An evening walk around the Cemy.

Monday 15th August 2022.

The cloud was rolling in this afternoon and only briefly offering a few drops of rain. Will thunderstorms actually arrive here in Southsea?

I took our Scruff for an early evening walk around Highland Road Cemetery this evening hoping for an outside chance of a Flycatcher or Warbler, but despite a good search, there were none seen. In fact, there was very little of note within the Cemy this evening regarding the bird life with only 10 species seen or heard. The cloud has finally come and with the threat of thunderstorms and heavy rain issued for the UK, there was the briefest of showers when I was walking round.

This old Chestnut tree was cut down a few years ago and is now providing a home for some new fungi. I am no expert on this area, but could it be Beefcake fungus (below)? 

Above, this Dryads Saddle fungi has been growing here at this spot for many years.

Sadly, my dog Scruff is well over 15 years old now and he really struggled walking round, his back legs not helping him at all and at times, I thought I was dragging him. However, he made the journey there and walked round and then back home without any whining, which was good news. 

Above, two juvenile Magpies were exploring the ground between the gravestones. Below, a pair of Wood Pigeons resting on one of the graves.

The ten species of bird either heard or seen included the following:

• Wood Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• House Sparrow
• Goldfinch
• Greenfinch
• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Robin

True, not an awe-inspiring list, but there is always other things to look at including a good array of wild flowers poking through the dried grass that included Yarrow, Mallow, Hawkbit, Ragwort, Birds-foot Trefoil and several carpets of Lady Bedstraw. 

The micro moth, Pyrausta despicata were seen in the dried grass.

Insects were even far and few between, though there was a Buff-tailed Bumble bee on one of the Buddleia plants and at least three Pyrausta despicata micro moths flying around over the dried grass. Thankfully, there was a nice breeze blowing across the Cemetery and although a bit dark overhead, it was kind of pleasant. There were not many dog walkers tonight, so it was quite peaceful.

There wasn't many insects about this evening so this Buff-tailed Bumble bee was one of the highlights.

In Hampshire today, fellow ‘Lazee Birder’ Andy Friend was birding over Catherington Downs this afternoon and notched up both a Pied and Spotted Flycatcher along with a Clouded Yellow butterfly. Pied Flycatchers were also seen at Old Winchester Hill, Northney (Hayling Island), Bramley and Southampton and a dark-phased Arctic Skua was seen off Warsash this afternoon; a species I have not seen yet this year.

There were a few carpets of Lady Bedstraw growing between the graves.

Earlier today, I was sitting on one of the back chairs in my back garden, when a loud humming noise alerted me and looking up, a Hummingbird Hawk-moth had settled on the wall behind me! I only had my mobile phone with me, but I was too slow to grab a photo of it as the insect flew off over the rooftop of the house and was not seen again! It certainly is a good year for this species so far.