Singing Chiffchaff now in the Cemy.

Sunday 9th March 2025.

The male Great Spotted Woodpecker showing very well just above my head.

It was back over Highland Road Cemetery this morning as my dogs never got their walk yesterday. Again, the weather was kind to us with hazy sunshine and a light easterly wind keeping the morning temperature around 12 degrees.

Above, this singing Great Tit grabbed my attention and below, the female Sparrowhawk belted through the Cemetery and most certainly on a mission.

As I slowly made my way anticlockwise around the main pathway, I heard a Chiffchaff singing near the Holm Oaks of which I saw later on my walk, though it was too difficult to grab a photo of the bird as it eventually disappeared into the Holm Oaks. A second bird was calling nearby, but I didn't see this individual. The female Sparrowhawk zoomed across the Cemy heading north through the Holm Oaks as I struggled with the camera to get a photo.

Above, Goldfinches were evident today including this singing bird below.

Above, Starlings were very vocal today and coming into their spring plumage.

The best sighting was of a male Great Spotted Woodpecker perched on an overhead branch and not far from where I stood. I even managed to get some film footage of the bird too. A flock of 5 Goldfinches flew over and one kindly settled by some bushes near the main footpath. There were plenty of birds singing this morning which included Robins, Great Tits, Wrens and even a Jay uttering its jumble of sounds and notes from the Holm Oaks!

Above, a gorgeous day again here in Southsea. A view of the Cemy looking west. Below, I found a dead and mostly eaten Magpie on the grass.

Above, there were plenty of Bees around today including this male Hairy-footed Flower Bee. 

Above, a couple more photos of the showy Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Sadly, no butterflies were seen here despite the lovely weather, but there were plenty of Bees on the wing including many Buff-tailed Bumblebees and also a male Hairy-footed Flower Bee.  On the way back home, as I was walking up my road, a calling Meadow Pipit flew north high over the houses.

Film footage of a beautiful bird.

The birds recorded this morning here included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Carrion Crow
• Jay
• Magpie
• Blackbird
• Great Tit
• Blue Tit
• Chiffchaff
• Wren
• Robin
• House Sparrow
• Dunnock
• Starling
• Goldfinch
• Sparrowhawk: female
• Great Spotted Woodpecker: male