Early walk in the Cemy & Fishlake Meadows.

Monday 1st April 2024.

This female Peregrine sailed over our heads on the Canal Path at Fishlake Meadows this afternoon.

This Bank Holiday Monday was a tale of two birding trips.The first was an early morning walk around Highland Road Cemetery with the dogs and the second was a trip to Fishlake Meadows late this morning to meet up with Matt and Emma Parkes. The weather was kind to us, despite a few light showers in the afternoon at the latter site, but all in all, it was quite warm at times and very sunny, which in turn, brought out the birds, bees and other flora and fauna. I managed to see my first Swallow of the year as well and a nice range of sightings.

Above, this Angle Shades moth was found on someone's front wall when I walked the dogs down my street. Below, one of two Great Black-backed Gulls flying over the Cemy.

Above, a roosting Wood Pigeon and below, a male Blackbird enjoying the early morning sunshine.

Above, the Horse Chestnut leaves are really coming out now. Below, a Collared Dove also bathing in the early morning sunshine.

Above, this Blue Tit was one of a pair in the southern half of the Cemy and below, possibly up to four Mediterranean Gulls flew overhead including this individual.

Above, this Wren was in full song from this small bush and below, I found this Double-striped Pug moth perched near the Cemetery entrance.

Highland Road Cemetery:

A good variety of birds both seen and heard this morning during my hour within the Cemetery, with a total of 22 species either seen or heard on my slow walk round. I arrived at the Cemetery around 7.30am and for a change, there was no other dog-walker there throughout the time I was there! Most unusual. On the way to the Cemy, I found an Angle Shades moth perched on the front wall of a house in my road, but it was a little worse for wear. On the way out of the Cemy, by the main gates, I found a Double-striped Pug moth perched on the wall there. Four species of Gull were seen flying over the Cemy that included at least two, possibly four, Med Gulls heading eastbound to Langstone Harbour, I expect. I heard the distinctive ‘chacking’ of a Blackcap deep within cover, but there was no sighting of the bird, unfortunately. Most likely a migrant bird I expected and while I was waiting in vain for the bird to show, I heard at least one Chiffchaff calling behind the bird, but again, no sighting. Other notable sightings included a Jackdaw flying over (getting regular here of late!) and a flyover Linnet heading high west as was a Meadow Pipit.

A few Bumblebees, which were most likely Buff-tailed Bumblebee's judging by the size of them, were seen, but too quick for a photo. All the usual plants were on show with nothing new to add to them. But it was lovely to be out and about so early in the morning in the bright sunshine. The birds seen or heard within the Cemetery this morning included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Great Black-backed Gull
• Mediterranean Gull
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Collared Dove
• Feral Pigeon
• Wood Pigeon
• Carrion Crow
• Jackdaw
• Magpie
• Linnet
• Goldfinch
• Greenfinch
• House Sparrow
• Starling
• Robin
• Wren
• Meadow Pipit
• Blackcap (heard only)
• Chiffchaff (heard only)

Above, a view from one of the viewpoints along the Canal Path at Fishlake Meadows. Below, Lesser Pond Sedge growing by the footpath.

Above, I found this Ground Ivy growing on an old fallen tree trunk and below, the rear end of a Chiffchaff of which there were dozens of them seen or heard today at the Meadows.

Fishlake Meadows, Romsey:

After a brief trip to Gunwharf early this morning with my wife and Russell, when we got home I grabbed my birding gear and then made the 23 mile trip westbound to this superb reserve. When I arrived, a chap in the car park told me that an Osprey had been seen earlier today and he had seen and heard a Sedge Warbler on the reserve. Things looked good then. Emma and Matt then turned up in their car within the car park a few minutes later and then we were off walking north along the Canal Path. There were a few spots of rain, but nothing troubling. That came later!! All around us, there was a huge chorus of birdsong; notably Chiffchaffs, Cetti’s Warblers and Blackbirds of which we got to see plenty of today.

Above, a Chiffchaff in flight and below, a female Siskin having a good scratch!

Above and below, a male Blackcap was showing well singing within this Alder by the main footpath.

Kicking off with my first and only ‘year-tick’ today, Swallows; we saw at least four birds together flying over the reserve near the main footpath and even singing to one another high overhead. I was hoping for Sand Martins today, but it was not to be; but I was more than made up with my first Swallow of the year. Along the footpath, the whole area was alive with Cetti’s Warblers and Chiffchaffs. Some Willow Warblers were seen this morning here, but though I had a possible singing distantly, it was never seen ; but we had much better luck with the Blackcaps, with several male birds seen and a lovely female bird by the main footpath. Siskins were showing well in the Alders and we even got to see a Lesser Redpoll flying over our heads, though it never settled. Both male and female Stonechats showed well on our walk and the occasional Reed Bunting flew over. Water Rails, as expected, were heard regularly rather than seen; deep within the reedbeds, but sometimes they seemed so close, but, frustratingly, out of sight. A few Treecreepers were seen (and quite vocal too) and a Nuthatch was heard several times, though this bird proved elusive. Matt sent me a message that 31 species of birds were seen today on our trip here to Fishlake. 

Above, another female Siskin showing well by the footpath and below, King Alfred's Cakes fungi growing on this old tree stump by the Canal Path.

Above, I could not get this down to a particular species but it is of the Tyromeses fungi. It is startling white in colouration and quite big too. Below, we saw a lot of Large Red Damselflies on the wing today and this one kindly settled on some nettles.

Overhead and over the reserve, we kept our eyes peeled for the Osprey, but no diamonds. However, we were rewarded with a superb female Peregrine soaring low overhead; numerous Common Buzzards and a supporting cast of both male and female Sparrowhawks and a few distant Red Kites. Plenty of the regular Grey Lag Geese around, but, surprisingly, no Egrets were seen and only a few Grey Herons flew past.

Above, one of several Peacock butterflies seen today and below, the common White Dead-nettle growing by the edge of the footpath. Common Carder Bees found this most attractive.

Above, after seeing a female Stonechat by the Canal Path, we found this lovely male bird while walking west at the northern end. Below, Emma rambling through Belbin Copse where we had our first Orange-tip butterfly sighting.

Above, I was surprised to see these Sulphur Tuft Toadstools growing so early and below, my first Garlic Mustard plant of the year.

Above, Sparrowhawks were seen several times during our stay at Fishlake including this male bird. Below, the Hoverfly, Short melastoma enjoyed nectaring on the Lesser Celandine flowers.  

A good variety of insects were on the wing today in the lovely sunshine and starting off with Butterflies, we had sightings of Comma, Red Admiral, Peacock, Brimstone and Orange-tip! Other insects also included our first Damselflies of the year, notably Large Red Damselfly, many of which were of the ‘teneral’ stage of their lifecycle and looked almost transparent when flying along in the bright sunshine. Hoverflies were also abundant with Marmalade Hoverfly, Short Melanostoma, Drone Fly and Plain-faced Dronefly showing well and Common Carder Bees were taking a liking to the flowering White-dead Nettle along the footpath. A good variety of wildlife today and it's only just into Spring. Whatever is next in store? In Hampshire today, another Osprey was seen in Langstone Harbour and a Common Whitethroat at nearby Budds Farm. 5 Little Gulls were on Pennington Marshes and two still on Titchfield Haven. A Common Redpoll was found among Lesser Redpolls at Woolmer Pond and a White Stork was seen to fly over Hinton.

Above, a Plain-faced Drone Fly chilling out on a leaf and below, Lesser Celandine, Wood Anemone and Mare's tail growing in Belbin Copse.

Above, my first Marmalade Hoverfly of the year, also nectaring on Lesser Celandine. Below, a Common Buzzard drifted over; one of many seen this afternoon and quite vocal too. 

Above, the Peregrine seen earlier drifted over again and flew over the reserve and below, a pair of Common Buzzards circling high overhead.

A female Blackcap showed well by the Canal Path on our way back to the car and below, a male Siskin showed well also.

As per usual, Emma took a lot of superb photos, but her photo of one of the Swallows seen this afternoon was miles better than mine. Photo by Emma Parkes.