Two Crest species over the Cemy.

Sunday 29th October 2023.

Dark, foreboding rain clouds bordering the Cemetery this afternoon. 

Finally, around 2pm this afternoon, the heavy persistent rain eventually gave way to some bright sunshine, although there were some ugly large black threatening clouds over in the south, but somehow, it remained dry during my walk with the dogs around Highland Road Cemetery. It was not quite as busy with the bird species as my previous walk round, but there were some nice birds around and also the Fungi kept me entertained too, with more and more springing up all over the Cemetery.

Above, the only decent photo I managed to grab of the male Firecrest this afternoon and below, a little better with the female Goldcrest.

Probably the best sighting on my walk today was the male Firecrest. Though, as per usual, they are always very active, it was difficult to get a decent photo of the bird, even though it was around just ten feet away! Hearing the bird first by the large Holm Oak over on the east side of the Cemetery, it proved a little difficult to locate the bird with the swaying branches. However, it eventually popped out very nicely and I could clearly see it was a male bird, sporting an orange crown. Sadly, my photos were complete arse and I only managed one underside shot of this lovely bird. In my weak defence, the light was poor too with the sun now behind the very dark clouds overhead. The bird was suddenly joined by the flock of Long-tailed Tits that were seen earlier this week and the Firecrest then simply vanished.

Above, the female Sparrowhawk put in another brief appearance today and below, one of only a few Goldfinches seen.

Carrying on with my walk, I decided to walk clockwise back round the Cemetery and then came across the Long-tailed Tit flock again. This time, a Goldcrest was calling in a bush by the footpath and out popped a female Goldcrest. Again, the bird was very active and getting a reasonable photo of it on the edge of the bush proved very frustrating with my Bridge Camera. The female Sparrowhawk sailed overhead over on the east side of the Cemetery, but lost sight of the bird behind the trees and only one Jay was seen on my walk round. Most of the usual birds were present and so I concentrated also on finding some Fungi on the damp grass.

Above, Common Earthballs toadstools growing by the footpath. Below, a large clump of Honey Fungus in the north of the Cemetery.

I came across a huge stand of Honey Fungus in the northern end of the Cemetery which was quite impressive and also a couple of Common Earthballs, which one of my dogs promptly trod on! An old stand of Turkey-tail fungus was growing on an old tree stump near the Mausoleum and a few Field Mushrooms were noted on the wet grass. 

Above, Turkey-tail fungus growing on an old tree stump and below, an Agaricus species of Toadstool. There are many species to this type of Toadstool and have to be carefully examined for an exact ID (just like bloody micro moths!)

A few Common Wasps were braving the damp weather on the Ivy plants, but no Hoverflies or butterflies were seen this afternoon, despite the occasional bit of sunshine. 

The birds recorded in the Cemetery this afternoon included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Starling
• Wren
• Robin
• Blackbird
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Jay
• Goldfinch
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Long-tailed Tit (12)
• Goldcrest (female)
• Firecrest (male)
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove 
• Sparrowhawk (female) 

Above, a male Black Redstart and below, a female / immature Black Redstart at Lee on Solent. Photos by Emma Parkes.

In Hampshire today, birding pal Emma Parkes had up to three Black Redstarts around the rooftops of Daedalus Airfield, Lee on Solent, this morning which included two males and an immature / female bird. Three Glossy Ibis were still on Posbrook Floods this morning. An incredible mornings sea-watch off Selsey Bill this morning resulted in FOUR Shearwater species recorded that included a Cory’s Shearwater, 19 Sooty Shearwater, 5 Balearic and 1 Manx Shearwater as well as Great Northern and Black-throated Diver and an immature Surf Scoter!

Two stunning Warblers. Above, the Two-barred Warbler and below, a Pallas's Warbler which were both seen at Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire, today. There was also a supporting cast of the UK's first accepted Red-headed Bunting and also a Dusky Warbler. Photos by Dave Hutton.