Firecrest in Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth.

Friday 6th December 2024.

This cracking photo of a Firecrest was taken by Pete Appleton. 

This morning started bright, sunny and cold and the day finished with it being overcast, windy and threatening rain. Yet another big storm is on its way, Storm Darragh, which is set to hit the south-west of the country overnight and even the Government is actually taking this seriously! Both Blashford Lakes and Titchfield Haven will be shut over the weekend due to the storm. The only birding I did today was while working in Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth, but at least there was plenty to look at today.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

I managed to get up to 17 species here today that included a calling Firecrest. I usually hear or see one here most years and if I can recall, I think I have recorded at least four here this year. Up to two Cormorants were seen today, one in the morning and one in the afternoon and a pair of Brent Geese circled over Governor’s Green, but did not settle as they flew off back east. Finally, a pair of Jays were in the Sycamore trees again, searching for something to eat. It looks as though all the acorns in the Holm Oak have now gone and the Jays are searching much lower down in the ground vegetation.

The list of birds seen or heard today included the following:

• Brent Goose x2
• Cormorant x2
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Jay x2
• Blue Tit
• Wren
• Robin
• Blackbird
• House Sparrow
• Greenfinch
• Firecrest
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Pied Wagtail

This Green Woodpecker was photographed in Southampton Cemetery by Rob Porter.

In Hampshire today, a female Velvet Scoter was off Hill Head, while two Red-necked Grebes were still around; one off Weston, Southampton and the second off Black Point, Hayling Island. Nationally, a Grey-headed Lapwing was at East Chevington, Northumberland. This bird should be wintering in south-east Asia but somehow, it has managed to fly across Europe to be here in the UK.