Arctic Skua joins my year list.

 Sunday 26th April 2026.

Dawn over South Parade Pier, Southsea.

It was another 5am start this morning as I got ready to do another 3 hour ‘sea-watch’ from Southsea Promenade again today. The weather was identical to yesterday with yet another flat calm sea and a light easterly wind and again, I was treated to another ‘year-tick’ when my first Arctic Skua of the year flew through heading east low over the sea. There was a bit of variety again and a few surprises.

Afterwards, when I got home, I took my dogs out again to Highland Road Cemetery for a pleasant walk around my ‘local patch’.

The Solent, Southsea seafront:

A pair of Med Gulls passing Horse Sands Fort. There were dozens of Gulls resting on the Fort, mostly Great Black-backed and Herring Gulls.

Bird of the day was easily my first Arctic Skua of the year, a light phased bird that flew strongly east low over the sea around 7.13am. I did hear a little later that a dark-phased bird had entered the Solent, seen from Cut Bridge and the same bird seen later passing Hayling Island. Close behind, was a small flock of 3 adult Little Gulls going east in a tight flock low over the sea. Once again, it was beautifully calm at 6am when I arrived with an orangy hue in the sky to the east. There were, as expected, a large number of Gulls offshore and picking my way through them was never easy, especially the distant Gulls; but no pain, no gain and I certainly picked out a lot of nice birds during the three hours here.

Above, these three Shelduck flew close in heading east and a fourth bird shortly followed afterwards. Below, a flock of four Med Gulls passing close by.

The birds seen this morning from the Shelter included the following:

Whimbrel: A good total of 17 Whimbrels were seen this morning with most being single birds, though there were a pair and a small group of 4 birds all heading east bar one individual that went west!

Sandwich Tern: I did not want to count the birds flying along the foreshore due to the fact they were probably not migrant birds and have probably overwintered here. Of the more distant birds, I counted up to 28 birds seen throughout the morning.

Common Tern: Up to 14 birds were reliably identified going east and mostly in pairs. There was one flock of 7 birds seen going east. 

‘Commic Tern’: Two flocks of ‘Commic’ Terns went east, a group of four birds and a pair, but too far out to be certain on the species.

Above, this large ship was carrying a very expensive cargo. Luxury boats! Below, the small flock of three Avocets passing east.

Above, it wasn't till I checked on my laptop that the left hand bird was actually a Bar-tailed Godwit with a Whimbrel. Below, one of several Oystercatchers this morning.

Mediterranean Gull: A big total of 37 birds were recorded this morning with all the birds seen heading east. Most likely not migrant birds and probably coming in from feeding out in the Solent and then heading back into Langstone Harbour?

Bar-tailed Godwit: One was seen with a Whimbrel flying east. I honestly throught it was two Whimbrels passing through. 

 

Shag: A distant adult bird seen heading east.

Peregrine: A male bird was seen flying out to sea heading south-east. I did think it was going to land on Horse Sands Fort, but carried on flying out over the Solent.

Oystercatcher: Not as many as yesterday, with just five birds seen heading eastbound close in.

Little Gull: A flock of 3 birds flew close together heading east. All adult birds.

Sadly, litter louts are still plaguing the beach despite all the work that has been carried out here along the beach. The Herring Gulls made short work of the leftover food.

Swallow: The only Hirundine seen here this morning. It flew east over the beach but was lost to view.

Shelduck: A small group of 3 birds headed east and seconds later, another individual was flying behind the flock.

Arctic Skua: The pale-phased bird was my first one of the year as it sped low over the sea, but looked stunning through the scope.

Great Crested Grebe: An adult bird flew low over the Solent, fairly close in, heading west.

Avocet: A real surprise as a small group of three birds heading east close in. I think this is only the second time I have ever seen an Avocet on a ‘sea-watch’ here. Well pleased.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

The tail-less Chiffchaff was still singing strongly within the Cemy.

The dogs enjoyed their walk in the sunshine this morning as I did my usual route around my ‘local patch’. The Starlings were busy searching for food within the long grass and showed well near the footpath. Our usual ‘tail-less’ Chiffchaff was in full song yet again as he did a circuit around the Cemetery and posed nicely on an exposed branch. With the leaves on the trees now, it is becoming more difficult to locate the birds unless they fly and so sightings this morning were few and far between. I might take another walk later in the afternoon today, so maybe something of interest could be present.

Above, another photo of the Chiffchaff and below, it looks like one of the Starlings had become a meal.

Above, one of the House Sparrows on the perimeter fence in the south-east corner and below, a Starling searching for more food for its hungry chicks?

Above, three of the small flock of Starlings searching for food in the long grass.

A quieter 'sea-watch' but I get my first Gannet this year.

 Saturday 25th April 2026.

Now for a 3hr 'sea-watch'.

My plan today was to do a very early ‘sea-watch’ from my usual Shelter on Southsea Promenade along with my birding pal, Andy Fisher. Sadly, Andy was indisposed and so I spent 3 hrs checking out whatever passes by through the Solent and anything of note flying in. The weather was glorious again, with the sea state calm with a very light easterly wind and though there was a bit of white high cloud around, the temperature wasn't too bad though I had wrapped myself up thoroughly.

When I got back home, after a cup of coffee, I took the dogs for their walk and it was back over Highland Road Cemetery and although it was fairly quiet, I had the misfortune of the battery from my camera running out of juice! Harrumph! On a positive note, I did find an unexpected Warbler within the Cemy and when I got home, I also had a nice surprise when I sat out in the garden.

The Solent, Southsea Seafront:

One of at least 23 Sandwich Terns seen this morning including this close in bird.

Buoyed on from Thursday's ‘sea-watch’ earlier in the week, by coming very early this morning for  6am start, I was very hopeful of a productive time here, but apart from seeing my first Gannets of the year (both adults) it was a bit disappointing with long periods of nothing but Gulls drifting past. A few flocks of Terns headed east and a good number of Whimbrel went through, but all in all, a quiet ‘sea-watch’. But hey, it was a beautiful morning and I did actually enjoy it, especially when a couple of ‘piss-taking’ joggers went past and then ran into each other and sent flying. Karma!

Above, the Cruise Liner Spirit of Adventure sailing into town first thing this morning. Below, dawn over South Parade Pier.

The birds seen this morning included the following:

Gannet: Two adult birds were seen, both adults and both nearer the Isle of Wight side of the Solent; but it was my first sighting of this species for the year.

Peregrine: A male Peregrine was seen flying around and dive bombing Gulls on Horse Sand Forts; seen through my scope.

Sandwich Tern: Most of the Sandwich Terns were single birds or in pairs flying east although some did fly both east and west close in and allowed for some photos. Up to 23 birds were seen during the three hours.

Common Tern: Up to 7 birds were seen close enough for an ID of which the largest number were 3 in one flock. All were seen heading east.

‘Commic’ Tern: A total of 23 ‘Commic Terns’ (Common or Arctic) were all fairly distant of which the largest flock contained 10 birds; all of which were heading east.

Whimbrel: A good total of 20 birds were seen during my time here and the biggest number contained 5 birds. Whimbrels have been going past all week here through the Solent in very good numbers. I have yet to hear one call yet, but I suppose all were quite distant.

Above, three Whimbrels flying east fairly close in and below, a Sandwich Tern having a scratch on the wing!

Above, one of two Shelduck seen today.

Oystercatcher: Though these waders barely get a mention, I did see up to 10 single birds throughout the morning all heading east and most some distance out.

Med Gull: Just the three birds seen, all adults.

Shag: An immature bird flew low close in heading west.

Meadow Pipit: A single bird flew in off the sea. Strangely, no Hirundines were seen at all this morning.

As mentioned, despite it being rather low key here this morning, I had a hot flask to hand and some nice chocolate cookies to munch on while checking out a very calm Solent and with a nice recently bought seat cushion to hand, I was very comfortable this morning. Over at Sandy Point, Hayling Island, fellow ‘Lazee Birder’ Garry Fennemore scored with a Bonxie flying distantly and a Hobby flying in off the sea; his fourth one of the year coming in off the sea!

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

A beautiful cloud formation over the Cemy looking north.

The weather continued to be fine this morning and so I took the dogs for their morning walk. A bit later than usual, but they enjoyed it nonetheless. A Chiffchaff was singing throughout my time there, though I didn't get to see the bird and was most likely the tail-less bird again waiting for a mate. However, I did hear another Warbler doing a bit of sub-singing and I soon got a reasonable view of it and realised it was Common Whitethroat. I think that all the time I have been birding here, I have only ever seen one before and that was many years ago.

Above, Ox-eye Daisies and below, one particular grave had Brome Grass growing on it.

Though my battery in my Camera went down, I did take a few photos of some of the plants here and that included a clump of Ox-eye Daisies and the Brome Grass of which Google believes it to be Ripgut Brome. A Red Admiral butterfly showed briefly but too quickly for a photo as it disappeared behind bushes in the southern half of the Cemy.

My Garden:

While enjoying a cup of coffee in the back garden with my dogs, I heard the sound of Swifts overhead and craning my head up, a small group of three birds chased each other low over the rooftops. At last, they are back. Happy days.

Pom Skua through the Solent and a moth 'Lifer'.

 Thursday 23rd April 2026.

The pale-phased Pomarine Skua passing through the Solent. Photo by Andy Friend.

Well, that was one 'sea-watch' that will not be forgotten for a long while. After my first shift in Pembroke Road, I decided to have a couple of hours 'sea-watching' off Southsea Promenade from my usual shelter just east of the Pyramids and it most certainly paid off with only my second ever sighting of a Pomarine Skua at this site. The weather was glorious with bright blue sky overhead and a light easterly blowing over the Solent; conditions just right for a reasonable ‘sea-watch’.

Earlier today, I had the Moth Box on overnight after repairing the Box which had fallen over due to the strong blustery winds yesterday afternoon. It paid off too with several moths that included a ‘Lifer’, which was totally unexpected. Not to put Pembroke Road down, a trio of Collared Doves flying over was also a damn good record for this site and so I can safely say that it was one hell of a day for me personally.

My Moth Box:

My first ever Common Grass-miner moth.

As mentioned, I found my first ever Common Grass-miner (Elachista canapennella) micro moth this morning, perched on the inside of the Box as I quickly took several photos of the tiny moth before releasing it. A very good start to the day and with 9 moths of 6 species, it was mostly a micro moth morning. Pick of the ‘macro’ moths was a Shuttle-shaped Dart that sat right at the bottom of the Box. It was clear overnight and quite cool with that north-easterly wind blowing, so I was pleased the Moth Box was still upright this morning. Phew!

The lone Shuttle-shaped Dart.

The Moths present this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Shuttle-shaped Dart x1	Light Brown Apple Moth x2
Double-striped Pug x3	Ruddy Streak x1
	White-shouldered House Moth x1
	COMMON GRASS-MINER* x1

A Chiffchaff was heard calling south of my garden and then the bird flew and landed in the tree at the back of my garden briefly and then flew north and began to sing.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

Up to 13 bird species were noted today from both shifts and that included the small flock of three Collared Doves flying high over the road and heading off south. Three species of Gull were recorded including a Great Black-backed Gull perched on a rooftop in Penny Street. Again, the male Pied Wagtail was searching for food on the short grass of the Bowling Green. All the usual birds seen and the House Sparrows within the hedge of the Bowling Green were quite vocal this morning. A quiet afternoon here and reasonably warm too with temperatures getting up to 18 degrees.

The Solent, Southsea seafront:

My miserable effort in getting a photo of the Pomarine Skua passing through the Solent.

As mentioned, after my first shift at Pembroke Road, I took the short drive to South Parade and parked up to walk through the Rock Gardens, for my usual seat within the shelter overlooking the Solent. The sea state was good and the weather was bright and sunny. Though it sounded good, visibility was a tad hazy, probably due to the strong sunlight, but with my scope to hand, I was picking out a few birds quite nicely.

The group of three Whimbrel passing close in.

Obviously, the biggest surprise was the news of a pale-phased Pomarine Skua entering the Solent from Cut Bridge (nr Lymington) and the bird was then seen off Hill Head and Lee-on-Solent. My hopes of seeing the bird were slowly evaporating for it was seen at 10am off Lee-on-Solent and by 10.30am, I had nearly given up. It wasn't till I saw a distant Skua heading east low over the sea (it had been seen earlier flying very high) I then rushed to get my scope onto it. Bingo! I could clearly see its long ‘spoons’ as it soon passed Horse Sands Fort towards Hayling Island. I did manage to take a few photos of the bird, but they were awful compared with a few taken of the bird. I quickly put my sighting on the Hants Rare Birds Whatsapp group and thankfully, the guys at Sandy Point, Hayling Island connected with the Skua also. Happy Days! This was only my second ever sighting of this species from Southsea and after missing the ‘Poms’ seen last year through the Solent; this surely made up for it. Major case of ‘right place, right time!’

A pair of Sandwich Terns passing close in heading east.

However, it wasn't all perfect as there was a report of a flock of Black Terns passing Hill Head, but there was no sighting of those birds despite a good search for them. I wonder if they flew inland or went into Portsmouth Harbour? An awful lot of work to bolster the sea defences along Southsea over the past couple of years has resulted in the viewing situation from the Shelter I watch from. I cannot now see the shoreline where the shingle has been raised considerably, so whatever is flying along the shoreline will be missed completely unless the bird is high up.

Most of the Whimbrel seen this morning were single birds all heading east.

Yes, the Pomarine Skua was a cracking bird to see, but there were other sightings too during my two hours there and that included the following:

Whimbrel: Up to ten birds were seen and were all singles heading east apart from a group of three birds together also heading east. 

Sandwich Tern: Two pairs flew east close in heading east along the shoreline

Common Tern: A pair flew east close in.

Swallow: Up to 6 single birds flew in off the sea, but too quick for a photo.

House Martin: A single bird was watched through the scope coming in off the sea and passed left of where I was sitting.

Swift: A single bird also flew in off the sea and passed by to my left.

Yellow Wagtail: A single bird was heard only flying in off the sea and passing close overhead, but against the bright sunshine and blue sky; no chance of seeing it!

Meadow Pipit: A pair flew low over the beach heading east.

Little Egret: A single bird flew west low over the Solent.

Mediterranean Gull: A flock of 4 adults flew east about half way out across the Solent.

Swallows over Pembroke Road and another trip over the Cemy.

 Wednesday 22nd April 2026.

This Sulphur Tubic micro moth was perched on my car window this morning.

A very bright sunny day though, again, chilly first thing this morning in Pembroke Road. Temperatures were around 12 degrees in the sunshine, but with that north-easterly wind, it was certainly a lot colder. Thankfully, it was a lot warmer in the afternoon again. When I finished my second shift, once home, I quickly took the dogs out for a good walk (and run) around Highland Road Cemetery; making the most of getting a bit of exercise for both my dogs and myself! Some exciting birds were around Hampshire today and finally, Hampshire got its first reported Garganey of the year.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

The view from my Office window (again).

Being bright and sunny had its advantages and disadvantages as the bright sunshine helped me ID some of the birds from some distance away, but looking up into the bright blue sky to find birds was not easy; but hey, I am not complaining. Up to 13 bird species were recorded over both shifts and the pick of the bunch was the pair of Swallows flying low over my head and heading off north and in this morning sunshine, the colours of the birds were stunning.

This Chocolate Mining Bee was certainly enjoying nectaring on these garden plants this morning.

All the usual birds were present and correct, though strangely, no sign of any Great Black-backed Gulls today. A Pied Wagtail made full use of an empty Bowling Green this morning, but the Green was busy in the afternoon again with Bowlers. The flowering plants in the roadside gardens are now attracting the Bees and Hoverflies and this afternoon, a Chocolate Mining Bee enjoyed nectaring near where I stood. When I went to get in my car after finishing off my first shift, a micro moth was perched on the car window, which turned out to be another Sulphur Tubic (Esperia sulphurella). This was probably my third of the year so far!

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

The Cemetery is certainly looking lush at the moment.

Apart from the singing tail-less Chiffchaff in the Cemy, there were no other migrants of note. In fact, bird sightings were far and few between in the Cemy, so a small flock of Starlings searching for food in the south-east corner caught my eye as did a male House Sparrow. I never got to see the Chiffchaff this time as it seemed to be doing a circuit around the site.

Above, my first ever Cuckoo Flowers on my 'local patch' and below, my first Creeping Cinquefoil plant of the year.

Above, a close up of some Common Vetch and below, a Batman Hoverfly (top) sharing the Bramble with a Common Green Bottle Fly.

Above, Daisies and Germander Speedwell. Below, a Marmalade Hoverfly perched on Holly.

Above and below, Starlings searching for food in the Cemetery.

Above, a male House Sparrow on the perimeter fence by the south-east corner of the site and below, the dead plant growing on these gravestones remind me of the Rock and Gravel Slag, the Cavemen Brothers in Wacky Races!

Yesterday, there was just one Field Poppy in bloom and today there are four!

I found my first ever Cuckoo Flowers growing near the main path in the southern end of the Cemetery. I couldn't believe seeing them here for I only thought they grew in wet and damp areas? Maybe a few seeds blew over this way? Another flowering plant that was new for the year was the Creeping Cinquefoil that was growing on one of the footpaths. The wind was still a bit blustery, but it wasn't as cold as early this morning. The sheltered areas attracted a good number of Hoverflies and Bees which included Chocolate and Yellow-legged Mining Bees and good numbers of Batman Hoverflies. A Speckled Wood butterfly flew around the Holm Oak clump and rose to the top of the trees to disappear between them.

In Hampshire today:

The drake Garganey on Farlington Marshes today. Photo by Steve Laycock.

There was a good variety of birds around today that included Hampshire’s first Garganey of the year. A cracking drake was found early this morning on the Stream area at Farlington Marshes, of which birding pal Andy Fisher took full advantage of by rushing down there on his day off and connecting with the bird along with a Hobby flying over! Well done mate. Meanwhile, top Hampshire birder Garry Fennemore got his 200th bird species in Hampshire with a Whinchat on Hayling Island. Incredible! Could the Hampshire Listing Record be broken this year? The Wood Sandpiper was still on Testwood Lakes and a White Stork was seen flying east over Clanfield this afternoon.

Of note, finally, there is actually a Birding programme on the TV currently called Sam & Ade Go Birding and it is the style of Go Fishing with Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer. Though there are only three hour long episodes (a lot less due to adverts), it is good as the guys go to first Cornwall and then North Norfolk. The last one is next week where they visit the Somerset Levels. It stars Sam West and Adrian Edmonson of which the Adrian is the novice and Sam is the far more experienced birder with 400+ species under his belt. Good stuff. I do hope there is a follow up series.