Dartford Warbler in the bag!

Tuesday 4th March 2025.

There were plenty of Dunnocks on Fort Cumberland Common this afternoon and there was even one singing from gardens near Pembroke Road today.

Yet another very frosty start to the day that led to bright sunshine and a clear blue sky. There was hardly any wind whatsoever and so to anyone who was out there birding today, I’m sure they were most grateful for such beautiful weather. However, I was working again in Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth early this morning, but after my first shift was finished, I had to try again for the Dartford Warbler over Fort Cumberland, despite the drake Ferruginous Duck on Posbrook Floods still there after Mark Francis found it late afternoon yesterday.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

I managed to get up to 15 species today in Pembroke Road, of which three were added on my afternoon shift. Pick of the bunch was the Grey Heron this afternoon, flying low eastbound and a Chiffchaff was calling somewhere   within the canopy of the Holm Oaks, though I never actually saw the bird. A few very early Willow Warblers have been found of late, but I was sure it was a Chiffchaff calling. Also this afternoon, now that the temperature had risen to around 10 degrees, up to 5 Pied Wagtails were seen on the Bowling Green nearby. The only Brent Geese seen from Pembroke Road were a flock of 6 birds flying east. I did see a large flock of around 60+ Brent on the field south of Duisburg Way, which is, apparently, conveniently fenced off for the birds!

Fort Cumberland, Eastney:

Thanks to Ollie Crabbe in giving me a ‘Pin Drop’ on where he saw the Dartford Warblers on Sunday, before heading home, I took a drive back down there (negotiated the awful pothole Car Park) and took a stroll up to the eastern end of the Common at Fort Cumberland. Thankfully, there were hardly any dog-walkers when I arrived and so enjoying good numbers of Dunnocks, Greenfinches and Collared Doves on the way, I got to the fenced off area at the far end of the Common and waited.

A few pairs of Collared Doves were around the Common too.

Dunnocks, Greenfinches were seen and the brief song of both Cetti’s Warbler and Chiffchaff were heard during my 15 minutes waiting for any Dartfords to show and eventually, I heard the distinctive ‘churr’ of a Dartford Warbler. But where the hell was it? Mostly a mixture of tussocky grass and short brambles to hide in; it was in there somewhere! I had to wait another ten minutes for it to call again and then it flew across from bramble to bramble and thankfully climbed onboard my year list. I was a little peeved that there were none on Farlington Marshes last weekend and so I took the opportunity to see this one. Thanks again Ollie. Annoyingly, I was hoping to take some photos of the Dartfords, but my battery in my camera had run out! Hurrumph!

A couple of great photos by Emma Parkes recently. Above, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the woodland at Acres Down, New Forest and below, a Purple Sandpiper on the rocks by Southsea Castle.

Yes, the Ferrruginous Duck was still on Posbrook Floods in exactly the same place where we saw one last year; but the thought of driving all the way over there did not inspire me enough to get the bird. Sometimes I feel like it and other times I don't and I certainly do not like leaving my dogs on their own for too long either. I am glad James Cutting saw the bird and kindly allowed me to put a short film of the bird he took today.

The drake Ferruginous Duck on Posbrook Floods, Titchfield, today. Film footage by James Cutting.