Newtown NNR (21st August)

Our last day on the island.  First of all to quench my sisters thirst for old manor gardens, we visited Mottistone Manor Gardens, a little too busy for any birds liking so it came as no surprise that the only highlight was a Peacock.  However, my brother and I were both kindly dropped of for a few hours at Newtown NNR.  Despite timing our visit incorrectly to coincide with a high tide, we had to be content with distant views of several Whimbrel, Curlew, 2 Grey Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper and 9+ Turnstone.  The action highlight however was a Peregrine hunt as 2 Peregrines (a male and female) shot over the water, the female narrowly missing a Black-headed Gull as it plummeted into the water to avoid the talons of its attacker.