Much better weather this morning in the Cemy.

Sunday 3rd March 2024.

The vocal Green Woodpecker showed well again today, though I had to shoot this photo into the sunshine.

After I had finished updating my blog from yesterday's birding, I took the dogs over to Highland Road Cemetery for their morning walk and what a glorious morning, with wall to wall blue sky and mild conditions too. Though it was supposed to be around 6 degrees, it felt a lot warmer than that in the sunshine. 

Above, the very bright conditions (very unlike yesterday) helped in getting some sharper photos this morning that included this Magpie (above) and this interesting Carrion Crow. There are two in the Cemetery with the same colouration. 

Always nice to see the Greenfinch in the Cemy including this lovely smart male bird. Below, this Great Tit was singing in this Cherry tree by the main footpath.

Yet again, a rather low count of species present, but at least the Green Woodpecker put in an appearance again this morning and I even managed to grab a photo or two while it was calling up a tree near the Mausoleum. Earlier it had been seen over on the ground on the east side of the Cemy, but was annoyingly flushed by a dog-walker of which were numerous this morning. Could you blame them on such a sunny morning after all the rain we have had this week? At least two Jays were heard squawking by the Holm Oak trees, with just the one seen. It shouldn't be too long now for the first singing Chiffchaff to arrive here.

Above, a few plants were in flower this morning including the Daisies (above) and Self-heal (below).

It was no surprise that a few Bees were on the wing this morning and after seeing a queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee speed low over the grass, a blossom covered Cherry tree held at least one, maybe Early Bumblebees as well as a few Drone Flies; my first of the year. Sadly, no butterflies were seen this morning, but this pleasant weather will probably encourage me to get my moth box on again. 

Above, an Early Bumblebee nectaring on the Cherry blossom.

Above and below, my first Drone Fly of the year.

The birds recorded this morning included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Carrion Crow
• Jay (2)
• Magpie
• Blackbird
• Great Tit
• Blue Tit
• Greenfinch
• Goldfinch
• Green Woodpecker
• Robin
• Wren
• Starling

In Hampshire today, two Sand Martins were seen at Pennington Marshes early this morning, while on Posbrook Floods, the 3 Glossy Ibis was still present along with the drake Ferruginous Duck. A Bittern was seen from the bridge at Titchfield Haven and a lone Spoonbill was present also on the reserve. A female type Black Redstart was by the Daedalus Airfield at Lee on Solent (see below) and a Long-tailed Duck was still present in Portsmouth Harbour.

The female type Black Redstart at Lee on Solent. Photo by Emma Parkes.