Great Spotted Woodpecker showing well again.

Sunday 28th January 2024.

The male Great Spotted Woodpecker in the Cemetery this morning.

A nice morning here in Southsea and it was back over to Highland Road Cemetery this morning with the dogs, taking in the somewhat ‘spring-like’ conditions and the mild temperature. It was over 10 degrees this morning with a bit of hazy sunshine poking through the white clouds and it was evident the birds were liking the weather too. Almost immediately, you noticed the many birds singing within the Cemetery, but what was also notable this morning was the amount of Carrion Crows here today. I counted at least 40+ birds in the trees alone, though there could have been many more here. Their nesting season starts soon, so I guess they all gather up with their respective partners for a good old chinwag on who is nesting where!

Above, there were a few Goldfinches here this morning, though kept to the taller trees and below, the Collared Doves in the favourite tree in the south-west of the Cemetery.

Above, several singing Robins were along the footpath and below, this female Blackbird allowed a close approach near where the above Robin was singing.

On entry to the Cemetery, I heard the Great Spotted Woodpecker calling somewhere over the north-east end of the Cemy and later on my walk round, I spotted the male bird high up in one of the trees by the Mausoleum, busy searching for grubs hidden within the branches. Three Jays flew high across the Cemetery towards the Holm Oaks, the most I have seen here for a while and a Great Black-backed Gull flew over heading south-east (not a common bird here) and a Pied Wagtail flew over and headed south to round off the uncommon birds here; but it is always nice to watch the common stuff, especially up close like a singing Robin or a Blackbird in sub-song. In fact, I heard my first Blackbird singing very early this morning in my garden. 

Above, this male Blackbird totally ignored me and the dogs as we walked past and below, the Great Spotted Woodpecker again. There was no sign of the Green Woodpecker today.

Above, my final favourite Great Spotted Woodpecker photo I took this morning and below, some of the 40+ Carrion Crows in the Cemy this morning. Two birds literally had a scrap just feet away from us as small branches nearly came crashing down on top of us!!! 

The birds recorded here this morning included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Great Black-backed Gull
• House Sparrow
• Starling
• Robin
• Wren
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Blackbird
• Song Thrush
• Greenfinch
• Goldfinch
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Jay (3)
• Pied Wagtail
• Great Spotted Woodpecker (male)