On my travels, around midday, I stopped off briefly by the old Royal Marines Barracks and looking south, a large number of mostly Herring Gulls and one Great Black-backed Gull were keeping out of the strong onshore wind.
The last month of the year is upon us and what a horrible day to start the month with. Strong southerly winds and squally rain throughout most of the day and well into the evening was the order of the day and the only saving grace was that it was a fairly mild 11 degrees. Maybe the poor weather just might bring something interesting in, but for now, not great weather to be birding in.
Yesterday, birding pal Geoff Farwell, was birding on Farlington Marshes where he had a sighting of a White-tailed Eagle flying high west over the Chalkdock area. I think Andy Fisher was cringing with that info later in the evening! Other sightings on the Reserve included a Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Ravens, a Green Sandpiper, 23 Avocets and 2 Goldeneye’s.
Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:
Despite the very poor and windy weather, I was always keeping an eye out for anything interesting and among the 11 bird species seen from both shifts, a male Peregrine flying low over the road was unexpected. I had to look twice as the bird looked quite small, but it was flying into the wind and had its wings tucked in as it sped over and flushing all the Herring and Black-headed Gulls from Governor’s Green.
Above, literally four years ago to the day, I was birding at Sandy Point, Hayling Island and there were good numbers of Razorbills around at the time. Unlike this year, where there have been hardly any sightings. Below, this Greenshank was in the harbour nearby.
Above, again, roughly four years ago this very day, I spent a trip to Titchfield Haven and from the Spurgin Hide, I saw this male Stonechat and below, a Cetti's Warbler. If memory serves me correct, several Chiffchaffs were in the reeds in front of the Hide, also.
A small flock of 5 Greenfinches flew over and a pair of Blue Tits flying over the road from the Holm Oaks, were the only passerines seen or heard today as the rest of the usual birds were probably hunkering down out of the strong wind. From where I stood, I could see the waves this morning, splashing over the sea wall by Curtain Moat! The weather got even worse in the afternoon and I struggled to stay on my feet at times as the blustery wind was so strong. It was just Wood Pigeons and Herring Gulls this afternoon and the occasional Carrion Crow seen this afternoon, trying to negotiate the wind of which all seemed perfectly at home in the poor conditions, though one silly Pigeon nearly flew into a tree and changed course……just!
The female Sparrowhawk high up in one of the Horse Chestnut trees.
It was back over to Highland Road Cemetery this morning where the morning kicked off bright and sunny, with a cloudless sky and temperatures around 5 degrees at 8.30am today. There is always a chance of something unusual here if you can get here early enough and I was rewarded this morning with a superb Fieldfare and a brief, but showy, female Sparrowhawk.
Above, a Fieldfare was most unexpected here and below, a male Blackbird high up on one of the trees in the bright early morning sunshine.
The large Oak tree in the north-east corner. I have seen some nice birds here over the years.
Kicking off with the Fieldfare, I had got over to the east side of the Cemy when I heard a Fieldfare ‘chacking’ loudly somewhere in the bushes by the Mausoleum. The last time I had seen this species here was when there was snow on the ground many years ago and feeding on apples that someone had kindly put out. There was a large flock of them plus many Redwing too. Will the same happen again this Winter? This bird here this morning was hiding until it flew out and landed high up in one of the Horse Chestnuts trees. The bird then flew west and landed in one of the tall Lime trees and after grabbing some nice photos of the bird, I carried on with my walk around my local patch.
Above, another photo of the male Blackbird sitting proud and below, another photo of the female Sparrowhawk.
Above, one of the four Jays seen on arrival and below, a Wood Pigeon high up preening.
Shortly before theFieldfaresighting, the female Sparrowhawk flew in and landed high in one of the tall trees by the Mausoleum. Fortunately, this bird showed well this time and I managed to grab a few nice photos and looking at that yellow eye, I swear it took a good look at me looking at her! It is always a pleasure watching a Sparrowhawk and to see one perched is a privilege.
Above, the Fieldfare showing well again in the Lime tree and below, the female Sparrowhawk gliding in to rest in one of the Horse Chestnut trees.
Above, another one of the four Jays present and below, all four Jays together.
In third place for a good sighting was a Coal Tit; though I only saw the bird very briefly as it flew out of one of the ornamental Conifers and into another (and still hid from me!). On arrival at the Cemy, as I walked south down the footpath with the dogs, I saw a group of four Jays together in one of the Lime trees. I know they do group up as Winter approaches, just like the birds I see in Pembroke Road during my working week. All the usual birds here were seen or heard this morning, although in small numbers as expected for this time of day and I did find a large number of Magpies in just one tree (see photo). A pair of Collared Doves were seen and heard calling in the southern half of the Cemy briefly; a species that has become scarce here of late.
So how many Magpies, dear readers, are in this tree. Answers on a Postcard to..........
Away from birds, another Red Admiral and a Buff-tailed Bumblebee was again seen within the Cemy, despite the low temperatures. All the same plants were in flower as per the last time I was here. Yes, it was a trifle nippy this morning, but a good day for birding nonetheless wherever you are.
A line of Brent Geese heading westbound over the Solent.
Geoff and Andy picked me up from my house this morning and it was Andy’s idea to make use of the strong wind and rain to do a ‘sea-watch’ from the Gilkicker shelter this morning. So I am blaming him for yet another Gilkicker poor and very cold three hours here, where we saw very little going through and so just after midday, we made our way to the Sailing Club at Hill Head for a much better time and a lot more birds. It turned out that Selsey Bill was getting the ‘lion's share’ of birds going through, whereas the Solent, from Gilkicker, was virtually void of birdst. Despite a strong south-easterly and drizzle on and off throughout the morning, nothing really came of it (again!), as the birds most likely passed through around the southern half of the Isle of Wight and back out into the English Channel.
I still managed to take several photos here at the Gilkicker shelter including one of many Carrion Crows on the beach (above) or the Starlings on the field behind us.
Above, bath-time for the local Starlings and below, a bit of excitement when a juvenile Herring Gull passed through!
Above, small boats enjoying the battering from the waves in the Solent and below, even more excitement when a Common Gull headed east over the Solent.
Above, Fawley Refinery in the distance burning off the excess gas. My late father worked there many years ago.
The Solent from Gilkicker:
We arrived at the Gilkicker shelter around 9.15 am. Saw next to bugger all and then left around just after midday. The End! OK, it wasn't a total loss, for we did have a Brent Goose go west low over the sea and eventually land on the shoreline about a mile away and up to four species of Gull also flew past (but no Kittiwakes) within those three very long hours. Geoff did pick out a Great Crested Grebe through his scope, but both Andy and myself missed it. The only good to come out of this were the guys themselves who kept me entertained throughout the morning. There was a large flock of Starlings on the green behind us as well as around twenty or so Herring Gulls, but nothing unusual among them. A pair of Jackdaws were searching for food among the small plants on the beach and a lot of Carrion Crows were doing the same thing in front of us, but that was our morning at Gilkicker in one short paragraph!
Hill Head and Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve:
Dark-bellied Brent Geese passing the Sailing Club at Hill Head.
Parking up within the Sailing Club Car Park, we had lunch overlooking the oncoming tide and a wealth of birds on the shoreline. Large numbers of dark-bellied Brent Geese had gathered on the shore with many more in the distance and also some of the sea too. As far as we could see, they were all adult birds too, however, sadly some idiots decided to walk up to the Geese and flush the birds, though they didn't travel too far.
Above, several Oystercatchers were on the shoreline by the Sailing Club and below, at least 50+ Turnstone were also present.
Above, I counted at least 57 Ringed Plovers resting on the shoreline and below, one of the drake Eiders on the sea.
There was a good number of waders in front of us too that included at least 20+ Sanderling, 58 Ringed Plovers, approximately 50+ Turnstone and smaller number of both Oystercatcher and Redshank among the other birds and now that the clouds and rain had gone east, the bright late Autumn sunshine shone down over the birds and making photography much more easier. Gulls were abundant here too as I scanned through them, hoping to pick out something interesting among the many Herring and Black-headed Gulls, but all I could find was a single Common and Great Black-backed Gull.
Above, one of the Oystercatchers heading west over the beach and below, a pair of Ringed Plovers.
Above, a mixture of Sanderling and Ringed Plovers on the beach.
Above, three of the many Sanderling showing well in front of the Sailing Club. This individual on the right is heavily ringed and I am awaiting details of the bird.
Out on the sea, the only bird we could find was a smart drake Eider, which was later joined by a another drake Eider, but I could not find anything else on the calm sea; though the waders and geese made up for that. A pair of Little Egrets flew east along the shoreline and settled some distance away near a flock of Brent. We were joined for a while by local birder Mark Francis and during our interesting conversation, I found a male Kestrel perched on a nearby tree, looking down at something possibly to attack on the ground. The strong sunshine lit the bird up nicely as did a male Pied Wagtail that walked very close to where we stood. After having lunch and spending a good hour or so by the Sailing Club, I suggested we walk down to the viewing platform to round the day off, overlooking the reserve.
Above, Turnstone and Ringed Plover getting restless from the incoming tide and below, an adult Cormorant fishing in the sea.
Above, this male Pied Wagtail walked just a few feet in front of us by the Sailing Club and below, I saw this male Kestrel land in the trees just north of the Club.
A mixed flock of Turnstone, Ringed Plover and Sanderling on the beach.
From the Viewpoint, I finished off the last of my lunch as we checked out the birds on the island and also over the Reserve. The small island held a variety of birds that included several Lapwing, a single Cormorant and several Black-headed Gulls. A pair of Egyptian Geese flew in off the main Reserve and also landed on the island. A male Marsh Harrier flew in from the north, but was getting a lot of hassle from the Crows and did a U-turn back up the Reserve. A Common Buzzard also got the same treatment as it made its way west over the Reserve.
Above, a preening drake Shoveler and a Coot on the River Meon. Below, a male Marsh Harrier graced the Reserve, but it didn't linger long and flew back north.
Above, Black-headed Gulls spending time preening on the posts by the small island. Below, a female Marsh Harrier getting harassed by the usual Carrion Crows as she passes over the Reserve.
Above, one of the pair of Egyptian Geese coming into land on the small island and below, a Corrmorant preening on the same island.
Above, several Lapwings were roosting on the island along with the Black-headed Gulls.
Within the reedbed and brambles in front of us, a Cetti’s Warbler was seen very briefly flying from bush to bush and a Water Rail was heard a couple of times but not seen. A pair of Common Snipe was seen to fly over the Reserve and then dropped like a stone into the islands on the South Scrape. We could see rain coming in from the west over the Solent and as the first spots of rain fell on us, there was a terrific rainbow showing over the Reserve. Gorgeous.
It is not easy to grab a quick photo of Pembroke Road on arrival as this is a busy road used by those on their way to work.
Fortunately, the weather has been quite pleasant over the past couple of days, especially today with bright sunshine; but low and behold, wet weather is coming in again for Saturday! Both of my entries for today and yesterday I have decided to add as one entry and both at Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth and although the bird totals were not huge, I think in years to come when I look back or someone looks back on what was around this site, it is always useful to gauge populations of birds in Portsmouth.
Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:
Yesterday in Pembroke Road, a total of 13 bird species were recorded and the pick of the bunch had to go down to a small flock of three Redwings. I first heard one around 8.20am flying overhead, but it only called once and I could not locate the bird. Then moments later, a small flock of three birds flew into the Sycamore trees opposite and then into the neighbouring garden and out of sight. They were later seen flying off north over the rooftops. Daytime Redwing sightings here have been uncommon this season, but should we get a cold snap, they become a bit more noticeable.
Today, just 11 bird species were noted and it was the Jays that put on a good performance for me today. As per earlier this week, I watched one bird hovering briefly trying to pick off acorns from the Holm Oak trees and then flying off, should it be successful, back west down the street to consume their bounty. I only wish I could have my camera with me but work comes first. On arrival this morning, Governor’s Green was loaded with Herring Gulls searching for worms in the wet grass; with at least 40 birds present, they were mostly adults with just a few juveniles present.
I noticed that a single Garden Spider was still present in its web between the two bushes where I stand and a Buff-tailed Bumblebee briefly put in an appearance before shooting off around the corner. Later in the day, when I was out and about around Eastney, I found at least two Red Admiral butterflies still on the wing. The weather was now bright and sunny and mild yet again and obviously, the butterflies took full advantage of this.
Firecrest. These have been recorded in Pembroke Road several times this year, though mostly hidden in the Holm Oaks. But I remember one bird literally flying towards me then veering off at the last moment to land opposite where I stood. This photo was taken by Pete Appleton at another location.
I was wondering why there were hardly any parents with the kids going to school this morning and it turned out that it was another Inset Day, which I wasn’t aware of. So, I headed off home early.
In Hampshire today:
Apart from the Boat-tailed Grackle in Holbury, Southampton, the rarest bird in Hampshire today was a drake Green-winged Teal that was found by Jason Crook in Sweare Deep in Chichester Harbour, close to the Langstone Mill Pond. I understand this species has now been degraded to a sub-species by the birding authorities, but still a lovely bird to look at nonetheless. A Black-necked Grebewas seen off Brownwich, near Hill Head and the three Velvet Scoters and Red-necked Grebe were still off Netley, in Southampton Water. A Ruff was a surprise find off the Salt Cafe, Portchester among a large number of waders.
This male Kestrel was in Southampton Cemetery. Photo by Rob Porter.
