All quiet over the Cemetery on Mothers Day.

Sunday 30th March 2025.

This Comma butterfly was the only butterfly to be seen today in the Cemetery.

After yesterday's runaround in the New Forest, it was back to earth with a quiet walk around Highland Road Cemetery with my dogs and hopefully find me a migrant or two. While updating my Blog this morning, a message on the ‘Lazee’ Whatsapp site informed me that a drake Garganey was found early this morning on Posbrook Floods. Bugger! Though I was sorely tested in going for the duck, there was the small matter of it being Mothers Day today and I most certainly didn't want a telling off from the 'Missus' in going to see the said bird. Hopefully, it just might linger a while?

Highland Road Cemetery, Hampshire:

A Wood Pigeon negotiating in trying to balance in this small tree.

Sadly, no migrants today in the Cemetery, not even a Chiffchaff, but it was sunny with a light north-westerly breeze going over the site and there were the more common birds present in fairly good numbers to keep me entertained. The sky was cloudless as I checked it now and then for Hirundines or Raptors, though none were seen during my time there.

A male House Sparrow 'chirruping' in the bushes over in the south-east corner.

All the usual birds were seen including a high flying Greenfinch heading west and a few Goldfinches up in the tree canopies. The Great Spotted Woodpecker was back again; high up in one of the tall trees in the north-east corner calling loudly. The Holm Oaks were very quiet, with only Magpies seen within the tops of the trees. Good to see the House Sparrows still here though I am not happy that I have not seen one in my garden for some time now. Even the food I put out is not being touched.

This singing Great Tit put in an appearance.

I was hoping that a butterfly or two might be on the wing today due to the sunny weather and I was rewarded with a single Comma butterfly perched on a gravestone. A few of the usual Bees and Hoverflies were about, but nothing unusual among them this morning.

A male Blackbird was singing in the trees while we walked past along the footpath.

As it was Mothers Day today, my wife was being treated to lunch at the Angel Hotel in Alton for a Sunday Roast and on the way there, I saw at least one Red Kite sailing only feet above the car and also a Common Buzzard flying over the adjacent fields by the A272. Earlier, my first Small White butterfly of the year flew over Winter Road in Southsea while I was waiting for the traffic lights to change.

Above and below, a male Firecrest got some unwelcome attention from a male Goldcrest. Photos by Emma Parkes.

Above, the Dotteral at Ferrybridge, Dorset yesterday. Photo by Andy Dickety. Below, a Little Owl in the Observatory Quarry, Portland Bill. Photo by James Cutting.

In Hampshire today, the drake Garganey remained faithful to the Posbrook Floods pool for most of the day and a Glossy Ibis was there as well. A Blue-headed Wagtail was back on Farlington Marshes again this afternoon, this time just south of the Lake area