Back over to the Cemetery again.

Sunday 17th March 2024.

This Wren was in full song when I found it over on the north-east side of the Cemetery.

My dogs got their walk late this afternoon over Highland Road Cemetery again and though there was nothing too exciting around there, it was a pleasant walk with plenty to see again and a very mild, still temperature at 4.30pm. Though it was overcast, the cloud was high and therefore quite bright in the Cemetery. Thankfully, not too many dog-walkers this afternoon and it was noticeable that a lot of the trees were budding already, especially the Lime and Horse Chestnut trees.

Above Common Groundsel was found this afternoon on my walk around the Cemetery. Below, one of several Starlings around the rooftops by the adjacent houses. This one was in full song.

Above, a pair of Collared Doves on one of the adjacent rooftops and below, this male Greenfinch was in full song high up in one of the Lime trees.

Above, spot the Goldcrest! They don't hang around long and so trying to get a photo with my Bridge Camera is never easy. Below, a view of the south of the Cemetery looking west.

Above, there were a good number of Blackbirds seen here this afternoon including this female bird. below, leaves are starting to come out on some of the trees. 

Sadly, no migrant birds to report today, but a pair of Goldcrests were seen in one of the small ornamental Conifers on the south side of the Cemetery, though very hard to get a photo. They both flew east over to the Lime trees, where I managed to grab a photo of one of the birds. A male Sparrowhawk drifted over the west side of the Cemetery, heading northbound with purpose it seemed, scattering all the local Gulls and Pigeons.

A few more plants were in flower I noticed, that included Daisies, Red Dead-nettle and a lot more Dandelions than usual. Common Groundsel is now starting to grow too, an important food source when they start to seed for the local Goldfinches. No insects were seen, though I expect it was a bit late in the day for them. I shall have my moth box on again overnight and hopefully, it will remain mild and dry?  Just 17 species recorded today, but plenty of birds in song. I was up at the unearthly hour of 4.30am this morning and even in the dark at 5am, there were a few Blackbirds singing around the back gardens!

The birds seen or heard this afternoon in the Cemetery included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• House Sparrow
• Starling
• Robin
• Wren
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit  
• Goldcrest (pair)
• Goldfinch
• Greenfinch
• Blackbird
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Sparrowhawk (male)

Horse Chestnut leaves are coming out now.

Fairly quiet in Hampshire today, though a Red-necked Grebe off Keyhaven Marshes today was a good find and it was joined by at least 6 Slavonian Grebes and 32 Eider! The long staying drake Scaup was still present on nearby Fishtail Lagoon as well and one lucky chap had a Swallow fly north over the reserve. There were plenty of Wheatear reports also today that included 5 birds on Farlington Marshes.