Another trip to the Cemy after my first shift.

Tuesday 25th March 2025.

The Green Woodpecker showed well this morning within the Cemetery.

Another murky start to the day, with the fog horns going off in the Solent this morning apparently. The day did brighten up later around midday when I took the dogs for their walk around Highland Road Cemetery, though the sunshine was sporadic with the high cloud being pushed on by a light westerly wind. The temperatures got up to 15 degrees and it was quite comfortable this afternoon in Pembroke Road.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

It was pretty much the same birds as yesterday, bar the Redwing, but a singing Chiffchaff this afternoon was probably the highlight along with a calling Firecrest in the Holm Oaks. Firecrests are very much widespread now and as long as there are some thick evergreen Bushes or Holm Oaks, one could almost guarantee a bird there; which is a far cry way back in the 80’s when they were considered very localised around the New Forest area.

Just the one Brent Goose was seen flying east and a Jay put in a brief appearance flying over the road. A few Buff-tailed Bumblebees and Hairy-footed Flower Bees showed this afternoon around the flower beds.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

Both male and female Hairy-footed Flower Bees were enjoying the flowering Hyacinth Bluebells on the graves within the Cemy.

I made the most of the weather while it was sunny at the time and so took the dogs for their second walk of the day around Highland Road Cemetery. There was no sign of the Black Redstart or Firecrest from Sunday, but a singing Chiffchaff was present again. Fellow ‘Lazee Birder’ Ollie Crabbe took a walk here yesterday and also ‘dipped’ on the Black Redstart, but did see the Firecrest.

Above, the female Sparrowhawk showed well again and below, the female Hairy-footed Flower Bee balancing upside down on the Hyacinth Bluebells.

Above, a Dandelion giving a bright splash of colour and below, this female Blackbird was collecting nesting material already for another breeding season.

Both the Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker were seen today; the former feeding on an Ants nest by a grave, while the Great Spotted was seen just once high up in one of the Horse Chestnut trees. The alarm calls of many birds was raised when a female Sparrowhawk glided into the Hom Oaks. I gave it a good look high into the branches but failed to see the bird, though it was seen again soaring high over the Cemetery to the east and being hassled by Gulls.

Above, a Robin out in the open in search for food and below, the Green Woodpecker searching for Ants.

Above, this female Blackbird posed nicely in the sunshine and below, a Yellow-legged Mining Bee.

Sadly, not a single butterfly on the wing here during my time walking the dogs around the Cemetery, but there were plenty of Bees and Hoverflies on the wing including both sexes of Hairy-footed Flower Bee and Yellow-legged Mining Bees.

Above, another Yellow-legged Flower Bee and below, a Buff-tailed Bumblebee nectaring on the Cherry Blossom.

Above, the Great Spotted Woodpecker put in a brief appearance. Below, Lesser Celandine flowers.

Above, we have Common Groundsel, Red-dead nettle and Daises altogether in one spot.

Nationally, there seems to be an influx of Hoopoes in the UK, with an incredible 10 on St. Martins on the Isles of Scilly! I read that at least four birds were seen in Southern Ireland together! The Forster’s Tern has returned to Shipstal Point, Arne NR and the Booted Eagle is still in Cornwall. Please come east to Hampshire! In Hampshire today, I have just found out that a Blue-headed Wagtail had been found on the Deeps at Farlington Marshes. Migrants are coming thick and fast. I was hoping for a Swallow today over Pembroke Road; maybe tomorrow?

The Green Woodpecker within Highland Road Cemetery.