My first Peacock butterfly of the year.

Sunday 2nd March 2025.

The male Firecrest was seen again and also showed very well too.

Another beautiful day here on the south coast and though a tad cold, it was bright and sunny with a clear blue sky overhead. I decided to take my dogs for a walk around 7.15am this morning over Highland Road Cemetery, but when I arrived there, the gates were locked! I always thought they opened the gates around 6.30am as they do during the week; so I carried on with my walk and rounded the street I live in and headed off home for breakfast. Later in the afternoon, I returned to the Cemetery with the dogs for a nice slow walk in the sunshine.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

View of the Cemy looking south-west. Another beautiful day with wall to wall sunshine.

Though quiet at times, the Cemetery produced a few notable sightings that included the Firecrest again; this time by the bushes near the Holm Oaks and showed very well. However, the bird was never heard to call as it searched for food following a pair of Great Tits. The Jay showed occasionally, but distant; though it showed a little later very close to where I was standing hence the close up photos of this beautiful bird. Just the one Goldfinch seen here today and that was a singing bird high up in one of the Chestnut trees, but no Greenfinches around today. Sadly, no sign of any migrants if you don't include the Firecrest, which is probably a passing bird that will soon leave.

On the insects seen today, my first Peacock butterfly flew past me, but too quick to grab a photo and on the Heather covered grave, both Buff-tailed Bumblebees and Honey Bees were enjoying nectaring on the plants.

Above, a Buff-tailed Bumblebee and below, a Honey Bee; both enjoying the flowering Heather on one of the graves.

Above and below, this inquisitive Jay was watching my dogs and I was watching him!

The birds recorded there this morning included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Carrion Crow
• Jay
• Magpie
• Feral Pigeon
• Wood Pigeon
• Blackbird
• Robin
• Great Tit
• Blue Tit
• Firecrest: male
• Goldfinch
• Starling

Earlier today, the noisy Gulls outside my home were sounding a little distressed and so looking up from my garden, a female Sparrowhawk was circling overhead and showed superbly in the sunshine, however, despite rushing back indoors to grab my camera, the bird had disappeared when I arrived back out into the garden. Fume!

Above, this Goldfinch was the only one I saw here this afternoon and below, even Robins were hard to see, though this individual showed well.

Above, four more photos of the delightful Firecrest.

I got a text from Geoff to say he was birding in the Chidden / Teglease Down area where he saw 10 Common Buzzards, 6 Red Kites, 2 Ravens, 33 Stock Doves and 30+ Yellowhammers. He also took a trip to Coombe (near Old Winchester Hill) and saw 2 Little Owls and then two Barn Owls hunting in the nearby fields. Also there were 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Red Kites, a Raven, 500 Wood Pigeons and 20 Lapwing.