No migrants within the Cemy.

Sunday 3rd April 2022.

Dark skies to the north eventually found their way over the Cemetery.

There was a lot of sunshine around this afternoon and that prompted me to take Scruff for a walk around Highland Road Cemetery. I was hoping for a migrant or two within my local patch, but, alas, it was not meant to be, although I did have a few interesting sightings. Though it was pleasant in the sun, I could see a large bank of dark clouds coming from the north and heading my way and eventually, once it arrived, the temperature plummeted!

Above, a female Blackbird with food in her bill over on the west side of the Cemetery. Below, a Robin in full song as I passed by.

I arrived at the Cemetery around 4pm and noticed on the way that it is now open to 7pm. I shall endeavour to take more trips during the week after work for a possible Willow Warbler or maybe a Pied Flycatcher? Though it was pleasant in the sunshine, I found very few insects on the wing, with just one Bumble bee species heard only as I was watching something and a few very small flies; but no Hoverflies whatsoever. 

Above, the Horse Chestnuts are now coming into leaf. Below, a pair of Mute Swans flying south was a bit of a surprise. 

I had a grand total of 18 species in and over the Cemetery this afternoon and perhaps the oddest would have been a pair of Mute Swans flying low over the Cemetery, heading south probably towards Canoe Lake. The female Sparrowhawk put in an appearance too, but the four Jays and several Magpies present made her life difficult to settle in the Cemetery and therefore she eventually shot off over the rooftops heading west. Pretty much all the usual birds were present, although no Dunnocks seen this afternoon. Birds seen this afternoon included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Mute Swan
• Starling
• Robin
• House Sparrow
• Goldfinch
• Greenfinch
• Blackbird
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Jay
• Wren
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit

Above, nesting Carrion Crows in one of the Horse Chestnut trees. Below, at least 4 Jays were seen. 

There was a trickle of migrants scattered around Hampshire today, with Sand Martins over Blashford Lakes, a Willow Warbler over Lower Test Marshes, 2 Little Ringed Plovers on Farlington Marshes, but it was fairly quiet today over the Pagham Harbour area, although the Garganey were still present on the same pool as yesterday. Birding pal, Geoff Farwell, went birding at Farley Mount yesterday and saw the following: 3 Hawfinches, 3 Siskins, 9 singing Firecrests, 3 Chiffchaffs, pair of Stonechat, 3 Marsh Tit, pair of displaying Goshawks, Sparrowhawk, 6 Buzzards, 2 Red Kite, Tawny Owl, 2 Ravens and a Muntjac deer! Yesterday, a male Ring Ouzel was found in a garden behind the chalets at Hill Head. 

This female Sparrowhawk never got to settle within the Cemy due to the angry Corvids.