Another good haul of birds over the Cemy.

Monday 6th November 2023.

The male Sparrowhawk flew in and the Wood Pigeon was keeping a wary eye on the hawk.

Sixty years ago today, my mother and father cradled me in their arms for the first time this very day. While I am being humbled by the lovely messages and Birthday wishes on Facebook etc,. I still managed to get to do a bit of birding (like I try to do on all my birthdays), by taking my dogs for a walk around Highland Road Cemetery. The weather was just perfect with a clear blue sky and hardly any wind; excellent conditions on picking up calling birds high overhead.

Though nothing scarce was recorded in the Cemetery this morning, yet again, I broke the 20 species barrier with up to 24 recorded today. The male Sparrowhawk showed well again today; this time flying into and perching up in one of the tall Horse Chestnuts until it saw a small bird overhead, gave chase, but gave up as the passerine (Goldfinch, I think?) twisted and turned and consequently escaped….. just! A Cormorant flying north was a surprise, though I have seen them flying over before in the past. A flock of Linnets headed west and a male Chaffinch was heard calling repeatedly. The Green Woodpecker (the male bird) showed well at last, though it was a little obscured by branches to get a decent photo. There is still at least one Chiffchaff here, with a sighting of one bird, but possibly another calling elsewhere.

Above, a couple of juvenile Herring Gulls on the nearby roofs and below, Starlings about to land on the neighbouring houses.

Above, more Starlings arriving overhead and below, a Blue Tit searching for food in the old Pine in the south-east corner of the Cemy.

Above, another photo of the male Sparrowhawk and a wary Wood Pigeon. Below, the male Sparrowhawk eventually flew off south over the rooftops.

Above, one of the Continental Blackbirds (?) and below, Agaricus toadstools growing by the main footpath.

The sunny weather still brought out the insects to take advantage of the climate and flowering Ivy plants. Just the one Red Admiral butterfly seen this morning, showing well basking in the sunshine. Drone Flies, Common Wasps and Batman Hoverflies were all on the wing in good numbers still. I did keep an eye out for any fungi growing in the damp grass and came across a few Agaricus species of toadstool. My dogs behaved themselves superbly today and I am very proud of them for their behavior. 

The birds recorded this morning included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Wood Pigeon (700+)
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Chaffinch
• Goldfinch
• Linnet
• House Sparrow
• Starling
• Wren
• Robin
• Blackbird
• Song Thrush
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Goldcrest
• Chiffchaff
• Meadow Pipit
• Green Woodpecker (male)
• Sparrowhawk (male)
• Jay
• Magpie
• Carrion Crow
• Cormorant

Above, some of the flock of 120+ Wood Pigeons heading south over the Cemy. Below, the only Red Admiral butterfly seen this morning.

Above, this Great Tit was quite vocal and below, a cheeky Grey Squirrel poking its head round to check on my dogs.

Above, both Drone Fly and Common Wasp resting on a gravestone. Below, a Cormorant flew high north this morning.

Above and below, the male Green Woodpecker was again quite vocal this morning and showy at last.

Earlier today, my first shift in Pembroke Road produced a few notable sightings that included a female Sparrowhawk flying west, which in turn flushed a good number of Wood Pigeons within the Holm Oak Trees and Governor’s Green. Large numbers of Wood Pigeons were flying very high overhead as if heading towards the Isle of Wight, with an estimate of around 800+ in three separate flocks. At this time of the year, we are swamped with a lot of Continental birds as they make their mass migration to warmer climate. 4500+ Wood Pigeons were recorded flying over in an hour at Lower Test Marshes. A flock of 6 Long-tailed Tits were first heard and then seen flying out of the trees heading south and both Siskin and Meadow Pipit were heard only.  Morning news in Hampshire included a Great White Egret flying over Waterlooville, a Grey Phalarope still on Pennington Marshes and the female Long-tailed Duck on Hayling Oysterbeds. A Leach’s Petrel was seen flying past Selsey Bill, West Sussex, this morning. Hurrumph!