The usual suspects in a very cold Cemetery this morning.

Thursday 11th January 2024.

Sunny and bright over the Cemetery this morning, but bitterly cold. 

The cold weather is set to continue well into next week according to the Met Office and by God, it was cold this morning! Yes, clear blue skies overhead and the wind had dropped a lot, but it was still just above freezing. Yesterday afternoon, I notched up just 11 species during my hour spell at Pembroke Road, but the seven Brent Geese still remained on Governor’s Green. A Kestrel was seen hunting over the old Football pitch, south of the Bowling Club and was later seen hunting over by the seawall near the Garrison Church minutes later. This is only the second time I have seen it here.

Above, a male Greenfinch perched on a gravestone. Good to still see them here as there numbers do fluctuate at this site. Below, a reasonable sized flock of Goldfinch this morning.

Above, plenty of Carrion Crows keeping guard. Below, one of several Wrens noted today.

This morning, I notched up 14 species here, which included three Brent Geese on Governor’s Green all the time I was there at Pembroke Road and a male Sparrowhawk going into a stoop towards the garden behind the house opposite me. Even without binoculars to hand, I still managed to get a good view of the bird as it closed its wings and went into its stoop. Was it successful? It scattered a lot of Wood Pigeons anyway!

Above, Goldfinches are always so photogenic in bright sunshine and below, so is this stunning Great Tit.

Above, another photo of one of the Goldfinches present this morning.

Above and below, the Starling flock seen in the Cemetery this morning.

When I got back home, I grabbed the dogs and took our usual walk around Highland Road Cemetery, where up to 18 species were recorded this morning. Though there were no real surprises, it was nice just to take some photos of the more common birds in the bright sunshine. Up to two Jays were seen today, a pair probably, with one sighting of both birds together on the path by the Mausoleum. A healthy flock of around 30+ Starlings were searching for food within the tall grass and a mixed flock of Goldfinch and Greenfinch were flitting about in the trees throughout the area. Sadly, no sign of any Woodpeckers this morning. There is talk of snow next week, which could bring in more winter thrushes to the Cemetery and maybe something rarer perhaps?

The birds recorded in the Cemetery this morning included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• House Sparrow
• Starling
• Wren
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Goldcrest
• Jay
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Robin
• Goldfinch
• Greenfinch
• Pied Wagtail 
• Blackbird

This fabulous photo of a Long-tailed Tit by Fort Brockhurst was taken by Emma Parkes recently.