Very large number of Swifts tonight over my house.

Monday 24th June 2024.

Buff-tailed Bumblebees enjoying the flowering Poppies in Pembroke Road.

Another very warm day here in Southsea, though some sea fog came in around 2.30pm, which put a dampener on those sunbathing on the seafront. Shame! From my perch at Pembroke Road today, a total of 16 bird species were noted during both my shifts which included four species of Gull again (Mediterranean, Black-headed, Herring and Great Black-backed Gull), a small flock of Goldfinches and just the one Swift.

There were a few notable insects seen today that included several Buff-tailed Bumblebees enjoying the ornamental Poppies in one of the gardens in Pembroke Road and a White Ermine moth was found by the entrance of a Retirement Home in Highland Road. It's funny what you unexpectedly see when you are on your travels. Tonight, while walking the dogs, there was a very large gathering of Swifts overhead with at least 40+ present and easily the largest number by far I have seen over my road. On a negative front, last Saturday's exertions at Durlston Head has still taken its toll on my old legs and something to think about next year. Yes, I have to lose a bit of weight and get used to walking a lot more over the coming year.

I found this White Ermine moth by a Retirement Home this morning.

Geoff Farwell didn't go with us last Saturday and instead, he went to the Houghton / River Test area where he recorded the following sightings: 4 Common Buzzard, 3 Red Kites, Hobby, 30 singing Skylarks, 9 Corn Bunting, 8 singing Yellowhammers and 10 singing Common Whitethroats. On the River Test, there were 5 Cetti’s Warblers, Sedge Warbler, 4 Reed Buntings, 2 Stonechats and 4 Little Egrets. Yesterday, Geoff went to Twyford Down where he had the following sightings: 3 singing Corn Bunting, 9 Common Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 22 singing Skylark, 75 Mediterranean Gulls, a single Red Kite and 2 Common Buzzards. He also had a Golden-ringed Dragonfly there along with a Painted Lady butterfly and several Ringlet butterflies. I had a busy day yesterday getting a few household chores done before we had a family BBQ in the afternoon. While chilling out, a Common Buzzard was seen soaring high over my house and a Med Gull drifted over.  

Fellow birder, Emma Parkes, took the above photos at Durlston Head on Saturday. Top photo was of the Razorbills on the cliffs close to the main viewpoint and the others were of the lone Puffin seen near Dancing Ledge.