Another quick update & the Purple Sandpipers.

Tuesday 18th March 2025.

Not my photo, but another superb one from Emma Parkes of a Red Kite seen over Beacon Hill recently.

Just a quick update on my blog for the last few days and though I am writing this at 5am this morning, I thought I should add some more bird sightings before I forget them. It is always nice to look back at a few years later. 

I never went birding last Sunday as I had too many chores to do that included ‘food shopping’ with my wife in the morning and a relaxing look at the new Havant Garden Centre off Bartons Road, Havant (formerly Dobbies). My wife Becky decided to drive (for a nice change) and so I had the opportunity to check out any birds on our way. At the top of the M275, near the Marriot Hotel, I was to be treated to a fine Red Kite soaring overhead and showing well in the bright sunshine as did a Common Buzzard. Other sightings included a pair of Little Grebes on Hilsea Creek; seen when crossing the Langstone Bridge to get onto the M27 and a flock of around a dozen Med Gulls high overhead from the Garden Centre. If they never called, I probably would not have seen them.

It isn't easy trying to catch insects in flight, but Emma Parkes managed to capture this Buff-tailed Bumblebee.

Birding pal, Geoff Farwell, went over to Preshaw, near Beacon Hill, to do a spot of birding last Sunday. From here, he saw at least 5 Red Kites & 5 Common Buzzard, 2 Ravens, Marsh Tit, Firecrest and 70 Linnets.

Yesterday, at Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth, it was a cloudy start with a strong breeze blowing down the road. During my time there, I had a total of 15 species seen or heard that included a pair of Jays when I first arrived in the morning shift. They really do possess a very strange call occasionally (not just the ugly loud rasping call they usually make) and sounds as if they are trying to sing, with squeaks and warbles. Two birds, possibly a pair, were in the garden trees by Pembroke Close seemingly calling to one another. Just the one Brent Goose was seen flying eastbound near Curtain Moat, though there is still a fairly large flock on Southsea Common. Finally, a calling Chiffchaff was heard in the Holm Oaks late into my afternoon shift there, which possibly could have been a migrant bird? I have to say, I was absolutely freezing during my time there, despite being well wrapped up; but that north-easterly wind blowing down the road was horrible to say the least! Roll on some southerlies!

Both Emma & Matt Parkes also went up to Drayton Watercress Beds last Sunday and got a good photo of the Barn Owl there.

Notable birds in Hampshire today included a Ruddy Shelduck at East End, Sowley (not too far from Pennington Marshes) and a Red-necked Grebe off Chilling Cliffs. Two Sand Martins were seen over Fishlake Meadows and a Swallow was seen coming in off the sea at Titchfield Haven around lunchtime. I am keeping an eye out for my first Hirundine of the year from Pembroke Road. Will I get lucky today? 

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

There was unbroken sunshine this morning over Southsea, with a cloudless sky(unlike yesterday) but still a cold easterly blowing down Pembroke Road, keeping this morning's temperatures well below double figures. Brrrrrr! Despite the cold weather, a good species count this morning with 17 species noted during the hour I was there.

Most notable of the species was a singing Chiffchaff (heard but not seen) somewhere on the pathway between the Bowling Green and Governor’s Green and a Meadow Pipit was seen flying northbound high over the houses. One of the Jays entertained again and hung around one of the trees by the Holm Oaks. Again, only one Brent Goose was seen this morning with a single bird heading eastbound; though later in the afternoon, a flock of around 15 birds were seen flying west along the shoreline near Curtain Moat.

Southsea Castle and the Solent:

The three Purple Sandpipers seen distantly west of the Castle.

I brought along my main camera and binoculars this morning, to take a walk around Southsea Castle and see if anything of note, including the Purple Sandpipers, might have turned up. At first, there was no sign of any of the Purple Sandpipers when I walked along the promenade in front of the Castle heading east and all I could find was an adult Shag swimming on the sea, though not too far out.

The adult Shag was much more obliging, fishing just offshore. Below, five Oystercatchers passing off the spit near Southsea Castle. I really needed a scope to ID these birds at the time, but I decided to take some photos and then check it out on my laptop to ID the birds.

It was when I made my west along the promenade, checking the rocks thoroughly, that I eventually found the Purple Sandpipers. However, they were some 200 yards to the west along the rocks and not too far from where the new seawall is being built. Just three birds could just be seen as I took a few photos, but nothing else of note here. As it was a bit blowy over the Solent with ‘white horses’ clearly seen over the sea, I was hoping for a Gannet or Kittiwake to add to my year list. Nope, Bugger all! A few distant Herring Gulls was my lot, but I am looking forward to be doing some seawatching here in the coming Spring.

Eastney and the Harbour entrance:

This female Kestrel was hunting over the scrubby area on Eastney Esplanade.

After grabbing myself a hot coffee from the Coffee Cup to warm myself up, I made my way to the Harbour entrance. Before I got to the end of Eastney Esplanade, I saw a female Kestrel hovering over the scrub on the land side of the road and so pulled over and took a few photos and some film footage of the bird. Beforehand, a gathering of at least 200+ Brent Geese were on the green near the Tenth Hole Cafe, though I couldn't stop as I drove past.

Above, this Fox was right by the roadside as I neared the Harbour entrance and below, an Oystercatcher on the foreshore by Lock Lake, Eastney.

Above, another Oystercatcher joined the other bird and below, a lone Redshank also on the foreshore by Lock Lake.

Lock Lake, Eastney on a receding tide. I think this is a heavily under-watched area and could have the potential of turning up a rare bird or two.

On reaching the Harbour entrance, I looked back over Lock Lake to the west, to check out any waders or wildfowl on the receding tide. Oystercatchers, Redshank and Curlew were in fairly good numbers dotted around on the shoreline and on the mudflats and though very distant, I think there were 4 Black-tailed Godwits over on the far side of Lock Lake. Three Red-breasted Mergansers, two females and a drake, were swimming in the channel, but too distant to get a decent photo. Still, nice to get out and take some wildlife photos in such sunny weather. It is supposed to be getting warmer as the week progresses, which should in turn help the migrant birds to make their way to our shores.

The female Kestrel hunting in Eastney this morning.