Pembroke Road & Highland Road Cemetery.

Tuesday 1st October 2024.

A male Sparrowhawk entertained over Highland Road Cemetery late morning.

How on earth is it October already? Arguably one of the most exciting months for birding that could produce some amazing birds due to some very uncertain weather. ‘Twitchers’ will be on full alert ready to pick off that way off course and birders are looking forward to more migrants to land nearby whether it be on land or from the coast. Already, there are large numbers of Yellow-browed Warblers in the UK including one reported at Sandy Point, Hayling Island this morning and so that is why I took a stroll around Highland Road Cemetery this morning after I got back from seeing my father. My first shift at Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth came first and I had a nice variety of birds here this morning.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

The two footpaths between the Bowling Green and the house adjacent to the footpath.  Today, up to 6 Pied Wagtails were on the Bowling Green and a Chiffchaff was calling down one of the footpaths. 

An incredible 22 species were noted here today, with 20 species seen this morning and another two more species later in the afternoon. The weather was a lot better than the day before with a light breeze and a lot of overhead clouds, all the hallmarks of an Autumnal day and a few Autumnal birds made their mark here. All the usual birds were either heard or seen, but it also a few I don't see often including a flock of House Martins (later in the afternoon), Pied Wagtails (a total of 6 seen in the Bowling Green), a flock of around 20 Swallows heading west (in the morning), a few Meadow Pipits and at least three Jays flying around the trees. The Jays were seen in the afternoon too and showing well. A lone Cormorant flew west high over the trees and headed off towards Portsmouth Harbour. This afternoon, the House Martins and a couple of House Sparrows were added to this morning's total.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

Above, I caught this Squirrel eating a leaf while the dogs looked on! Below, the Honey Fungus is starting to go over now around this Beech Tree.

This Virginia Creeper was stunning in the sunshine against the dark green background of this Conifer. Below, one of two Speckled Wood butterflies that were seen today.

At 11am, It was bright and sunny when I walked into the Cemetery with my dogs and almost straight away, a Chiffchaff was heard calling. Could there be a Yellow-browed Warbler lurking about here perhaps? I have seen them here in the past and so it looked promising. In fact, at least two calling Chiffchaffs were calling in nearby trees by the footpath and another was heard calling and seen a couple of times in the centre of the Cemetery. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard briefly calling in the north-east corner, but I had better luck with a male Sparrowhawk that soared over the Cemetery then headed off high south, scattering all the Pigeons below.

Above, the second Speckled Wood seen on my walk here in the Cemetery and below, just one of the flowering Ivy Plants that attracted so many insects.

Above, a queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee enjoying the flowering Ivy. Below, a Hornet-mimic Hoverfly enjoying Buddleia.

In one of the tall ornamental Conifers held a Firecrest. Even though the bird was calling frequently, it proved a nightmare to get a photo and the one I eventually got just about identifies it as one. Overhead, there was a small trickle of Meadow Pipits going past as per expected, but no Hirundines going over that I could see.

Above, the only photo I managed to get of the Firecrest within the Cemy, but you can just make out the distinctive plumage of the bird. Below, a Drone Fly on another Buddleia.

Above, another photo of the Hornet-mimic Hoverfly and below, even a Red Admiral butterfly was found on the Buddleia.

On the insect scene, a lot of the flowering Ivy produced good numbers of Bees and Butterflies and the scent of the Ivy was quite powerful at times. Four species of Butterfly were seen here this morning that included Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Large and Small White and with Common Wasps, Drone Flies and Bumblebee’s present; I had a lot of wildlife to look back on from my walk around my local patch.

Above, good numbers of Small Whites were around today and below, a Red Admiral sunning itself.

Above, love them or loathe them, there were good numbers on Common Wasps.

Above, some of the photos of the male Sparrowhawk flying over the Cemetery.