A number of species over the Cemy.

Wednesday 13th December 2023.

The last of the leaves still to fall on one of the Ornamental trees in the Cemetery this morning, adding a splash of colour on a dull day.

Another grey and murky start to the day with the threat of rain in the air too, with the local temperature around 8 degrees and a north-westerly wind was blowing, sending temperatures colder as my first shift started off good then petered out with just 9 species seen. Harrumph! However, there was a far better number of species seen in Highland Road Cemetery this morning when I walked my dogs around, notching up a good total of 23 species!

Above, a Starling and a Collared Dove wait their turn to use the bird feeder in one of the gardens at the southern end of the Cemetery. Below, a Jay hopping about in one of the smaller trees on the east side.

Above, only very occasionally I might get to see a Brent Goose flying over the Cemetery, so this morning, to see a small group of three birds flying over was most welcome. Below, this male Blackbird was with another in the same tree as the Jay.

Above, the Starlings are quick to spot any signs of danger and regularly take off in their flocks to look out for the local Sparrowhawk flying over (below).

Above, the Great Spotted Woodpecker gave itself away high up in the Oak tree.

Three Brent geese flew high over the south side of the Cemy though they didn't seem to make their minds up on where to go at first and then eventually decided to head east. I noticed the Wood Pigeons and Starlings scattering from the trees and rooftops and I knew a raptor was around, but it wasn't till I was over the east side that I spotted the male Sparrowhawk soaring over the rooftops and then disappearing eastbound. Both the Great Spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker were in the Cemy today, though only the Great Spotted Woodpecker was actually seen; high up in the Oak tree in the north-east corner. A Redwing was heard only when I was trying to photograph the Jay and promptly disappeared and a possible Song Thrush flew over 100% certain.

• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Feral Pigeon
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Jay 
• Blue Tit
• Goldcrest
• Blackbird
• Redwing (1 heard)
• Sparrowhawk (male)
• Great Spotted Woodpecker
• Green Woodpecker (heard only)
• Pied Wagtail
• House Sparrow
• Starling
• Wren
• Robin
• Brent Goose (3)
• Goldfinch
• Greenfinch

In Hampshire, the Great Northern Diver is still at Redbridge Wharf and yesterday, a Black-necked Grebe was reported there too. The female Long-tailed Duck is still on Hayling Oyster Beds and a Water Pipit was found on Bridge Street Floods, near Titchfield Village. Yesterday, the female Blackcap was seen briefly on my Pyracantha berries in my back garden, but again, it was too quick for me to grab a photo of the bird. I found a good telly programme last night called Walking with Jim Moir (alias Vic Reeves), where last night's edition took him to Dungeness and Lydd, an area I have fond memories of in my ‘twitching’ days with Andy Fisher and Geoff Farwell. Excellent programme.

Jim Moir was on last night between 7.30pm to 8pm on BBC4.