Large flock of Long-tailed Tits in the Cemy.

Thursday 28th December 2023.

Winter sunshine within the Cemetery today.

Though we are nearing the end of the year, there is still time to do a spot more birding, though I had to get out fairly early to avoid the heavy rain that was due this morning. Yet, another storm ripped through the UK yesterday as Storm Gerrit smashed its way across the land and sea here on the south coast. However, it did throw up a very good seawatch off Selsey Bill yesterday with a Leach’s Petrel, Little Gull, Great Skua (very rare here after they were badly hit by bird-flu this year), 8 Velvet Scoters and a Purple Sandpiper.

At least 16 Long-tailed Tits had returned to the Cemetery to find food among the trees this morning.

It was bright and sunny at times over Highland Road Cemetery this morning when I took my dogs for a walk, though a very strong South-westerly wind ripped across the Cemy at times and with quite a few branches on the ground below their respective trees, I had to keep an eye out in case one should fall from above. I think the highlight of this morning's walk was the large flock of Long-tailed Tits seen on the east side of the Cemetery along the main path. Mixed in with a few Great and Blue Tits, they busied themselves searching through the tiny branches, calling continuously in their large flock until seen making their way northbound through the Ivy clad headstones and bushes.

Above and below, there were a few Blackbirds around including this pair searching for food among the leaf litter.

In total, 18 species were recorded today, which wasn't too bad considering how windy it was and thankfully, the rain kept off too. I read that the drake Ring-necked Duck is still on Linbrook Lake, Blashford, which is good news if us ‘Lazee’s’ want this bird to add to our 2024 year total. Other news included that birding pal, Geoff Farwell, took a drive up to the Itchen Stoke area, just east of Winchester, where he recorded the following sightings: 3 Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Gadwall, 220 Fieldfare, 60 Redwing, 2 Stonechat, Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher, 2 Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff, Green Sandpiper, Water Rail, 9 Siskin, 22 House Sparrow and a huge flock of 600+ Stock Doves.   

Birds recorded this morning within the Cemetery included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Great Black-backed Gull
• Long-tailed Tit (16+)
• Great Tit
• Blue Tit
• Goldcrest
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Blackbird
• Robin
• Wren
• Starling
• House Sparrow
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Pied Wagtail
• Goldfinch

Both Matt and Emma Parkes took a trip to Southsea Castle on Boxing Day and not only came up trumps with the Purple Sandpipers (above), but also saw this superb male Black Redstart there too (below). Photos by Emma Parkes. 

This Slavonian Grebe was one of three off Normandy Marshes on Boxing Day. Photo by Rob Porter.