A late afternoon look by the Harbour entrance.

Wednesday 15th February 2023.

The sheer spectacle of the calling Brent Geese overhead is truly memorable. Yes, an all too common sight down here in Southsea, but one of the great moments in birding of Winter geese flying over.

I couldn't resist grabbing some time out of the house late this afternoon and watching the sunset over Portsmouth from the Hayling Ferry Terminal over at Eastney. It was nearly 5pm when I arrived and though the tide was high, there was still a lot of activity going on in Langstone Harbour. Yes, a tad cold, but I was well wrapped up and with a lot of high cloud overhead, I didn't get the sunset I was hoping for, but still not bad nonetheless.

Above and below, the Brent Geese were first seen taking off from the College Fields by the Eastern Road. 

Out in the harbour, looking north from the spit opposite the Ferry Terminal, a large flock of Turnstone were jostling for somewhere to land among the boats and buoys within the harbour, though some soon took off and headed off eastbound low over the harbour. A small flock of Redshank flew overhead, also heading east, but nothing could be more spectacular than the ‘babbling’ Brent Geese flying overhead in the same direction. First seen way over the west, probably taking off from the College Playing Fields, at least 150+ soon headed in my direction and then split into smaller groups all heading towards Hayling Island. Truly a magnificent sight. They will be making their way back north up through the North Sea next month, signalling the end of Winter and the onset of Spring.

Above and below, Turnstone were using whatever they could to rest on the oncoming high tide.

Also out in the harbour, the calm waters produced a flock of around at least 8 Red-breasted Mergansers over on the west side of the harbour. I have heard that these birds have been seen displaying in the harbour already along with the local Goldeneye within the harbour. There wasn't all that much else flying around of note, though a Pied Wagtail flew off from the shoreline and over the car park to round off a nice 30 minutes in one of my favourite areas. Though there wasn't a spectacular sunset, I was more than happy just to be out enjoying the wildlife.

Above, a distant flock of Red-breasted Mergansers out in the harbour and below, the sun setting behind the clouds over Portsmouth.

In Hampshire today, the Great Grey Shrike is still entertaining the Birders at Bishop's Dyke, New Forest. Also in the New Forest, fellow ‘Lazee Birder’ Graeme Loader enjoyed good views of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker early this morning at Acres Down (see photo) and another fellow ‘Lazee’ Becky Ladd, saw the long staying juvenile Iceland Gull at Redbridge Wharf, along with a Common Sandpiper.  

Above, the male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the woods of Acres Down. Photo by Graeme Loader. Below, this Smooth Sow-thistle was in flower within my garden this morning.