Back over the Cemetery again.

Sunday 16th February 2025.

Wood Pigeons on the main footpath as you walk south from the main entrance. It is hard to believe that this species is on the Amber list of birds in the UK.

The weather was much better than yesterday, with hazy sunshine and just a bit of cloud; but it was still very cold with temperatures hovering around just 5 degrees fahrenheit. The dogs had not had their walk today due to lots of household chores and after I had a text from Matt Parkes that he ‘year-ticked’ a Brambling earlier today at the West Sussex site of Warnham NR; I decided to walk the dogs back over Highland Road Cemetery.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

One of the Starlings on the heavily pruned tree this afternoon.

Both Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers were actually seen this afternoon, although I was a tad lucky to see the former. I saw something fly off south and land up in a tree in the distance, but wasn't quite sure what it was. I therefore took a photo and later checked it on my laptop, I could then see it was a Green Woodpecker. Earlier, a female Great Spotted Woodpecker was much easier to see as it was seen calling high up in a tree in the north-east corner and showed very well.

Above, the distant Green Woodpecker and below, the female Great Spotted Woodpecker within the Cemetery.

Other birds noted on my walk here today were the Jay, that was only seen briefly flying in and out of the Cemetery and also the Starlings; all perched up in the heavily pruned tree in the southern half of the Cemetery. Just the one pair of Collared Doves were sleeping in the Chestnut trees and I counted at least 5 Greenfinches perching high up in the trees. Not one Robin was heard or seen this afternoon! There were just a few dog-walkers here this afternoon, leaving me to enjoy the birds more easily without the birds being flushed.

Above, this Jay was seen in a garden at the southern end of the Cemetery, but preferred to be partly hidden while I was there. Below, a view of the Cemetery towards the Mausoleum.

Above, the pair of Collared Doves high up in a Horse Chestnut Tree. Below, after the Beech Tree was chopped down and removed, the Council had replaced it with this tree. What species it is, is anyone's guess! 

The birds noted this afternoon within the Cemetery included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Carrion Crow
• Jay
• Magpie
• Pied Wagtail
• Greenfinch 
• Blackbird
• Blue Tit
• House Sparrow
• Starling
• Wren
• Collared Dove
• Feral Pigeon
• Wood Pigeon

Earlier today, making our way back from shopping, we were stationary within Goldsmith Avenue, Portsmouth; when a female Sparrowhawk flew low over the road and headed off north over the houses and seconds later, a Mediterranean Gull was to be seen flying east. 

It was rather quiet in Hampshire today though a Long-tailed Duck was seen off Hamble Point and a Red-necked Grebe was seen off Weston Shore and also another off Hayling Island.  A Barn Owl was seen at Farlington Marshes late afternoon and another at Tichborne.