This Willow Warbler was having a stretch in Highland Road Cemetery this morning.
The wind had shifted to the north-west this morning and being overcast too, it was like being back in winter again. Though dry, the strong blustery wind was horribly cold and not pleasant to be standing there for a length of time either. I was pleased to get my first shift in Pembroke Road over with and then later, when I got back home, I took the dogs for a walk back over Highland Road Cemetery where, at last, there were a few migrant birds that had arrived.
Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:
There was a reasonable total of 15 bird species seen this morning and though nothing that exceptional, all the usual suspects were present again. The Pied Wagtail was on the Bowling Green and a male Linnet flew low over the road heading westbound. I was sure the Sparrowhawk was around, having flushed a lot of Pigeons from the trees, but there was no sighting of the bird this morning.
The footpath walking south on the west side. The Great Spotted Woodpecker was in these trees this morning. Below, this Ivy-leaved Toadflax grew abundantly on the south perimeter wall. It attracted a few Bees, including this male Hairy-footed Flower Bee.
Above, the male Hairy-footed Flower Bee nectaring on the flowers. Below, one of 8 Goldfinches in the trees.
Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:
A total of 16 species were recorded this morning on my walk around the Cemetery and at last, there were a few migrant birds within. A Willow Warbler was heard briefly somewhere near the Mausoleum, but it wasn't relocated till I got to the north-east corner where it was eventually seen singing high up in the Oak tree. While checking this bird out, I could hear a second bird calling just north of here and so as I walked up to the bird, I soon picked it out in some hanging overhead branches within the Plane tree. A little earlier, there was a snatch of Blackcap song and then I spotted the bird flying out of a bush then flew into a nearby garden bush, but out of sight. Still, two Warbler species in a matter of minutes. What else could be around? Sadly, no more Warblers or other migrants, but the Great Spotted Woodpecker was around again. I first heard it calling over on the west side and eventually saw the bird flying overhead at great speed and landing in the furthest tree in the north-east corner.
Above, a Collared Dove posing nicely for me and below, one of many Common Banded Hoverflies present today.
Above, when the sun did break through the clouds, the whole place lit up in various shades of green. Below, the Willow Warbler high up in the Oak tree.
Though mostly overcast, there were spells when the sun broke through the thick cloud and everything looked ‘Spring-like’, but it didn't last long as the wind returned. But hey, at least it was dry!
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Feral Pigeon
Collared Dove
Blackcap (singing male)
Willow Warbler (2 singing males)
Blue Tit
Robin
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Blackbird
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Starling
Wren
Above, this female Blackbird was collecting nesting material and below, another shot of the Willow Warbler high up in the Oak tree.
It is fairly quiet in Hampshire currently with a few notable sightings including 4 Common Terns at Blashford Lakes and a singing Garden Warbler at Bickerley Common. Over in West Sussex, the Purple Heron is still present from the North Wall at Pagham Harbour. Over on the Isle of Wight, Brading Marshes scored yesterday with SIX Wood Sandpipers and a Temminck’s Stint and three of the Wood Sands are still present today. Checking our local ‘Lazee’s & Hants Rarity Apps’ this afternoon, a male Pied Flycatcher was at Sandy Point, Hayling Island this morning and now, a superb Marsh Sandpiper has been found at Normandy Marshes. What a find.
The Marsh Sandpiper on Normandy Marshes this afternoon. Film footage by Mark Francis.
We were blessed with another glorious start to the day and thankfully, not too cold either, but I could see my breath when I exhaled this morning in Pembroke Road at 8am! I shouldn't moan I suppose, but at least it was dry and the promise of getting warmer throughout the day. Well, it certainly did as I put a load of washing on the washing line this morning; the first time this year too! I didn't put the moth box on last night and so I was content in checking out the birdlife in Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth instead. Just before I left for work, Becky pointed out a few birds were in the garden that included a pair of Blackbirds searching for food on the patio and picking up the remains of sunflower hearts the House Sparrows were dropping from the feeders! This is the first time I have seen House Sparrows on the feeders since January! Where have they been? So this sparked me off in putting some dried Mealworms out for the birds.
Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:
I didn't have time to take a look at the Curtain Moat area this morning, but I did notch up 17 species seen or heard this morning from Pembroke Road. The notable birds present included a pair of Linnets flying west low over the road and a couple of Great Black-backed Gulls sailing over. OK, these species wont set the birding world alight but they are not common here. Just to stand there listening to the song of Great and Blue Tits with the sun warming your back was a lovely way to start the day. I am sure it's going to get a lot warmer this afternoon, so it's back to sunglasses time…..hopefully.
Above, the customary Herring Gull perched on the Chapel roof is a familiar sight on entry to the Cemetery. This is a young bird. This morning, I decided to walk anticlockwise around the Cemetery and I came across this Common Banded Hoverfly sunning itself on a leaf.
Above, this successful male Blackbird managed to grab a juicy worm and below, no matter how small they are, the Wrens sure do pack a big song.
Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:
The dogs got their regular walk this morning and it was back over to Highland Road Cemetery again. I was pretty dismayed that there were no Warblers seen or heard on this lovely morning here in the Cemy and by far, the best bird seen was a ‘drumming’ Great Spotted Woodpecker. It was surprising the sound difference of the ‘drumming’ was when the bird used two different trees to ‘drum’ up against.
Above, a Robin in full song by the footpath and below, a male House Sparrow perched high in this bush. They seem to be a lot more common this year.
Above, a Collared Dove sunning itself on a gravestone. Below, the 'drumming' Great Spotted Woodpecker could only just be made out through the developing leaves in this tree.
Just 18 species were seen or heard here this morning, but a lot of the common birds showed very well and most obliging at times, hence the close photos of the birds. There was just the one butterfly seen this morning, a brown job, but it was simply too quick for me to get a photo of it or even correctly ID it as well. There were plenty of Bees and Hoverflies around as expected in the warm sunshine that included several Buff-tailed Bumblebees, Batman and Common Banded Hoverflies and quite a few House Flies sunning themselves on the leaves or boughs of trees. Though nothing too exciting to be seen here this morning, the whole area is certainly looking good for passing migrants to pop in.
Above, there wasn't many Starlings about this morning, but what I did notice is that a few were searching the grass for insects to most likely feed their newly emerged young. Below, the common 'Spanish' race of Bluebell was sprinkled about the Cemetery.
The birds recorded in the Cemetery this morning included the following:
This pair of Herring Gulls look as though they could be planning to build a nest on my neighbours chimney?
Yet again, hardly any moths again this morning from my Moth Box, with just two present and so it was down to Pembroke Road to come up with all the excitement today. The weather, though cold first thing, was bright and sunny as I had an early start here at Pembroke Road, for I had to drop my wife off to pick her car up. So I took a walk around Curtain Moat for about 20 minutes, which helped build my day total here up to 21 species.
There were just the two moths present this morning that included (above) anEarly Greyand (below) a Double-striped Pug.
The Moth Box:
There were two moths around my moth box this morning that included an Early Grey that was perched on the wall opposite and a Double-striped Pug that was sitting on the fence panel on the opposite side of the garden. Again, there was nothing in the moth box itself.
One of several Batman Hoverflies present in my back garden this afternoon.
Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:
The early morning walk by Curtain Moat brought me the most species here today that included a good look over the Solent where I saw a pair of Shelduck flying west low over the sea and a small herd of three Mute Swans flying much closer heading west towards Portsmouth Harbour. A Chiffchaff flew over my head, calling while doing so, but quickly flew into cover and that was the last I saw of it. A few Linnets and Goldfinches were seen flying over and all the usual birds were noted. The male Sparrowhawk was seen both this morning and this afternoon on the hunt for prey and was seen to stoop behind the Holm Oaks near the Bowling Green, but whether it caught anything is anyone's guess. I kept a good eye out overhead for my first Swift of the year and although Fishlake Meadows had a good few, I saw none today.
Above, one of several female Hairy-footed Flower Bees that was in my garden today and below, a Smooth Sow-thistle flower. I am reluctant to pull these out of my garden pots as the Bees love the flowers and I encourage people to let them flower before grubbing them up.
Later in the afternoon, during my lunch hour, I spent it in the back garden and watched the local Bees go about their business around the plants. The vast majority were Hairy-footed Flower Bees, mostly female with just the one male seen and the others were Batman Hoverflies. A Holly Blue butterfly flew over briefly, enjoying the warm sunshine in my back garden.
The pair of Garganey on Posbrook Floods this morning with a Coot in the background. It is always great to catch up with this lovely duck species and this site seems to be a favourite before the birds depart northbound.
There was still a rather cold wind blowing this morning down Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth, but nowhere near as windy as yesterday and later in the afternoon, on my second shift, it was pleasantly very warm again, ‘sunglasses weather’! I arrived early for my first shift in Pembroke Road and took a walk around the Curtain Moat area, just in case there might have been a migrant dropped in. When I finished my shift, I took a drive to the Canal Path over Titchfield to try my luck for yesterdays pair of Garganey and thankfully, they were there on Posbrook Floods,
Above, this small field of Bulbous Buttercups was eyecatching near the Curtain Moat.
Above, Bulbous Buttercups and below, Sticky Mouse-ear Chickweed.
Pembroke Road / Curtain Moat, Old Portsmouth:
14 species were notched up today at Pembroke Road and although there was nothing really of note, I did have a tantalising quick sighting of a Hirundine this afternoon; but the view was very brief as it flew west over Governor’s Green. My hunch was probably a Martin species, but simply not enough time to get a decent view. I constantly checked the bright sky overhead for my first Swift of the year (one was seen this morning over Titchfield Haven), but very little was flying over. A male Pied Wagtail was on the Bowling Green and although I scanned the Solent thoroughly for anything of note, it was very quiet, bar the Hovercraft making its way over to the Isle of Wight! There was a pair of Linnets on the hill opposite the Church but soon flew off north. On the east side of Curtain Moat, the grass was covered with Bulbous Buttercup and Sticky Mouse-ear Chickweed. Later in the afternoon, a Small White butterfly flew past me on Pembroke Road; the only butterfly I saw today.
Above, this Roe Deer was my first notable sighting of my trip to Posbrook Floods this morning. Below, my first sighting of a Common Whitethroat this year, seen along the northern end of the Canal Path.
Above, the same Common Whitethroat which possibly was nest-building already? Below, the juvenile Little Gull on the Bridge Street Floods.
The singing male Common Whitethroat on the Canal Walk.
The Canal Path, Posbrook Floods and Bridge Street Floods, Titchfield:
This morning, here on the Canal Path, it was going to be a good day for Warblers. It kicked off superbly when I heard and then saw my first Common Whitethroat of the year; seen singing its heart out and then flying down low into some nearby bramble by the path. The bird showed very well at times and I even managed to film the bird briefly singing in one of the small trees. Another bird was seen out in the fields to the east and I am sure another was seen further along the path. Chiffchaffs were also in good voice with at least four or five singing males along with at least three singing male Blackcaps. I could hear a Sedge Warbler singing somewhere in the distance between the Bridge Street Floods and Posbrook Floods, but I did not get a sighting of the bird. I was sure I heard a Lesser Whitethroat singing briefly while I was checking out Posbrook Floods, but no sightings I’m afraid. Hopefully, I might catch up with one this Spring for I failed to see one last year in Hampshire!
Above, the Little Gull (right) with a Black-headed Gull on the Bridge Street Flood and below, a female Stonechat was one of a pair searching for food in front of this Flood.
Above and below, this Chiffchaff was in full song in the Willow trees along the Canal Path. One of many along here this morning.
Above and below, just some of the 100+ Sand Martins present over Posbrook Floods this morning.
Out in the fields, in front of the Bridge Street Floods, there was a pair of Stonechats going about their business and on the Floods itself, I found the juvenile Little Gull flying up and down the stretch of pool; though it did get some hassle from a Black-headed Gull at times. This bird has been present for several days now and it showed well, albeit distantly, all the time I was there. I checked the area thoroughly for waders, but the only species I could see was a Lapwing. An Egyptian Goose was present there along with a few Canada Geese. Onto Posbrook Floods, I got a good vantage point overlooking the water from the Canal Path, but initially, there was no sign of the Garganey. They notoriously hide among the rushes out in the Floods, but for now, no sign of the birds, so I made do with my next ‘year-tick’ of the morning, the Sand Martins. At one time, there must have been at least 100+ Sand Martins present and should a raptor come in, they would group up into one tight big flock until the danger passed. A few House Martins and Swallows were also seen among the many Sand Martins. The raptors in question included a male Marsh Harrier and a Red Kite that flew low over the Floods, putting up the many Teal present. It was then that I spotted the pair of Garganey swimming just in front of the nearby sedges and then they took off too, spooked by the Kite it seemed as they flew around the area with the 30+ Teal. The birds eventually settled back in the sedges and seemed at peace with the world as I then made my way slowly back to the car.
Above, this Red Kite drifted over only to be harassed by a Carrion Crow. Below, the wildfowl hardly got any rest as this male Marsh Harrier flew over as well as the Kite.
Above, these Teal soon flew out of hiding among the sedges while a couple of Shovelers looked on. Below, even the Garganey took flight and it was a job to relocate the birds.
Above, some more photos of the Garganey.
A Kingfisher was a nice surprise. I first heard it calling along the Canal and then saw the bird flying south low over the Canal and then zooming upwards to fly over the trees and out of sight. Cetti’s Warblers exploded their calls deep within cover, though I did see at least two birds briefly. A flock of Long-tailed Tits were searching the Willow trees while I enjoyed the songs of several Warbler species. The sun was fully shining, but surprisingly, there were hardly any insects around and certainly no butterflies. Greater Stitchwort and Cow Parsley were abundant along the Canal Path which was bordered by Nettles. One of the local birders also reported a Lesser Whitethroat early this morning from the Canal Path and she also reported a female Goosander on the Bridge Street Floods, but had gone by the time I checked it out thoroughly. I have now seen 160 species of birds in Hampshire this year and with more migrants pouring through and some good scarce birds, it could be a better year than last year.
The drake Garganey on Posbrook Floods.
Above, Greater Stitchwort and below Cow Parsley, both of which were abundant along the Canal Path.
