Black Redstart briefly by Southsea Castle.

Thursday 23rd November 2023.

I had to hurry to take this photo of the male Black Redstart this morning as one of the workman by Southsea Castle flushed it shortly afterwards.

After my first shift at Pembroke Road this morning, I took a drive down to the Southsea Castle, for recently, there have been sightings of both Black Redstarts and a Purple Sandpiper. The weather was a tad breezy, but nowhere near as windy as the last time I was here as I made my way from the D-Day Museum car park up to the Castle. It was now overcast and with a north-westerly wind blowing, I made my way to the top to the east of the Castle and checked the rocks below for the Purple Sandpiper. Sadly, despite a lengthy search for the birds, there were no signs of any whatsoever; just a small flock of Black-headed Gulls on the rocks for compensation. However, something flitted about on the rocks and there I saw a superb adult male Black Redstart. I had to be quick in taking a photo as one of the workmen there was walking towards the bird and annoyingly, the photos I managed to grab were not very sharp. After the chap had left, there was no sign of the bird, despite carefully checking all the Castle the best I could. Hurrumph!

Above, the east side of Southsea Castle where a Black Redstart could be hiding? Below, a Double-striped Pug moth by the moth box last night.

Above, one of four Light Brown Apple Moths from last night.

I did scan the Solent for anything of note, but all was very quiet on the sea and as I was walking back to the car park, a pair of Siskins flew over and dropped into the bushes, but out of view. Not a great deal else here really, but a small flock of around 15 Brent Geese were on Southsea Common. Earlier today, on my first shift, I logged 13 species of bird during the hour I was there and that included a distant Kestrel hovering near the sea-wall! I had the moth box on overnight, the first time in about three weeks due to constant wet or windy conditions overnight and the result was just five moths: 1 Double-striped Pug and 4 Light Brown Apple Moths.

Good number of birds and Fungi over the Cemy.

Wednesday 22nd November 2023

Cloud breaking up in the east from the Cemetery this morning.

There was a stunning sunrise this morning over Southsea and the weather was looking very good this morning for a spot of birding. There was hardly a breath of wind and though a lot of cloud overhead, it was relatively bright. However, I had work to do and on my first shift, there were a pair of Jays on show going up and down the road, on the hunt for insects and acorns, while high overhead, I saw what I think was a Song Thrush flying east, but because of the noise of the traffic, I could not hear the bird calling. A Black-throated Diver is getting all the attention for the ‘Lazee’s’ this morning to add to their year list, with a bird off Centurion Business Park, on the River Itchen, for its second day. Hopefully, it might linger into the weekend?

Above, Starlings gathering on the TV Ariel and chimney pots on nearby houses and below, I found this Wood Pigeon on a nest. Surely not on eggs?

Above, a Jay with its back to me in one of the smaller trees and below, Sulphur Tuft toadstools were seen growing close to the main footpath. The first I have seen here this Autumn.

Above, Field Blewit toadstools and below, this Turkey-tail Fungus regularly grows on this old tree stump every year. 

Above, another new clump of Honey Fungus starting to grow at the base of the old Beech Tree again. Below, Tinder Bracket Fungus growing on an old tree stump still.

Above, three Blackbirds with a Wood Pigeon in the same tree. Below, a female Blackbird on its own in a nearby tree.

Above, at least 5 Blackbirds in this tree, where there were 6 birds earlier. Below, leaf litter from a Plane tree nearby.

I took full advantage of the still conditions by taking our dogs over Highland Road Cemetery again and notched up 22 bird species this morning and another good array of Fungi to look at. Of the birds, the Green Woodpecker was heard only this morning, with a bird heard calling over in the north-west side of the Cemy, but a Chiffchaff was unexpected with a calling bird seen briefly over on the south-east side close to the main footpath. A flock of 12 Goldfinches held a male Greenfinch with them (see photo) and up to three Jays were noted of which two of which were seen flying away from the Cemetery and heading southbound over the rooftops. A Skylark was heard and then eventually seen heading west very high up and a Meadow Pipit was seen flying also high up over my road heading west. Blackbirds were in good numbers today and at least 6, possibly 8 were high up in the trees and most likely migrant birds.

The birds recorded this morning in the Cemetery were as follows:

• Herring Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove (4)
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Jay (3)
• Blackbird
• Robin
• Wren
• Starling
• House Sparrow
• Great Tit
• Blue Tit
• Goldcrest
• Chiffchaff
• Goldfinch (12)
• Greenfinch (1)
• Green Woodpecker
• Pied Wagtail (2)
• Meadow Pipit
• Skylark

The Black-throated Diver on the River Itchen, Southampton, today. Photo by Andy Friend.

Lots more Toadstools over the Cemy.

Monday 20th November 2023.

I think there were more Squirrels than birds this morning if I was to be cynical. But plenty of Toadstools around in the wet grass.

Another grotty morning today with drizzly rain on and off and a heavy overcast sky. However, despite the grim weather, the dogs needed walking and so it was back over to Highland Road Cemetery again for another walk around my local patch. In fact, the walk down the road produced a Grey Wagtail flying over the rooftops which was a good start. However, there was not to be any nice surprises this morning within the Cemetery, though Toadstools were very much abundant on the wet grass.

Above, look at the size of this Caterpillar!!!! Lol! Below, these large Yellow-staining Mushrooms were growing by one of the graves.

Above three photos: A Jay made another appearance this morning. Below, not many Blackbirds were seen today, with just the two noted.

Above, the golden leaves of this tree are slowly shedding and below, more of those Yellow-staining Mushrooms. 

I suppose the highlight of the walk around the Cemetery was shared between a flyover Linnet and a brief view of a Song Thrush flying up into a conifer. The drizzly rain didn't help matters regarding taking photos, but at least the Jay flight shots were not too bad considering how dull the weather was there. There was no sight or sound of any Firecrest's this morning, though a Goldcrest was heard a couple of times. Just 16 species noted this morning and virtually no insects on the wing either.

The birds seen or heard this morning included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Jay 
• Magpie
• Carrion Crow
• Blue Tit
• Goldcrest
• Song Thrush
• Blackbird
• Goldfinch
• Linnet
• Robin
• Wren
• Starling

Quiet at both Southsea Castle & Eastney harbour entrance.

Sunday 19th November 2023.

Brent Geese on Southsea Common this morning. There were a good number of juvenile birds present, which meant that it was a good breeding season.

I took the dogs for a walk around Southsea Castle this morning and armed with my ‘birding gear’, I gave the area a good thorough checking for the Purple Sandpipers and also for any Black Redstarts lingering around the Castle. Sadly, neither were seen and again, there was a very limited view of the rocks by the new promenade being built and what with a very blustery south-westerly wind coming in off a very choppy Solent, it wasn’t easy to view here either. In fact, I hardly saw anything of note, bar a few Gulls going over the sea and so, I took the dogs for a different walk by the harbour entrance at Eastney. I expect the Purple Sandpipers were down there somewhere, but it is going to be difficult to locate them with the limited viewing opportunity here currently.

Above, some of the Brent Geese present on Southsea Common. Below, Starlings bathing in the puddles by the harbour entrance.

Above and below, this Grey Heron flew high over Langstone Harbour heading east.

Above, a Great Tit enjoying the fatballs I put out for the birds in my garden.

As I walked across the car park near the Castle, a small flock of Brent Geese flew low over my head and I knew they were heading to the large green near the Memorial Monument. So I took a drive there and counted 65 Brent Geese grazing on the grass close to the main road, with a lot of Herring Gulls and Carrion Crows nearby. The tide was out within Langstone Harbour when I arrived by the Harbour entrance and I was hoping for an Auk or something interesting on the water, but there was very little bar with a few loafing Black-headed Gulls. The wind was still strong as we passed a large flock of Starlings bathing in the puddles and headed towards the spit opposite the Hayling Ferry. A Rock Pipit flew over my head and landed near the upturned small boats, but simply vanished when I needed where I thought it landed. Out in the harbour, all I could find was a distant Great Crested Grebe swimming in the harbour and a small flock of Oystercatchers and a lone Curlew on the mudflats. A Grey Heron flew east high over the harbour, but very little else here of note today.

The 'Lazee's' done a sea-watch from the shelter at Gilkicker this morning and the highlights included this Little Gull (photo by Andy Tew) and probably yesterday's female Common Scoter. Mark Francis scored again with a Grey Phalarope off Hill Head this morning.