Good species count at Pembroke Road.

Tuesday 22nd October 2024.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

I get to see a few large vessels sail out of Portsmouth Harbour including the HMS Prince of Wales Aircraft Carrier. It is huge!

Over the past two days, the weather has been a mixture of sunshine and showers, but it has produced good species totals of birds at Pembroke Road where yesterday, I had seen/heard 17 species, but this was trumped today by 20 species recorded. As we near the end of October (where has the time gone?), there is now a speedy movement of birds overhead that included at least 600 Wood Pigeons moving west. 

Above and below, Emma and Matt Parkes are staying on Elmley Marshes, Kent for three days. This Stoat had caught a Rabbit there.

Though nothing unexpected yesterday, this morning produced a Raven flying west low over Governor’s Green and with Carrion Crow, 3 Jays and Magpie seen; it was a good day for Corvids. It wasn't too bad for finches too with Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Greenfinch all seen. It will not be long before the Siskins start flying through. As I was making my way to my second shift, I saw a male Sparrowhawk flying low over Clarence Parade. The many Wood Pigeons and Feral Pigeons around today were flushed every so often; so I wonder if this Sparrowhawk was the culprit.

Above and below, a Snow Bunting proved irresponsible for Emma & Matt to ignore and so took a trip to Epple Bay, Birchington-on-sea. They also got a 'lifer' with a Smew at Worth Marshes.

On Monday, the news broke out that the female Ruddy Duck on Ibsley Water (Blashford Lakes) was in fact a Maccoa duck. This is a species of African duck that has obviously escaped from a wildfowl centre somewhere and has been touring the likes of Sussex and Surrey. To be fair, the two species in their female form are very hard to tell apart and I suppose the good news is that the RSPB will not send someone to shoot the bird!

This Hare was just outside where they were staying at Elmley Marshes.

In Hampshire today, there was a very good spread of Ring Ouzels with 8 birds seen at Butser Hill alone, which included two males. Three Glossy Ibis were still at the Bridge Street Floods and a Spoonbill flew over Farlington Marshes. I wonder if any work whatsoever has started on this reserve as mentioned last month?!