The Cemy in need of a watering.

Friday 5th August 2022.

The grass within the Cemetery was looking very yellow today. 

I took a leisurely stroll around my local patch around 3pm this afternoon and wondered what Highland Road Cemetery could offer me. Judging by the yellow, parched grass, a good spell of rain cannot come soon enough here, but there was plenty of wildlife to be seen this afternoon. I did get up to 11 species of birds within the Cemy and 5 species of butterfly, plus a dragonfly species that looked good for Common Darter, but it never settled.

Above, a Red Admiral butterfly greeted me at the entrance to the Cemy and below, good numbers of Holly Blue were on the wing.

The warmth of the afternoon had me wearing my baseball cap to be on the safe side as temperatures climbed to 20 degrees centigrade and at times, there was a blustery wind blowing, especially when the sun disappeared behind a cloud. I suppose the pick of the birds was a Willow Warbler that hid itself within a large bush most of the time, only occasionally flitting to the edge, bobbing its tail and calling quietly. Sadly, it never got out into the open for a photo and so disappeared over my head and into a tall tree nearby. A lot of the usual birds were present including the following:

• Willow Warbler
• Jay
• Herring Gull
• Blackbird
• Goldfinch
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie 
• Feral Pigeon
• Wood Pigeon
• Wren
• Robin

Despite perfect conditions, there were no Swifts to be seen and in fact, I only managed to see just two birds early this morning while I was checking the moths. There is certainly migration going on now, with the Willow Warbler probably a migrant and making its way back. I shall probably be taking a few more walks around the Cemy over the coming weeks, hoping to pick up more migrants along the way.

Above, there were a few clumps of Oxford Ragwort growing and below, Birds-foot Trefoil was abundant along the edge of the footpaths.

There were good numbers of Holly Blue butterflies on the wing this afternoon, with about 10+ individuals seen. Just two Common Blues were noted, flying low over the grass, but never settled long enough for a photo, unlike the showy Red Admiral by the Cemetery entrance. Both Large and Small White butterflies were abundant throughout the Cemetery. Unfortunately, the Buddleia plants are nearly all going to seed now and few flowers for the insects to enjoy. Other insects noted included my first Noon Fly of the year, which settled nicely in the vegetation near the Mausoleum. Though very quiet over the Cemetery, my acute hearing picked out a few Field Grasshoppers ‘chirps’ from the dried grass and graves and eventually, I picked out one perched nicely on the edge of a grave.

Above, a male Field Grasshopper showing well on a grave. Below, my first Noon Fly of the year.

Despite the lack of rain, there were plenty of wildflowers on show that included Ox-eye Daisy, Yarrow, Birds-foot Trefoil, Cats Ear, Mallow, Lady’s Bedstraw and a clump of Viper’s Bugloss. A good hour was spent there and most enjoyable too in the warm sunshine.

Above, Cats Ear was abundant, and below, this clump of Vipers Bugloss was the only one I found within the Cemy. 

In Hampshire today, there were no reported sightings of the Whiskered Tern on Fishlake Meadows, but a Roseate Tern was picked up off Hayling Oysterbeds this afternoon, while this morning, both Black and Arctic Terns were seen off Hill Head. The long-stay Squacco Heron was still present today by the North Wall, Pagham Harbour. All potential ‘year-ticks’, now have me wondering where to go tomorrow morning?

The Roseate Tern (pale bird in centre) among Common Terns off the Oysterbeds this afternoon. Photo by Andy Friend.