Both male & female Sparrowhawk in the Cemetery.

Tuesday 18th April 2023.

The female Sparrowhawk in the Cemetery early afternoon.

There was still a breezy north-easterly wind blowing today despite the bright sunshine, though when the sun went behind the high clouds, the temperature most certainly dropped. I took another walk around Highland Road Cemetery again early afternoon and I was pretty determined to find myself a nice migrant bird flitting about among the trees. Yet again, there were no sight or sound of any migrant birds, but a few more Bees were on the wing and both the male and female Sparrowhawk popped into the Cemetery.

Above, the purple flowers of Cut-leaved Cranes-bill are now growing around various parts of the Cemetery. Below, one grave had this lovely spray of Bluebells growing on it. 

On my journey around the Cemetery, I recorded up to 18 species of birds during my walk, though apart from the Sparrowhawks (the male was soaring over on the south side of the Cemetery until flying off south and the female was seen perched in one of the tall trees near the Mausoleum) and up to three Great Black-backed Gulls, it was just the usual birds all present and correct. Though, nevertheless, all birds are worth watching, even the common ones that can do something unexpected occasionally. It is breeding season now and watching them searching for nesting material or even singing their hearts out (like the couple of Wrens I saw today) to hold onto their territory or attract a mate is always rewarding. The following birds were seen or heard during my walk around the Cemetery today:

• Sparrowhawk (m & f)
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Goldfinch
• Greenfinch
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Blackbird
• Feral Pigeon
• Wood Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Robin
• Wren
• Starling
• Black-headed Gull
• Herring Gull
• Great Black-backed Gull (3)
• House Sparrow

The obligatory Robin showed today; this individual popped out of hiding from its nest site. Below, the Horse Chestnut trees are certainly looking resplendent now. 

All the usual plants were visible again throughout the Cemetery including a few new clumps of Cut-leaved Cranes-bill and the Cuckoo-pint plant was still in good nick over on the south side of the Cemetery. One of the graves has a nice display of Bluebells (see photo) near the centre of the Cemetery, while most have both Ribwort Plantain and Common Groundsel growing on them with the occasional Common Field-Speedwell. Remember guys, I am a bit of a novice when it comes to plants, but my knowledge of them is getting better year after year and with those great guys on the relevant Facebook sites, help in ID is always close to hand. 

The relatively small Grey-patched Mining Bee's was busy enjoying the Dandelions today. 

I found an interesting little Bee nectaring on Dandelions on my walk round and I got it confirmed as a Grey-patched Mining Bee. In fact, I found at least two on separate Dandelions and both showed very well. Not a great deal else of insect life and again, no butterflies were on the wing this afternoon during the time I was there, which was probably due to the blustery wind.

Above and below, Wood Pigeons are very common here and enjoy the bountiful leaves on the trees to feed on.

Above, a Blue Tit showed well in the south east corner, busy searching for nesting material around some of the gravestones. 

As I was just turning into the road where I live when I heard a raptor calling overhead and I then watched a pair of male Peregrines calling to one another and for a change, not too high up either, though too quick to grab a photo. This is probably the lowest I have seen the birds over our houses and I really didn't need binoculars to get a good look at them. Just to show it's always worth keeping one's eyes open! In Hampshire today, yesterday’s male Ring Ouzel was still present on the south slopes of Old Winchester Hill (see photo) and Farlington Marshes boasted 3 Little Terns, a Hobby and a Ruff this  afternoon.

Above, the male Ring Ouzel at Old Winchester Hill today. Photo by Andy Friend.

Above, a Sedge Warbler and below, a Common Whitethroat were both at Pennington Marshes today. Photos by Andy Tew.