Sunday 7th June 2026.
The Cemetery was lush with various types of grasses and flowers.
After yesterday's awful weather, it was good to get out to do a bit of birding and it was over Highland Road Cemetery with the dogs, that I took the opportunity for a nice slow walk around my ‘local patch’. The weather was much better with occasional sunshine and high clouds. A light south-westerly wind blew over the Cemy with temperatures around 15 degrees centigrade. Though I didn't expect anything unusual today here, I did see a few species that were new for the year. I didn't have the Moth Box overnight due to the strong winds and possible heavy rain.
Above, the Cemetery Workers seemed to have left the grass to grow but, below, some of the graves themselves have been sprayed with harmful weedkillers.
I was surprised that the Cemetery workers have let the grass around the graves grow long and it does look good, with a variety of different grasses growing and many clumps of Ox-eye Daisies and other plants flowering around the site. Sadly, I have noticed that the Cemetery workers have started spraying weedkillers on the graves and only made them look awful (see photo). The weedkiller not only kills the plants growing on the graves, but also the insects and snails that feed on the weeds and quite possibly, the birds that feed on the snails and insects!
Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:
My first sighting of Lady's Bedstraw growing in the Cemy.
The birdlife within the Cemetery was far and few between, though most of the birds would be searching for insects to feed their young and most likely going to remain hidden in the bushes and tall grass looking for food. However, a small group of Starlings showed well searching for insects in the grass; with a mixture of both adult and the browner juvenile birds. A Blue Tit showed briefly, but apart from this bird and a few Wood Pigeons and overhead Herring Gulls, all was pretty quiet bar a few singing Wrens and Blackbirds. A lady walking her dog asked me if I had seen the Green Woodpecker recently and explained to her that I had only heard the bird and that it was from my garden!!
Above, a Holly Blue butterfly nectaring on the Privet flowers and below, Cultivated Oat grass growing on one of the graves.
Above, a 7-spot Ladybird larvae on an Ox-eye Daisy and below, my first Hornet-mimic Hoverfly of the year; also on the Privet Bush.
One particular flowering Privet bush held several insects that grabbed my attention and that included my first Hornet-mimic Hoverfly nectaring on the plant. A few inches away from it was a Tapered Dronefly and next to that was a Holly Blue butterfly, all nectaring on the flowering Privet Bush. Other notable insects found along my walk were False Blister Beetles on Yarrow plants and a 7-spot Ladybird Larva on an Ox-eye Daisy. I even found a couple of Lackey Moth caterpillars on the move; one on an Ox-eye Daisy and another on a gravestone. So, in conclusion, if the birds are quiet here, then there are always the insects and plants to keep me entertained. What a place!
Above, a huge swathe of Wall Barley was growing near the main entrance and below, a Tapered Dronefly sharing the Privet Bush with the Holly Blue butterfly.
Above, Common Knapweed was growing again in the southern half of the Cemy and below, one of the juvenile Starlings searching for food with the adults.
As mentioned, a lot of the Cemetery was a bit overgrown with various Grasses including Yorkshire Fog, Cultivated Oat and False Oat-grass; but I expect there were several more species. Wall Barley was growing in large areas, especially by the main entrance. This species, I remember when I was a kid, we used to pick off the tops and use them as darts as they would stick to your clothing!
Above, another photo of the Hornet-mimic Hoverfly with the Tapered Dronefly. Below, a Lackey moth caterpillar was seen crawling up this gravestone.
Above, Yarrow was in bloom and below, an adult with a juvenile Starling in search of food.
As well as the usual Grey Squirrels around the area, it was nice to see the Fox within the Cemetery again. I just happened to be looking in the right direction, looking north from the southern end of the Cemy towards the Mausoleum and there it was, just enjoying the sunshine before sneaking off back into the vegetation.
Above, this 7-spotted Ladybird larvae was on this Ox-eye Daisy and below, a Fox was watching this Magpie. Breakfast perhaps?
Above, the Fox contemplating where to go and below, I found another Lackey Moth Caterpillar.
Though the weather was poor yesterday, birding pal Geoff Farwell still braved the weather and took a trip to Queen Elizabeth Forest and although he took a soaking and was very cold, he saw a Hawfinch and at least 4 singing Firecrests, 3 Chiffchaffs, Blackcap, Siskin and also heard a Tawny Owl.
In Hampshire today:
There have been a few sightings of Cuckoo's today in Hampshire. This one was by Pete Appleton recently.
Sea-watching off Sandy Point, Hayling Island this morning produced three Arctic Skua’s flying together eastbound and an immature Kittiwake through as well. A Quail was heard calling at Martin Down again and a female Black Redstart was seen at Kings Barton, Winchester. Nationally, the Western Reef Heron was once again seen at Caermarfon, North Wales. A big thank you to Callum Gray who allowed me to put some of this photos on my blog.
Above and below, the Western Reef Heron at Caemarfon, North Wales. Photos by Callum Gray.
