Late summer

Summer is a bit of a frustrating time, particularly late summer. Birds are lying low following the nesting season and, if you live in a tourist hotspot like I do, there are far too many people about to make going out worthwhile or enjoyable, not to mention the additional traffic. Migration season is just beginning, with a trickle of summer visitors from the north heading through on their way back to Africa.

I decided, against my better judgement, to go to Seaview and see if any early Sanderlings were around as I know a few are beginning to gather. No Sanderlings, just kids and small boats on the beach. Ok, off to Culver (Bembridge) Down. No migrants. By the time I got home, after having to back up half a kilometre or so on a country road to let five cars through, I wasn't in a good mood, having wasted both time and petrol and spending more time trying to get past cyclists or sitting in traffic.

Surely it isn't beyond the wit of human kind to change things so the island isn't so reliant on tourism, particularly when more people work remotely these days. At work I have to listen to people complaining 'but we are a holiday/tourist island' or 'it looks dreadful, will someone think of the tourists?' when they want something done. Frankly, a lot of the island is run down and with a drugs problem, and the less said about the beach resort of Sandown (aka Beirut) the better, with its burnt-out hotels - there are at least four, one of which is a frequent target of arsonists - and shabby appearance. Just being reliant on holidaymakers for a fraction of the year is surely no longer sustainable. Add in the increasingly unreliable ferry services and ever more expensive fares, it's a wonder people want to come here at all, particularly when you can get a package holiday to southern Europe or Florida for not a lot more money and better weather.