Two trips to the Cemy today.

Sunday 3rd September 2023.

Swallows were about the Cemetery today, with several flocks flying east, picking off insects as they went their way. 

It was back over to Highland Road Cemetery with the dogs this morning and the weather was simply glorious. In fact, it was very warm in the Cemy, getting up to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and with a clear blue sky and virtually a near non-existent north-easterly wind, I think there will be a lot of people making their way to the beach today. The dogs most certainly enjoyed their walk as I kept a sharp eye out for any migrants around the Cemy.

It's the season for Garden Cross Spiders. This beauty was by the entrance gate of the Cemetery.

Apart from a couple of Chiffchaffs seen by the Holm Oaks area, there were several flocks of Swallows flying low overhead and showed well at times; all heading eastbound. I did see a couple of interesting looking passerines flying high and then landing in the tallest trees only to disappear in the canopies and not be seen again. Boo! Possible Spotted Flycatchers or Redstarts I think?

A large clump of Mallow is flowering by the entrance gate.

The birds recorded in the Cemy this morning included the following:

• Blackbird
• Robin
• Blue Tit
• House Sparrow
• Swallow
• Chiffchaff
• Herring Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Goldfinch
• Wren

A few Drone Flies were on the wing in the bright sunshine.

Field Grasshoppers were heard calling deep within the vegetation by the graves and Dragonflies were on the wing within the Cemy today also. A fine Emperor Dragonfly was seen several times hunting around the trees by the Mausoleum and a couple of Migrant Hawkers were also seen in the area too. Butterflies on the wing included Small White, Holly Blue and a lone Red Admiral. I am pretty sure I saw a Comma flying away from the Buddliea near the Holm Oaks, but it flew off too quickly to be sure.

Sphaerophoria species of Hoverfly on a Cat's Ear flower.

Later this afternoon, I took a walk again around Highland Road Cemetery with the dogs and this time, I was accompanied by Isabelle. She walked Buddy and I walked Ted. I let Isabelle choose the route through the Cemetery and while we sat on the bench overlooking the west side, a female Sparrowhawk came low over our heads with prey in her talons and then headed off northbound over the houses.

This female type Redstart was seen in the New Forest yesterday. Photo by Emma Parkes.

The Great Spotted Woodpecker was back in the Cemetery again, this time over on the north side, calling high up within one of the tallest trees and not easy to see without binoculars. There was not a great deal else regarding the bird life here, but plenty of butterflies on the wing including a couple of Red Admirals sunning themselves on the gravestones.