Purple Sands & Razorbill from Southsea Castle.

Thursday 25th January 2024.

One of just two Purple Sandpipers on the rocks just east of the Castle this morning.

A much milder morning today with the temperature actually climbing into double figures (10 degrees) with a breezy south-westerly wind thrown in. Just the 14 species seen this morning in Old Portsmouth with the regular Brent Geese on Governor’s Green numbering 12 birds and a brief view of a female Sparrowhawk flying and landing into the Holm Oak trees on Pembroke Road. 

A Razorbill was a nice find on the Solent this morning. Below, a flock of Brent Geese were making their way to Southsea Common to join another flock of around 50 birds on the short grass.

After my first shift here, I took along my binoculars and camera this morning and took a stroll around the Southsea Castle area. Looking down onto the rocks below on the shoreline, just east of the Castle, I eventually found a couple of Purple Sandpipers searching for food on the rocks. There were 14 birds recorded here yesterday and so I was happy to see the birds despite a lot of activity going on from the workmen here. I assume the birds are simply used to all the work going on by now? The completion date for the promenade is around March this year, but it should look good when it's finished. There was no sign of any Black Redstarts here or by the Castle this morning, though they have not been seen here for a few weeks. However, a scan over the Solent produced a Razorbill fishing offshore, which was my second for the year.   

The Water Pipit at Bridge Street Floods. Film footage by Rob Porter. We were lucky enough to see this bird last Saturday through the scope.