Migrants are on their way.

Thursday 12th September 2024.

A Hornet-mimic Hoverfly with two Batman Hoverflies on an Ivy Plant in Highland Road Cemetery this morning.

Another glorious start to the day with a clear blue sky and hardly any wind, unlike the day before where it was not only windy, but very cold indeed. An Arctic blast hit the UK yesterday with snow over the Cairngorms and here in the south, temperatures were down to single digits. Today, it was a lot warmer in the sunshine and though there were a few rain showers in the afternoon, it was mostly sunny and bright. The sunny weather encouraged a lot of passerines to make a move overhead and again, plenty of insects around taking advantage of the flowering plants.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

A Small White butterfly in Pembroke Road this afternoon. 

Up to 16 species were recorded during both my morning and afternoon shift at Pembroke Road and that included both a Yellow and Grey Wagtail heard flying over and on the opposite side of the road, a Chiffchaff was heard singing briefly. A few Meadow Pipits were on the move too, with these birds actually seen flying low and heading west. A flock of Starlings suddenly took flight around the Garrison Church as a female Sparrowhawk soared past them and perched on one of the distant rooftops. A few Hirundines were on the move too as a probable Swallow flew over Governor’s Green though headed off west, whereas, two House Martins showed well as they flew overhead at speed, heading west.

Above, a variety of different coloured Harlequin Ladybirds and their larvae were swarming along these railings along Pembroke Road.

On the insect front, yesterday morning, I was checking Governor’s Green when I noticed several Harlequin Ladybirds and their larvae on the perimeter railing fence. In fact, it turned out that every spike on the fence held at least one Harlequin Ladybird or larvae and at least five or more different colourations. So, probably hundreds of them here this morning, taking advantage of the bright weather. Today, a Small White butterfly was resting on one of the house walls and then took off and showed well. Many Bees were on the wing too, enjoying all the flowers along the roadside houses, which included Buff-tailed Bumble Bees, Batman and Marmalade Hoverflies and a small Wasp that grabbed my attention. After noting its diagnostic abdomen, I concluded, with a bit of research, that it was actually a Digger Wasp!

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

One of several Chiffchaffs in the Cemy this morning.

Becky and I have been looking after our daughter’s Labradoodle puppy since yesterday and so once I got home from my first shift at Pembroke Road, I took her for a walk around the Cemetery. Even though she is still very young, she walked superbly for me and we slowly walked around the Cemetery in the bright sunshine. 

Above, one of several Red Admiral's here in the Cemy and below, one of two Hornet-mimic Hoverflies in the Cemy with two Batman Hoverflies in attendance.

A very much dead Ivy Bee caught by this Garden Spider and below, a very much alive Ivy Bee.

There was a reasonable variety of birds seen within the Cemetery this morning and again, there must have been a good fall of Chiffchaffs once again here on the south coast. In just one area of the Cemetery, I counted at least five birds flitting about around each other and the Green Woodpecker flew up into one of the taller trees when I approached the warblers. Overhead, a Yellow Wagtail was heard to call, but I had better views of the Meadow Pipits that flew westbound. Another migrant, a Tree Pipit, was heard and then seen flying westbound high over the Cemetery. While checking the Warblers, I was sure I heard a Firecrest calling, but it only called just once and was never seen. It was good to see a nice variety here this morning plus all the common birds here this morning.

Above, one of many Tapered Drone Flies seen today and below, a Turnip Sawfly.

Above, flowering Ribwort Plantain and below, another Chiffchaff showing well.

Above, on closer inspection of the photo, there were two Tree Pipits flying over the Cemetery and below, could there be more goodies hiding in the Cemy that I missed?

The sunny weather brought out plenty of insects as one particular Ivy Bush held numerous Bees and Hoverflies including Hornet-mimic Hoverflies, Drone and Tapered Drone Flies, Thick-legged and Batman Hoverflies as well as good numbers of Common Wasps. Large and Small White butterflies and Red Admirals were all abundant too. This cold snap we are having is set to disappear over the weekend as the temperatures start to climb back up to where they should be for this time of year.

The birds seen or heard this morning included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Starling
• Robin
• Blackbird
• Chiffchaff 6+
• Firecrest (heard only)
• Meadow Pipit
• Yellow Wagtail (heard only)
• Green Woodpecker
• Tree Pipit (heard)

Even from my garden, I am always keeping an eye out for nature and I have had both Small White and Large White enjoying the Ivy growing in my garden and a few Red Admirals have gone through too. Chiffchaffs have been heard calling deep within vegetation and my neighbours tree as well as a few Yellow Wagtails and Meadow Pipits going over. Around midday, a large dark cloud passed overhead (just as I had hung out all my washing on the line), but it was circling just below it which had me rushing back into the kitchen to grab my binoculars. Three birds were circling together, but all looked different. One was a Raven, another was Herring Gull, but the third was most definitely a falcon, but it was big and to me, it looked like a big Kestrel, with thin outstretched wings ruling out both Peregrine and Sparrowhawk; but it flew like a Kestrel, but too big for one. Eleaonora’s Falcon? The bird flew off southbound and was lost to view as did the other two birds.

Above and below, a Common Sandpiper at Blashford Lakes today. Photo by Andy Tew.

On a controversial note, the reedbed on the Lake at Farlington Marshes has been nearly destroyed by the broken Sluice Gates spilling tons of seawater from the harbour. The utter incompetence by the people supposed to be looking after the place beggars belief and a birding friend of mine has told me over the past month, lamenting on the very poor Marsh Management going on here on my favourite reserve. The Social Media, including Facebook and the ‘Lazee Birder’ Whatsapp group has been awash with negative comments about the poor Management on Farlington Marshes. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel as the Environment Agency, bowing under a lot of people pressure, has assured the public and Nature groups that work is underway next month to replace the old Sluice gates and hopefully, the reedbed and the Lake itself will be back to normal; however, this will take a long time and who knows how much damage has been done. We shall see over the coming year. Sadly, hardly any waders have been seen roosting or feeding on the Lake area this Autumn and I for one, is fuming over this total incompetence by the idiots running the place.