Fascinated by Spiders!

Friday 29th November 2024.

Another beautiful dawn over Southsea this morning.

Another gorgeous start to the day and not too cold either. I kicked off my day by taking my dogs for their early morning walk and the sun was yet to rise in the east, the light coming over Highland Road Cemetery was stunning to say the least. The silhouette of a Grey Heron flying east and being hassled by Gulls was seen while walking the dogs.

Above, the beautiful sunrise this morning over Southsea and below, two Spiders, Lace Weaver (left) and the oddly named Missing Sector Orb-weaver.

Fifteen species were recorded at Pembroke Road today that included a pair of Jays in the Sycamore trees and a lone Brent Goose flying northbound. However, it was a pair of Spiders that caught my attention today, when a Lace Weaver (the larger of the two spiders) and a Missing Sector Orb-weaver looked as though they were going to have a tussle; but they both eventually went their own way. They were on the house by the main road as I watched them for around 5 minutes.

Two colourful ducks that frequent Hampshire in the Winter. Above, a drake Red-breasted Merganser and below, a drake Goosander. Both photos by Rob Porter.

In Hampshire today, a Red-necked Grebe was off Farlington Marshes this morning, seen in Russell’s Lake within Langstone Harbour while another bird was seen off Black Point, Hayling Island, again along with 3 Great Northern Divers and 18 Avocet seen. A Black-necked Grebe and a Great Northern Diver were seen in Portsmouth Harbour this afternoon.

One of the Purple Sandpipers at Southsea Castle. Photo by Ollie Crabbe.