true to form we saw them straight away, the final total was 10.
Large Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Small Heath, Red Admiral and several White Admiral boosted the Butterfly total.
Damselfly;- a male Beautiful Damoiselle was unexpected, believed to be the first recorded at this site!
Another suprise was a Nightingale making it's alarm call, a purring trill, lt then it gave snatches of song.
From the Main Car Park, we walked to a clearing S. of the Squirrel Trail.
The outward route looped to the W. to take in Song Thrush, Chiffchaff and Goldcrest
At the clearing from 21.20 - 22.00 we saw a pair of Nightjar, calling and flying around, the male perching on a tree giving everyone a good view.
Woodcock were seen regularly flying over giving their weird calls, sounding like a "squeaky frog"
Returning to the Car Park we heard 3 juvenile Long Eared Owls "Squeaking" by the path. That's 3 out of 3 in the bag.
Eight people attended,
and 82 species were recorded, the highlights being;-
Beaulieu Road / Denny Wood -Spotted Flycatcher (2), Marsh Tit, Honey Buzzard
Acres Down -"Ringtail" Montegue's Harrier, Red Kite (mobbed by a Peregrine), Crossbill (17),
Keyhaven- Spoonbill (2), Eider
An enjoyable day out but too windy for raptors.
Click for a picture of the group watching Siskins in the treetops.
Plenty of Nuthatch, Marsh Tit, breeding Firecrests, 4 Dartford Warblers
and 2 Wood Larks at close range. Also of interest was a striking pair of Stonechat, (Continental types?).
Some selected sightings;-
c300 Brent Goose, 1 Great Crested Grebe (Harbour Entrance), 1f/imm. Merlin (Chasing waders), 1 Peregrine,
3f Goldeneye, 3 Bar Tailed Godwit, 70+ Knot (c300 reported), c1000 Dunlin,
3m,5f Red Breasted Merganser, 8 Mediterranean Gull (Gull Island), 5 Little Grebe, 11 Turnstone,
Overlooking Cassey Bridge;- 22 Pintail, c85 Black Tailed Godwit, 1 Redwing, 1m Bullfinch, 7 Buzzard. (most distant)
Also reported;- 2 Raven, 1 Kingfisher
Seven people attended. We walked from the quarry, along the north slope of WHD to Alum Bay,
-back via the road and Alum Bay cottages.
Birds seen included;- 2 Firecrest, 1 Brambling, 1 Redpoll, overhead calling,
3 Siskin, 1 Swallow, 66 Fieldfare, 47 Redwing, 2+ Dartford Warbler, including a singing male,
5 Stonechat, 1m Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff.
The trip got off to a good start with a Merlin from the ferry just off Fishbourne,
At Farlington Marshes, plenty of Ducks and Waders with 7 Bearded Tits, 2 Whinchats and 1 Tree Pipit
To Church Norton next, -to catch the rising tide.
Some birds were close, including Bar Tailed Godwits,
and more distant 2 Little Stints with plenty of Pintail.
The suprise sightings of the day were 2 Honey Buzzards (a dark juv. before lunch and another after!)
Then on to Drayton Pit, near Chichester, this gave Ruff, Green Sandpiper, 4 Yellow-legged Gulls, 2 Gadwall, and Hobby,
Lastly Thorney Island. No sign of the expected Red Backed Shrike, but an Osprey on a post was just as good.
Amonst the waders, 6 juv Curlew Sandpipers, 1 Ruff and an impressive 30+ Greenshanks.
Then from the ferry, an Arctic Skua chasing gulls at Ryde Sandbank, making about 95 species in total.
Whilst watching a Marsh Tit in a large tree, a Tawny Owl was heard, then seen near the top-mobbed by small birds.
A great sight for those of us who had never seen one before! (They are almost absent on the IOW)
The walk back started with a Honey Buzzard soaring overhead, a Cuckoo was calling nearby,
with Black Tailed Skimmers at a small pond. A Fallow Deer broke cover to the S.
The "Oak Inn" at Bank provided a welcome stop for lunch. From there we moved on to "Acre Down".
A group of 5 Crossbills were seen feeding in the small conifers, 2 Woodlark flew up fron the heath
and more Tree Pipits were seen on the summit together with another Honey Buzzard.
Several Silver Studded Blues butterflies posed for the group as well.
This picture of the Butterfly is by Gary Haddon.
The return trip was via Boulderwood & Keyhaven, (I did not attend this part, travelling on to Gloucestershire instead).
The weather was pretty good, but there was no sign of the expected migrants.
The best bird was a male Wheatear singing and doing display flights along the cliff edge at Main bench.
A good crowd of 17 attended this walk. Starting at the Old Station we walked E. to Rofford Marsh, then W. to the Tide Mill, up to Mill Copse Scrape, returning via the reedbed infront of the Station.
Birds seen included;-
2 Raven(Flew E. over Estuary), 15+ Shoveler(Rofford Marsh), 1 Spotted Redshank, c15 Black Tailed Godwit
2 Great Crested Grebe(In Estuary), 1 Kingfisher(By Tide Mill), c20 Dunlin, 3 Snipe
8 Shelduck, c20 Wigeon, c50 Teal, 6 Grey Plover, 5 Turnstone, 2 Reed Bunting, 4 Buzzard
Birds seen between (8.30 - 12.20) included;-
10 Greylag Geese (Large field in RSPB Reserve), 1f Kingfisher (Ponds)
1 Spotted Redshank (Wet field S. of Lagoon), 9 Snipe, 4 Redshank
3 Greenshank, 1 Lanner Falcon Type (Causing Panic!)
1m Pintail, c10 Shoveler, c10 Tufted Duck, 3 Pochard
Birds seen between (7.55 - 11.40) included;-
1m HEN HARRIER (Along cliff NW, then inland @ 7.55 before the walk started, sadly not seen again)
1m Black Redstart (On rocks at Chine Mouth), c20 Skylark, 2 Raven (carrying Sand Eels!),
2f/juv Wigeon (Flew onto sea, Chale Bay), 2 Peregrine (1 on Cliff edge, 1 on fields inland),
2m & 1f Stonechat, 10+ Yellowhammer (Little Atherfield Farm)
2 Song Thrush, 6+ Mistle Thrush, 4 Kestrel, 2 Golden Plover (Inland field with c80 Lapwing)
7 Grey Partridge, c20 Red Legged Partridge, 25 Goldfinch (Chine)
On the open fields (mostly stubble), were;-
c20 Red Legged Partridge, c8 Skylark, 1 Wheatear, 4 Stock Dove, 42 Canada Geese
In the valleys were bushes and trees, where we saw;-
1 Whinchat, 8 Yellowhammer, 3+ Chiffchaff, 1 Whitethroat, 4 Greenfinch,1f Bullfinch
Above us;-
1 Heron, 3 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, (poss. Hobby earlier scattering Swallows)
About 10 members attended. We were luckly that it co-incided with a good show of migrants.
From the Car Park we followed the path on the Eastern side of Luccombe Down as far as Shanklin Down,
returning along the Western side to search for the Wryneck (around the Car Park).
These birds were seen by most of us;-
1 juv(m) Black Redstart, 4 Pied Flycatcher, c35 Spotted Flycatcher, 10 Redstart (4m, f & juv)
c40 Willow Warbler, c20 Chiffchaff, 1m Blackcap, 1 poss Garden Warbler (another at Nansen Hill earlier)
3 Whitethroat, 1m Dartford Warbler, c4 Wheatear, 2 Whinchat , c40 Meadow Pipit
4 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Kestrel, 2 Raven (1 seen, 1 heard), c20 Swallow, 3+ Swift.
Others also Reported;-
1 Wryneck (Near Car Park), 1juv Osprey (In over Sandown Bay then W @ 11.55), 4 Sand Martin (Also House Martins)
An overcast and cooler evening than of late, but the walk was well attended.
There was a flock of escaped sheep in the Car Park which we reported.
The outward route was along the western edge of the forest, this gave us a Hobby,
we took the track NE. to the big clearing S. of the Study Field, in time for dusk.
On the way we heard the squeaking of a Juv Long Eared Owl, later an adult was seen hunting in the clearing, a rare sight.
Woodcock (approx 3) flew accross overhead and Nightjar (only 1 pair) gave a great display around the party,
Walking back to the car park gave us 6 Glow Worms at various points en route.
Another Magical experience was enjoyed by us all.
The following were observed on today's walk,
Meadow Pipit (3 prs with food 1pr with building material),
Stonechat (2prs feeding young) ,
Dartford Warbler 1, Mistle Thrush 1pr , Rock Pipit 7, Shelduck 3,
Wheatear 4 (incl 1pr in courtship at old rocket site), Raven 1, Peregrine 1, Gannet 2,
Guillemot 5, Lesser Bk Backed Gull 1, Greater Bk Backed Gull (4prs sitting incl one with 3 small young),
Cormorant 43 (including 11 nests with young), Herring Gull (4 nests with sitting adults)
and a Spotted Flycatcher. (Dave H.)
Some new migrants had arrived overnight,
2m Nightingales, 1m Sedge Warbler, 1m Cetti's Warbler, 1m Cuckoo (Heard from old Railway Line FP.)
2 Swift, 3 House Martins and plenty of Swallows over.
3+ Mistle Thrush(2 @ Nest), 2+ Song Thrush (1@nest), 4 Long Tailed Tit (2 nests seen), 1m Coal Tit (Heard)
4+ Chiffchaff, 1m Willow Warbler (Heard in woods doing "Chiffchaff" impression!), Blackcaps and Whitethroats
Sadly there were few migrants on the downs, - we expected Wheatears but saw none.
This was offset by some good sightings though,
3f/juv Black Redstart- on field to W. of C.G. Cottages,
2 Peregrine, 4 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk-hunting along the S. Slope,
1 Skylark -singing overhead, 6+ Yellowhammer,
Migrants included about 50 Meadow Pipit & about 40 Linnet over earlier, but only 2 Chiffchaffs were found.
At sea; 2 Fulmar, a single Canada Goose, and 1 Shag flew east.
Birds seen on the walk,
c70 Chaffinch (in set-aside strip), 24 Linnet, 5 Buzzard, c250 Black Headed Gull, 1-2 Mediterranean Gull,
5 Red Legged Partridge, c6 Yellowhammer, 1f Stonechat, c10 Skylark, 15 Meadow Pipit, 1 Kestrel.
Also seen;- 1 Hare, and a Meteor burning up with a Brilliant Blue trail -(over Wellow)
Near old Station;- 1m Blackcap, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Raven (Over, probably 1st w. birds, )
Rofford Marsh;- 2 Gadwall (m & f), 40+ Shoveler (25m ), 2 Snipe, Cetti's Warbler (Heard), 4 Buzzard,
From Tide Mill;- 2 Kingfisher, 30 Dunlin, 3 Turnstone, 1 Mediterranean Gull
In Estuary;- 1f Goldeneye, 4+ Grey Plover , 1 Great Crested Grebe
Mill Copse Scrape;- 1 Spotted Redshank & 1 Redshank
Ryde Sands;- 1 Grey Plover, 1f Pochard (Canoe Lake), 10+ Curlew, 1 Mediterranean Gull.
Hersey NR;- (Flooded) 3 Goosanders (1m,2f), 6 Pochard, 3m,3f Pintail, 9 Lapwing, 1 Snipe,
3f Tufted Duck, 1m Wood Duck (E), 1 Heron, 1 Little Egret,
Seaview Esp;- 1 BLACK NECKED GREBE, 1f Red Breasted Merganser, 6 Cormorant.
A survey of the birdlife prior to the proposed Giant Wind Turbines coming here.
Thursday's Quails and raptor show was not repeated today, but we did see;-
(poss) juv Peregrine, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 2 Buzzard,
12 Wheatear, 3 Whinchat, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker,
4 Reed Bunting, c6 Yellowhammer, c30 Pheasant, c10 Swallow.
The weather was good and the migrants were abundant.
Along the Nansen Hill ridge just 1 bush had Redstart, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler,
nearby Spotted Flycatchers and a male Bullfinch. 5 Fulmars were seen over the landslip-almost inland.
Raptors seen;- 2 Peregrines, 5 Buzzards and 5 Kestrels, - also 2 Ravens flew over the masts.
Lucombe Down gave us 1 juv Pied Flycatcher, more Spotted Flycatchers (making about 10 in all),
c12 Redstarts (making 15),
6 Wheatear, 6 late Swifts flew south. At least 20 Whitethoat and approx 50 Willow/Chiffs were seen,
(we can only quess how many more were up there).
Other sightings included 1m Blackcap, c20 Meadow Pipits, and 1 Green Woodpecker
Butterflies;- Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Gatekeeper.
By 22.20 we had Nightjars flying around us, only a few metres away - truly magical.
Walking back to the car park gave us to 2 more Nightjars, and 5 Glow Worms at various points en route.
We saw;-
11 Wheatear, c10 Chiffchaff, 2 Kittiwake (E), 24 Common Scoter (E), 2 Shoveler (E), 4 Red Throated Diver (E)
4 Guillemot (E), 4 Gannet (W), 2m,2f Stonechat (2 pairs, not together), 1 Peregrine, 2 Sparrowhawk,
Afterwards 2 of us went out behind Harbour Farm with Les.
Where we saw 13 Shoveler (@Ammo Hut Pond), also Wigeon, Teal etc.
Report by Chris M.
"A low turnout despite good weather but not many grounded migrants.
There were a couple of Swifts and a large group of House Martins
The saddest thing, was a fresh (still warm) juv. Dotteral that had hit the fence on the cliff edge."
There was a good turn out but birds were proving ellusive. We checked the hilltop and slope to the north side-nothing!
Returning to the clearing -accross the road from the car park, gave us a Woodcock overhead,
and then a Nightjar was heard calling (and later seen). The only dissapointment was a lack of Long-eared Owls.
There was a good turn-out on this Bank Holiday w/e, with fine sunny weather and light wind.
Before the walk proper, we found Lesser Whitethroat and Bullfinch,
On the main walk we noticed some migrant movements such as- House Martins, and a Wheatear (flying W),
There were Swallows and Swifts as well as about 20 Meadow Pipits, Linnets, Buzzards and Kestrels (displaying overhead).
Good views were had of Whitethroat and Dartford Warbler, 2 Willow Warblers were found in the bushes further down the slope.
Other birds included Jay, Yellowhammer, Green Woodpecker and Skylark.
(The rain clouds gathered later but we got away without a soaking).
Seawatching produced; 2 Red-throated Diver, 1 Gannet, c6 Fulmar, c15 Common Scoter, c20 Brent Geese & 2 Mallard.
Gulls included 3 Black-headed, 1 Common, 3+ GBB and lots of Herring Gull,-about 3 Sandwich Terns went E.
We found the 5 White-fronts but not the Bean Geese. (They were seen later in the day)
Also along the Lane were, 4 Buzzard, 1 "Ringtail" Hen Harrier-on a post, , 2+ Kestrel,
1 Cetti's Warbler and 2 Water Rail (heard only),
At the Brading Sewage Works, 1 Grey Wagtail, c20 Meadow Pipits, Chiffchaff (heard) but sadly no Water Pipits.
Returned to Bembridge Harbour where 2+ Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Greenshank, 3+ Little Egret, c40 Teal, c15 Curlew were found,
also Redshank, Lapwing, Dunlin etc.
during the walk:
3 Ringtail Hen Harrier, 1M Peregrine Falcon, 2 Kestrel, 2 Tundra Bean Geese, 300+ Brent Geese,
200+ Canada Geese, 150+ Mixed duck flying - including 2 Gadwall,
at the sewage works;- many Meadow Pipits, 10(+) Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Wagtail
1 Curlew - flying up the valley
report from the RSPB warden - 1 Bittern flying over Bembridge ponds first thing
To start with the weather was terrible! Hail, Thunder, Torrential Rain and floods along the lane!
Then it did improve, cloudy but drier, the ground was still waterlogged.
Causeway Lake had c600 Black Tailed Godwits and about 200 Lapwing with similar numbers of Golden Plover.
By the Boathouse were 7 Spotted Redshank with c20 Red Breasted Merganser and over 12 Little Grebes in the Harbour
Waders included 1000+ Dunlin, 70+ Knot, 7+Turnstone, c30 Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Curlew. Oystercatcher
2 Great Crested Grebes, Goldeneye, Wigeon, Teal, Brent Geese, Canada Geese, Shelduck.
4 Greater Black Backed Gulls, 2 Peregrine Falcons.
(Before 9am 2 Tree Pipits flew over, After the walk we found 1 Redstart, 1 Raven, and 2+ Yellow Wagtails on the path to Nansen Hill.)
Leaving the car park heading North, we saw flocks of Rooks coming in to roost, a Kestrel and a Buzzard.
The first Nightjar was heard at a clearing.
At the big clearing S. of the Study Centre Field we heard the first Long Eared Owl (Juv) squeaking, and saw/heard 3 Nightjars and a Woodcock overhead.
A further walk gave us more Long Eared Owls- including an Adult leaving the trees, Nightjar and Woodcock same one??
Several Glow Worms were encountered on the paths as we walked round.
By 11pm we found our way back to the Car Park and were amazed to find 4 more juvenile L.E. Owls all calling loudly.
One was seen by torchlight only 15ft away, it seemed unconcerned about us and carried on squeaking!
A memorable evening all round. (Even the weather was good)
Starting and ending with Mediterranean Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull,
Sanderling, Oystercatcher, Curlew, and Dunlin on Ryde sands,
1 Grey Plover by water's edge, 2 Great Crested Grebes at sea, also
2 Treecreepers in Appley Park
At Seaview Toll Road there was a Water Rail in the ditch with a Little Egret.
At sea 3 Kittewake, 6 Gannet, 1-oiled Razorbill
From the Esplanade in Seaview we found the female Velvet Scoter just offshore,
with Red Breasted Merganser and 2 Juv Shag.
Further along was a female Goldeneye, also a Buzzard perched in a (distant) tree.
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