Monday 23rd January 2023.
I had a chance to take a trip back over Highland Road Cemetery late this morning and virtually most of the frost had gone due to the bright sunshine. It still remained only around 5 degrees while walking round my usual route and a total of 18 species of birds were seen. Mostly Herring Gulls, Wood Pigeons and Carrion Crows, there were a few notable birds this morning.
Most of the usual bird species were present this morning in the bright sunshine, though several species were down in number than usual. Pick of the bunch was a male Sparrowhawk soaring high over the Cemetery and quickly seen by a Blue Tit that took no time in giving off its alarm call. The female Goldcrest was seen again, this time by one of the ornamental Conifers in the centre of the Cemy. A few birds were in song and listening to the Great Tits singing made me feel that Spring was just around the corner. There was no Green Woodpecker AGAIN in the Cemy; in fact, no Woodpeckers at all.
The only insects on the wing this morning were a few House Flies and regarding the plant life, the Winter Heliotrope around the base of the Holm Oaks was now in flower (see photo).
The birds seen this morning included the following:
- Black-headed Gull
- Herring Gull
- House Sparrow
- Robin
- Wren
- Blue Tit
- Great Tit
- Goldcrest (female)
- Starling
- Carrion Crow
- Magpie
- Blackbird
- Sparrowhawk (male)
- Wood Pigeon
- Feral Pigeon
- Collared Dove
- Greenfinch
- Goldfinch
In Hampshire today, the Great Grey Shrike was still around the Bishop's Dyke area of the New Forest and the Shorelark was yet again by Hurst Castle, near Lymington. Birding companion Andy Fisher walked the length of the Canal Path at Titchfield Haven and notched up a big fat zero in ‘year-ticks’. Though he did hear a Green Woodpecker, he was convinced it was laughing at him!
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