Long-tailed Tits were back in the Cemy.

Tuesday 21st January 2025.

Another cold and mostly overcast morning here in Southsea and though there was a very light south-easterly wind, temperatures remained in single digits throughout the morning. Pembroke Road was blessed with the Brent Geese popping in to feed on the grass on Governor’s Green and the Jay put in an appearance too. Later in the morning, I took the dogs for a walk around Highland Road Cemetery again, of which it was rather quieter than normal and very few dog-walkers too.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

As mentioned, the Brent Geese were already present when I arrived at Pembroke Road, with a small flock of 5 birds grazing on the northern end of Governor’s Green. They were joined over the next 45 minutes by another 40+ birds; whereas yesterday, there were at least 75+ present late afternoon. Just the one Jay was seen today, going about its business in the trees opposite where I stood until flying off over the rooftops to the north. I got up to 16 species seen here yesterday, but only 12 were noted this morning, which included a small flock of Pied Wagtails on the Bowling Green.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

Two juvenile Herring Gulls on the Chapel roof.

After a few chores done after my first shift at Pembroke Road, I took the dogs for a walk back over my local patch. Unfortunately, no sign of any Woodpeckers this morning, but there was a roving flock of Long-tailed Tits back in the Cemetery (scarce here), with at least 8 birds seen in one of the small ornamental Cherry trees, but before I could get any reasonable photos, a dog-walker flushed them and they flew off to the Mausoleum area. At least four Blue Tits were with them also. 

Above, one of the Long-tailed Tits and below, up to three Greenfinches were seen including these two birds.

There was just the one Jay seen and though elusive at first, it eventually gave good views in the treetops by the Mausoleum. There were a lot of Magpies here again with at least 8 birds seen in the trees and a few more in the long grass.

Above, there was just the one Jay seen in the Cemy this morning and below, the large Oak Tree in the north-east corner of the site.

The birds seen or heard this morning in the Cemy included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Long-tailed Tit (8)
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Wren
• Robin
• Starling
• House Sparrow
• Blackbird
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Jay 

Above, looking south from the centre of the Cemy and below, another photo of the Jay.

In Hampshire today, both the Red-necked and Slavonian Grebe were seen near Hythe Pier and I read a report on the ‘Lazee Birder’s’ App that two Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were seen ‘drumming’ on the usual tree at Acres Down, New Forest. I shall have to pay a visit there soon for my ‘year-tick’ of this rare Woodpecker. Four Velvet Scoters are now off Brownwich Cliffs and a Slavonian Grebe off there too. Nationally, the Booted Eagle was reported at Marazion, Cornwall, yet again and seems well settled there. However, for the more adventurous, the drake Spectacled Eider is still on the sea off Texel, North Holland! I was reading about this bird on Birdguides last night and it said that for this bird to move away from its usual breeding area way up in the Arctic Circle is exceptional and the bird has been recorded as the most southerly bird ever recorded in the Western Pelearctic!