The Aircraft Carrier HMS Prince of Wales returns back to Portsmouth Harbour as she passes the Royal Garrison Church with Black-headed Gulls upon the Governor's Green.
What has been mostly an overcast week so far continued today although the temperatures were still in single figures here in Southsea. Yesterday was a bit quieter than today within Pembroke Road, but a group of FOUR Jays was probably the best sighting here, though a Firecrest was heard within the Holm Oak trees again. This morning, up to 15 species were recorded and that included a Lesser Redpoll flying high over Pembroke Road heading westbound. Just the one Jay heard this morning, but they should be showing well this afternoon. The birds recorded this morning included the following:
Herring Gull
Black-headed Gull
Wood Pigeon
Feral Pigeon
Carrion Crow
Magpie
Jay
Blackbird
House Sparrow
Blue Tit
Lesser Redpoll
Greenfinch
Pied Wagtail
Robin
Starling
Above, the Yellow-browed Warbler at Hilsea Moat and below, one of the female type Scaup on Milton Ponds. Both photos courtesy of Chris Geary.
In Hampshire, another Yellow-browed Warbler was discovered along the vegetation at Hilsea Moat and showing well at times over the past few days (see photo). Jason Crook’s female type Scaup was on Milton Lakes yesterday too. He had them earlier last week and they look as though they might be settled on there. There was a nice selection off Weston Sailing Club, Southampton, this morning where one could view a Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver and a Shag!
Another cold day today with a chilly north-easterly blowing over Southsea. It was still quite dark when I took the dogs for their early morning walk, yet I could hear both a Blackbird and a Wren calling despite being very dark as I passed nearby St. Margaret's Church. After a blowy weekend, it was a bit calmer this morning and my bird sightings today were down Pembroke Road in Old Portsmouth.
Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:
Lovely colours in the sky over the Holm Oaks adjacent to Pembroke Road at 8am today.
I had a total of 15 species recorded here today during both shifts and although nothing that unusual, I was pleased with what I saw today that included three species of Finch: Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Greenfinch. A pair of Jays, always entertaining, were flitting about both the Holm Oak and the nearby Sycamores, but no sign of any Brent Geese or Cormorants over today. The birds seen or heard today included the following:
Jay (2)
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Feral Pigeon
Blue Tit
Starling
Robin
House Sparrow
Goldfinch (4)
Greenfinch (3)
Chaffinch
Pied Wagtail
Wren
It was fairly quiet in Hampshire today with the 3 Glossy Ibis still on the Posbrook Floods again and in front of the Tern Hide at Blashford Lakes, both the female Red-crested Pochard and Black-necked Grebe were present while one of the White-tailed Eagles was on the bank nearby. Nationally, there has been a large influx of Little Auks down the eastern coast of England and hopefully, we might actually get one or two down here in the South? A showy Black-throated Diver was by Chichester Harbour yesterday and fellow ‘Lazee’ Andy Scarborough (who we met recently at Black Point) got some excellent film footage of the bird (see below).
The Black-throated Diver on Emsworth Slipper Mill Pond by Chichester Harbour. Filmed by Andy Scarborough.
A Herring Gull chasing a Carrion Crow over the beach hoping to snatch whatever the Crow might drop! Unfortunately, there was very little to take photos of today.
I had already made up my mind to go to the Gilkicker shelter last night and told both Andy & Geoff our destination and for Geoff to bring his scope along. Storm Darragh was in full force here in the Solent, but I understand the likes of the South-west of England and Wales were taking the brunt of the storm as we arrived at the Car Park to take part in what was one of the coldest and birdless sea-watches this year.
The Solent, Gilkicker Shelter, Gosport:
A pair of Brent Geese struggling against the wind as they headed west towards Hill Head.
Sensibly, both Emma & Matt Parkes decided not to come down here to join us as us guys took refuge on the east side of the Shelter to avoid the rain showers and the worse of the wind. I read somewhere that it is best to sea-watch after the worst of the wind has died down, but there was always the chance of something good like a Skua, Shearwater or Petrel in such conditions and as both Blashford Lakes and Titchfield Haven were closed today, that's why we took the gamble on GIlkicker.
Above and below, an adult Herring Gull bravely negotiates the wind along the beach.
Above, another Herring Gull chasing this poor Carrion Crow across the beach. and below, Geoff struggling to get his spare leggings on!
Arriving at 9am, we spent the next FIVE hours here, shivering and buffeted by the wind and mostly staring at an empty angry sea! Both Herring Gulls in various ages and a few Great Black-backed Gulls went through over the Solent, causing a brief bit of excitement until we checked what they were through our respective telescopes! However, it wasn't totally a waste of time as Andy found the bird of the day heading fast east. A Red-throated Diver hurried past close in as I quickly got the scope on it to verify the ID. Fellow ‘Lazee’ Gary Fennemore, had a number of Divers flying into Chichester Harbour earlier this morning, but this ‘Red-throat’ was the only Diver seen today. Two Great Crested Grebes were seen swimming on the sea and another single bird was seen flying west into the wind low over the sea. Up to 5 Brent Geese were seen during our five hours there and the only other bit of excitement was a Wood Pigeon trying to break the sea speed record heading east over the sea!
Storm Darragh over the Solent.
Sadly, that was virtually it when it came to the birds here today, but we did enjoy watching both the Isle of Wight Catamaran and Car Ferry make their way across the choppy Solent, NOT!!!
