Blustery winds still in the Cemetery.

Wednesday 2nd November 2022.

One of the larger branches that has came down within the Cemy.

Not a great start to the day when I discovered that the light bulb from my moth trap was broken. I, therefore, ordered a couple of light bulbs off the Anglian Lepidopterist website and hopefully, it will not be too long before I can get back to ‘moth-ing’ in my back garden. For now, Andy’s moth box must come up with the goods. No pressure mate, lol! The windy conditions are still here on the south coast as I decided to take a walk around Highland Road Cemetery and see how much storm damage the Cemy took.

Above, Common Groundsel growing on and in between the graves. Below, a few Cat's Ear plants were growing in the tall damp grass.

Though winds gusted up to 100 mph in some areas (normally the Needles, Isle of Wight gets the worst of it), there were a lot of small branches down within the Cemy and a few very large branches had succumbed to the strong gusts. A lot of the leaves are down too, with a lot of the Chestnut and a few other trees quite bare of leaves now. Though the number of bird species within or over the Cemetery was a lot lower than last Thursday, 16 species were not to be sniffed at, especially in such blustery conditions for at times, whilst walking under the taller trees, I was looking up making sure nothing was falling down!

Above, this was the only Field Mushroom on show today while below, Honey Fungus has spread to many parts of the Cemetery.

The plants were all of the usual that included Smooth Sow-thistle, Yarrow, Common Groundsel and a few Cat’s Ears were around the gravestones too. A lot of Honey Fungus was around the Cemetery, including some new clumps growing over the far northern path close to one of the Chestnut trees. I did find one large Field Mushroom on the southern end of the Cemy, close to the footpath and although edible, I still will not take a risk and pick it. Because of the wind, insects were relatively far and few between, but the hardy old Common Wasps were enjoying the flowering Ivy plants all to themselves. Still, a good ¾ of an hour well spent I think and l shall look forward to going there probably Sunday, when Isabelle and myself will pop her Pumpkin up a tree for the Squirrels.

Above, a juvenile Herring Gull easily negotiating the strong winds. Below, this Jay was busy burying acorns within the Cemy. 

Birds present in or over the Cemetery today included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Feral Pigeon
• Blackbird
• Robin
• House Sparrow
• Starling
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Jay
• Goldcrest
• Greenfinch
• Goldfinch
• Chaffinch  

Above, there were quite a few Common Wasps on show today, again busy on the Ivy Plants. Below, Yarrow was still in bloom in a few places.

In Hampshire today, Mark Francis recorded two Arctic Skua going west through the Solent along with good numbers of Kittiwake from Hill Head. This morning, while checking my broken moth box (sob!)There was a bit of movement overhead with a Grey Wagtail flying low south and a small flock of 3 Meadow Pipits also heading south. A Siskin was heard and of course, not seen again!!! The garden looked like a mess with a lot of leaves all over the patio, but that will keep me busy and it always makes good compost for the back of the garden.

Photos from top to bottom: The path to the Mausoleum within the Cemetery; a Carrion Crow looking sinister on a gravestone; another of the large branches down within the Cemy; a male Black Redstart in Lee-on-Solent this morning: photo by James Cutting. Bottom photo is a Lapland Bunting that I saw at Pagham Harbour exactly 13 years ago to the day!