Good number of bird species over the Cemy.

Thursday 29th September 2022.

The path leading to the Mauseleum.

An afternoon Autumn stroll around Highland Road Cemetery with Scruff was on my agenda today as we made the most of a mild and occasionally sunny afternoon. With October almost upon us, the chances of seeing something exceptional within the Cemy is always a possibility. I have had several Yellow-browed Warblers and a few Black Redstarts over the years here at this time of year. Could something even rarer make an appearance?

From top to bottom: Green Woodpecker, Jay and Chiffchaff.

Well, the answer to the above question was not today. But, there were some notable sightings with at least 18 species of birds seen on my ramble around the Cemy plus several Bees, Hoverflies, Butterflies and a few plants still on show. There wasn't too many dog-walkers around today and even a chap in a mobility scooter, sporting a hat with all the RSPB badges had a chat with me about what birds he had seen here of late. It's always nice to meet a fellow wildlife enthusiast here. 

From top to bottom: Harlequin Ladybird, Honey Fungus growing around the base of the Beech Tree and a Honey Bee with an Ivy Bee enjoying the flowering Ivy. 

Chiffchaffs were seen in almost most areas of the Cemy, with the vast majority feeding with Goldcrests and Long-tailed Tits in the Holm Oak clump, though these birds proved very difficult to get a decent photo. The Jay showed well as did the two Green Woodpeckers, which were flushed by the juvenile Sparrowhawk.  

From top to bottom: Green Woodpecker, Marmalade Hoverfly and an Ivy Bee.  

The following birds were present in the Cemy today:

• Jay
• Magpie
• Carrion Crow
• Herring Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• House Sparrow
• Blackbird
• Greenfinch
• Goldfinch
• Robin
• Wren
• Sparrowhawk
• Chiffchaff
• Goldcrest
• Long-tailed Tit
• Green Woodpecker
• Blue Tit

From top to bottom: Garden Spider, Common Wasp and berry laden Holly. 

Most of the Ivy growing within the Cemetery was flowering and in turn, attracting a lot of insects; notably Honey Bees, Ivy Bees and the Hoverflies, Myathropa florea and Marmalade Hoverflies. This in turn attracts spiders and good numbers of Garden Spider, Araneus diadematus had built their webs nearby. A few Large White butterflies were the only species seen of this type of insect this afternoon, though an unusual moth species flew past me and did not settle as it disappeared towards the adjacent houses. Shame, for it looked interesting. Fairly quiet again in Hampshire today, though a pair of Glossy Ibis were seen at Hill Head early morning and one of the White-tailed Eagles was seen over Inchmary along with an Osprey, while over in nearby Sholing, four White-tailed Eagles were soaring high overhead. Again, the juvenile Red-backed Shrike was showing well again, this time 200 metres south of the car park at Medmerry. 

From top to bottom: immature Blackbird, the Hoverfly Myathropa florea and a view of one of the footpaths on the edge of the Holm Oak clump.