A gorgeous morning over the Cemetery.

Tuesday 28th November 2023.

The humble Blue Tit. Often overlooked, they really are a jewel in the UK birdworld.

After yesterday's horrible wet conditions  (however, it was dry and sunny around midday) in the morning and late afternoon, it was nice to get back to sunny, clear blue yet very cold weather. A lovely blue sky this morning as I took the dogs around Highland Road Cemetery for their morning walk. The highlight of the walk this morning was the Great Spotted Woodpecker which was seen flying south west over the Cemetery, but I did not see it land and so probably carried on over the rooftops. A Goldcrest was heard a couple of times calling, but no sighting and the Jay showed twice.

Above, the local Starlings are always welcome to climb aboard my trip list. Below, a large clump of Honey Fungus growing now in the south-east corner close to the main footpath.

Above, the local flock of House Sparrows were seen on the east side of the Cemetery for a change and below, Field Blewits toadstools on their last legs.

There were an awful lot of dog-walkers this morning and I had to keep the dogs away from several stroppy individuals, though most were very friendly as per usual. The only insects seen this morning were a few House Flies around the Gravestones, making the most of the sunshine, though it was only about 7 degrees centigrade. There was plenty of Fungi about again today including several clumps of Yellow-staining Mushrooms, Honey Fungus and the ever present Tinder Bracket Fungus. There is a very knowledgeable lady on the Mushroom Identification Forum on Facebook, who identified a new species for me growing within the Cemetery; Glistening Inkcap.

Bird species recorded in and around the Cemetery this morning included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Great Tit
• Blue Tit
• Goldcrest
• Robin
• Blackbird
• Wren
• Great Spotted Woodpecker
• House Sparrow
• Starling
• Jay
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie

Above, a different view of the Cemetery. There are a lot of ornamental trees here and knowing what they actually are is not in my knowledge. Any experts out there? Below, more Yellow-staining Mushrooms.

Above, this male Pied Wagtail was actually at the bottom of my road where I live. Below, I think this is one of the Hawkbit flowers growing at the base of this gravestone. 

I found this attractive Fungi growing near some Honey Fungus and I have had confirmation that it is Glistening Inkcap.

Earlier today, during my first shift in Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth, this morning; I had a count of 13 species of bird (yesterday, I had 16 species!). Nothing that unusual this morning, though the ever present Jay showed well again. All three common species of Diver were showing from Redbridge Wharf last Sunday, though the weather was a lot worse than Sunday. Birding buddy Geoff Farwell took a trip to Queen Elizabeth Country Park on that day and recorded a Buzzard, Firecrest, 6 Redwings and 15 Siskins, but it was very gloomy there in the wet weather. Hampshire is still awaiting its first Waxwing for many a year and with one seen on the East Sussex/Kent border yesterday, it looks promising that one will arrive soon, especially with this cold front coming in for the rest of the week. There are now TWO Black-throated Divers and a Great Northern Diver off Redbridge Wharf this morning. The Birding Social Media pages will now be packed with photos of these gorgeous birds.

During my second shift at Pembroke Road, I notched up four more species there for the day that included a Great Tit, Collared Dove, Chaffinch and best of all, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, which incidentally flew north over the houses (my highest day total there so far).

Possibly the same male Black Redstart I saw at Southsea Castle last week. This bird was present last Sunday. Photo by Emma Parkes.