Fairly quiet around Eastney and Southsea beach.

Thursday 9th March 2023.

This Lesser Black-backed Gull thankfully landed back on the Common.

Despite the rain, I had to go out today and see if I could come up with a good sighting along the both Southsea seafront and the harbour entrance at Eastney. Yes, I may have done it from the comfort of my car, but there was no chance of getting a soaking from the car and so looking through the window, I first pulled up at Eastney car park to check the high tide. There was quite a heavy swell within the harbour entrance, but there was absolutely nothing sitting on the water around midday.

Opening the car windows up a little, there were Starlings perched on the lone bush to my left (above) and Black-headed Gulls on the beach near the car to my right (below).

The car park was quite full when I arrived, but I was lucky enough to grab the last space. A small group of Black-headed Gulls were on the beach close by and a small flock of 10 Starlings were sat on the only small bush here and a pair of Dunnocks were feeding on probably bird feed on the concrete below. Sadly, nothing else to report here and so I took a drive down to the spit to check the northern end of Langstone Harbour.

Above, these two Brent Geese were close in by the spit while below, two flocks of Brent Geese flew in opposite directions from one another.

From here, which was also very busy with cars parking here, a pair of Brent Geese were bobbing on the high water close to the shoreline, while a large flock in the distance flew high over the houses, splitting into two groups with one heading east and the other flying west. I scanned the harbour thoroughly for any wildfowl on the water, but the only bird I found was a drake Red-breasted Merganser that was some distance out. The rain had eased up a bit and so I got out of the car to take a few photos of the said birds.

Above, this lone drake Red-breasted Merganser was the only duck I saw on the harbour. Below, the Lesser Black-backed Gull along with a nearby Carrion Crow, were on Southsea Common. 

After ten minutes or so, I then headed along the seafront, hoping to catch sight of my first Wheatear of the year (wishful thinking!) and also to check the small Gull flocks on the beach for any Med Gulls. I didn't come across any and so took a drive down to Southsea Common. From here, I pulled up in the lay by near the Hovercraft Terminal and scanned the sea first for anything of note. Naff all! So I checked Southsea  Common and among the many Black-headed and Herring Gulls present, I found a single Lesser Black-backed Gull on the field but it was soon flushed by a dog-walker and lucky for me, settled briefly nearby on the Common. There were plenty more Brent Geese again down here, but again, flushed by the dog-walkers. Ho hum!

Above, the Lesser Black-backed Gull settling back down on the Common. Below, this lucky photo of a Brent Geese passing the window of the Naval Memorial Building!

Apart from another largish flock of Brent by the old Royal Marine Museum flying over, not a lot else was seen and so I made my way back home. In Hampshire today, the four Glossy Ibis were once again seen early this morning at Bridge Street Floods as well as a Siberian Chiffchaff.        

Above, this Waxwing was seen and photographed by 'Lazee Birder' John Manley this morning at a place called Cranfield, Milton Keynes. Hampshire has not been blessed with this species for a few years now; but you never know what could turn up with this wintry weather around.

A blast from the past!

Wednesday 8th March 2023

Ten years ago today, 11 Purple Sandpipers were seen feeding by Southsea Castle and have been ever since during the Winter and early Spring period.

Today was a bit of a washout with near non-stop rain all day and so I did not venture out today apart from looking after our grandchild Isabelle for around an hour early this morning. In fact, the only bird I saw today was a Blackbird feeding on the Apple halves in my garden and a few House Sparrows also in the garden enjoying the Sunflower hearts within the feeder.

The weather was still very cold and although we had rain all day, further north in the County, snow had laid overnight and a few snow showers still lingered. It even settled as far south as Clanfield and the news services were warning drivers to not go out in the icy conditions. More snow is forecast overnight in the north of the County and hopefully, it will stay there. It just might push something interesting down further south. Fingers crossed.

From top to bottom, Geoff Farwell, myself and Geoff again birding at St. Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight way back in 1984! Both of us had lots of hair then! Cracking trip though.

So, though I have not been birding since Sunday, I thought I would do a ‘blast from the past’ by going back 10, 20, 30 and even 40 years ago! Bloody hell, I feel terribly old! I have been logging my bird sightings since 1977 and so I had the opportunity to go through my old log books. So I shall kick off March 8th 2013. I was actually birding in horrible conditions again (deja vu!) at Southsea Castle where I saw up to 11 Purple Sandpipers. That was the good news, or the bad news was that my DSL camera at the time got water damaged and with a trip to Cyprus coming up a few weeks later, that's how I got into Bridge Cameras. Meanwhile, Farlington Marshes was hosting on this date, a Red-breasted Goose and a Spoonbill.

Me sea-watching off St. Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight nearly 40 years ago

Twenty years ago today, I was at Portland Bill with my sons Nathan and Daniel. Yes, I used to take them a lot on my birding trips and although they were not really into birds, they always kept themselves entertained. Christ, I miss them, but that's another story. Portland Bill hosted the usual Gannets, Guillemots, Razorbill, Fulmar and a Great Northern Diver plus two Purple Sandpipers on the rocks below. While the boys were playing on the skateboard, I checked out Portland Harbour from Sandsfoot Castle where I saw both Slavonian and Black-necked Grebes plus a good number of Mergansers in blustery cold conditions.   

Summary of our sightings on 21st April 1984 at St. Catherine's Point.

Thirty years ago on March 5th (no birding on the 8th), I took a trip down to Farlington Marshes and although all the usual waders and wildfowl were present, I also saw a superb male Merlin flying over the seawall and out into the harbour and also a singing male Reed Bunting.

Forty years ago on this date, sadly I have no bird news at all as it seems I took a 8 month break from writing up my bird reports. However, I have provided a photo of both Geoff Farwell and myself on a big seawatch at St. Catherines Point on the Isle of Wight. This took place well before I was driving and also mobile phones; but in April 1984, we caught the Ferry across and then got the bus all the way to spend the weekend at this good seawatching area. If I remember rightly, we did notch up some good birds including Velvet Scoter, Arctic Skua, Manx Shearwater, Little Gull, Black-throated Diver, Hobby and Pomarine Skua on the 21st April.

This photo was taken at Church Norton, West Sussex in 1983! Oh to be able to wear a size 33 pair of Jeans again!!!

Will I be reporting what was seen 50 years ago we shall see, but the birds that are being seen regularly in the UK now for example: Little Egret, Great White Egret and Glossy Ibis are near common whereas Tree Sparrow, Willow Tit and Yellow Wagtail that we saw regularly all those years ago are so rare now on the south coast.

Ravens over the Cemetery.

Sunday 5th March 2023.

A view of one of the footpaths looking east. Could there be a migrant bird lurking among the gravestones. I am surely due a Hoopoe soon?

It was back over Highland Road Cemetery this afternoon for a slow meander around my local patch. A trickle of migrants were seen yesterday, with both Sand Martin and an Osprey seen in Dorset; so would there be a possible Blackcap or Chiffchaff lurking about within the Cemy? It was still quite cold (snow is predicted in Scotland and Northern England tomorrow!), but there was hardly any wind and when I first arrived at 12.30pm, it was quite sunny.

One of three Jays seen this morning on my walk round.

A total of 18 species of birds were either heard or seen during my visit here today and that included a pair of Ravens that were seen flying high up and heading east. I have had them over the Cemetery before in the past, but it still is a rare sight still to see them here. Yes, probably the highlight of my visit here, though I did see my first Tapered Drone Fly of the year. The Jays showed well today and I think there might have been at least three of them today. The only relatively uncommon bird I noted this morning I didn't exactly see. A Mediterranean Gull was heard to call overhead, but checking the sky, I then came across the Ravens and so I gave them my total attention! Unbelievably, not one Starling was seen this morning.

Above, one of the two Ravens that flew high east over the Cemetery and below, my first Tapered Drone Fly of the year.

The birds seen or heard this morning included the following:

• Raven
• Carrion Crow
• Jay 
• Magpie
• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Mediterranean Gull
• Wood Pigeon 
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Greenfinch
• Goldfinch
• Wren
• Blackbird
• Robin
• House Sparrow

Above and below, a large swathe of Red Dead-nettle was now in bloom.

As mentioned before, my first Tapered Drone Fly of the year was seen this morning perched on one of the graves, warming itself up in the sunshine. Several Buff-tailed Bumble bees were again in the grave with all the Heather within it, but no other Bees or Hoverflies on the wing. On the subject of plants, a huge swathe of Red Dead-nettle was now out in bloom by the path leading towards the Holm Oak Clump; while other plants present and in flower included the Winter Heliotrope, Smooth Sow-thistle and the all too common, Common Groundsel. Yes, some of the graves held flowering Daffodils and Grape Hyacinths which were very pretty; but not quite as good as our native plants though.

Above, good numbers of Blackbirds were still in the Cemetery including this male bird. Below, this was the only Collared Dove seen this morning; perched high up in one of the Chestnut trees that are budding now.

In Hampshire this morning, a pair of Spoonbills were on Farlington Marshes, however, at least 9 birds were seen at Normandy Marshes! The long staying Iceland Gull is still at Redbridge Wharf and showing well still.

From top to bottom: One of many Goldfinches in the Cemetery today; several Buff-tailed Bumble Bees on the Heather grave and finally, the Winter Heliotrope still in flower near the Holm Oaks.