Bembridge and St Helen's Duver

The first time we visited the Isle of Wight we stayed in Bembridge, and enjoyed many walks along the harbour and St Helen's Duver. During our stay this year, we visited several times, spending time on the beach and also walking across the causeway/wall that separates Bembridge Harbour and the Old Mill Ponds.

This causeway is particularly good for viewing the birds, and we managed to spot Sandwich Terns, Greenshank (2 on the Ponds on 12th), Oystercatcher (1 on 12th), Little Egret, Swallow, Carrion Crow, Great-spotted Woodpecker (heard), Green Woodpecker (heard), Linnet (heard), Goldfinch (heard), Herring, Black-headed, Great Black-Backed and Mediterranean Gull.

As most readers know, I particularly like "Med" Gulls (sorry Jayne!!), and this year I was very lucky to see not only several adult birds (3 or 4 at least), but also got very lucky with a  juvenile bird that landed briefly on the beach allowing me this photo. This is my first ever sighting of this species in this plumage- lovely!

Mediterranean Gull (juvenile plumage)

I also managed to get a few nice shots of a Little Egret that was fishing in the harbour.

Little Egret