The male Sparrowhawk showing well this morning.

Friday 10th November 2023.

A splash of colour from the remaining Autumn leaves on this tree.

It has been quite a dismal wet last few days and even early this morning, the rain doth fall once more. Thankfully, it eased up and a bit of sunshine finally broke through this morning and so after my first shift over Pembroke Road, I took Buddy and Ted for a walk around Highland Road Cemetery again. Though very damp around the Cemetery, as per usual, there is always something to look at there and today, the male Sparrowhawk put on a great display by flying over my head and circling round a couple of times until it spotted something and went into a stoop to the south.

Only 18 species were seen or heard this morning, which was a lot quieter of late and apart from the Sparrowhawk, the other reasonably decent birds were heard only and that included the Green Woodpecker and Chaffinch, though I did see the Jay briefly.

The male Sparrowhawk put on a nice display above my head over on the east side of the Cemetery this morning.

The birds or heard this morning included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Carrion Crow
• Jay 
• Magpie
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Chaffinch
• Goldfinch
• Starling
• Wren
• Pied Wagtail
• Sparrowhawk (male)
• Feral Pigeon
• Wood Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Robin
• Blackbird
• Green Woodpecker

Above, apart from a few Yarrow and Smooth Sow-thistle flowers, this Purple Toadflax was still in flower. Below, Agaricus toadstools were abundant on the wet grass.

Very Autumnal.

There were plenty of Agaricus toadstools around the Cemetery today, but there were no other fungi seen. Insects were at a premium this morning as well with only a few Common Wasps seen. All in all, a rather quiet morning walk around the Cemetery today. In Hampshire, the long-staying female Long-tailed Duck was still on Hayling Oyster Beds and 2 female Goosanders and a Red-throated Diver were off Brownwich this morning. It looks very promising for a Waxwing invasion this winter as large numbers have been recorded in northern England and slowly making their way down. Fingers crossed.

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Immature Shags at Eastney Harbour entrance.

Tuesday 7th November 2023.

This was one of two immature Shags seen on a quiet morning at Eastney Harbour entrance.

Though it was rather fresh and breezy this morning, after my first shift at Pembroke Road, I took the dogs for a walk around the Harbour entrance at Eastney. It was wall to wall blue sky and lovely sunshine, with the occasional bit of hazy cloud; but good enough to find something unusual around this area. My target species was a Guillemot having not seen one in Hampshire this year, but there were no Auks to be found at all during my walk.

Above and below, there are always plenty of Starlings about by the harbour entrance and always will take the opportunity for a bath in the many puddles there.

Above, this fishing Little Egret was near the Ferry Terminal on the edge of Lock Lake. Below, the Hayling Ferry setting off for another crossing.

In fact, if it wasn't for a pair of immature Shags swimming in the harbour entrance, it would have been very quiet indeed. Though the tide was ebbing it was still fairly high, but a good look within the harbour failed to find anything really of note on the water. A few flocks of Brent Geese flew over and a few were bobbing about on the water in Lock Lake, but no Grebes, Divers or sea-duck to be found. Boo! In fact, hardly any waders either with only a few Oystercatchers seen distantly flying over the harbour. At least there was one immature Shag seen swimming close to the Hayling Ferry Jetty to keep me entertained (though the nearby Starlings bathing in the puddles is always fun to watch!). I did hear a Rock Pipit calling, but failed to see the bird but I was more fortunate with a pair of Meadow Pipits flying over.

Above, the view from the Outfall looking west and below, one of the immature Shags by the Hayling Ferry Jetty.

This immature Shag was nearer the Outfall, watching this sea-angler and his rod very carefully.

From the Ferry Road Car Park, I walked the dogs to the Outfall where again, it was very quiet. However, this time, a pair of immature Shags were fishing close inshore, in fact, quite near a sea-angler. Maybe they have a new idea on how to easily nick a fish or two? A Greenfinch and a Skylark were flyovers, but very little else on note around here today, sadly. Earlier today, on my first shift, I enjoyed watching the staggering large numbers of Wood Pigeon flocks going over. I estimated that at least a thousand birds must have gone over and all were heading south-east. 

This adult Arctic Tern flew past Hill Head this morning and most likely the same bird we saw last Sunday morning. Photo by Mark Francis.

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!

A 'Lazee's' sea-watch from the Gilkicker shelter.

Sunday 5th November 2023.

One of two Sandwich Terns flew past the shelter this morning.

After yesterday’s Leach’s Petrel fest along the south coast, I wanted to get to Gilkicker as early as possible for a dawn sea-watch and on reaching the car park at around 7.30am, I was soon joined by fellow ‘Lazee’s’ Andy Dickety and Michaela. The weather was a complete turnaround from yesterday, with bright sunshine and hardly a cloud in the sky. There was still a breezy westerly wind blowing, which kept the temperature down, but at least it was dry. Though we never saw any Leach’s Petrels this morning, there was a nice variety of birds during the two and a half hours I was there in the shelter with more fellow ‘Lazee’s’.

Above and below, there were two very large flocks of Wood Pigeons crossing high over the Solent.

Above, a pair of Brent Geese flew west and below, this Arctic Tern nearly eluded me as it headed west close to the shoreline.

The trip kicked off nicely when I spotted some small gulls flying east about mid channel and on closer inspection, I could clearly see they were Little Gulls. There was first a flock of four, then another flock of four and finally two single birds. I did spot another Little Gull much closer to the shore, but it simply vanished! There were many Gulls out in the Solent, but the only other species of note was an adult Mediterranean Gull.

Arguably the bird of the morning was an adult winter Arctic Tern flying close to the shoreline and heading west. This was only my second of the year after seeing one in the Spring off Southsea. A Great Northern Diver headed east, also fairly close in and at least two Sandwich Terns flew past. A male Peregrine was well watched flying out to sea as it headed low over the waves towards the Isle of Wight. Other notable species included a Great Crested Grebe heading fast east and a few waders that included Dunlin, Sanderling and an Oystercatcher. Very large flocks of Wood Pigeons flew high heading south and both Linnet and Skylark were seen.

Above, a record shot of the Great Northern Diver heading west low over the Solent.

Above and below, the male Peregrine flying out over the sea towards the Isle of Wight.

Behind the Shelter, the flooded fields held a good number of Gulls including a Common Gull and a Lesser Black-backed among the many Great Black-backed, Herring and Black-headed Gulls. As per usual, there was good banter among the fellow ‘Lazee’s’ and it was always a pleasure to be among them to make the trip enjoyable. Sad news came in from Emma Parkes this morning as the Leach’s Petrel she handed over to the Titchfield Haven Volunteers yesterday, sadly passed away overnight.