A few Warblers in the Cemy.

Monday 7th April 2025.

Most of the trees are full of leaves within the Cemy.

Another day where it was fairly warm during the day and very cold at night with a persistent north-easterly blowing over the south coast once more. I put the Moth Box on last night and the end result this morning was a complete blank. Yes, it was a gamble, but not even a Plume Moth????? The only consolation was a singing Chiffchaff in the gardens behind mine. After work, I took the dogs for their walk around Highland Road Cemetery seeing it was still sunny, though I still wore my fleece.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

Now that's one sexy looking Starling!

Could there be any migrants lurking about within the Cemy today and perhaps a butterfly or two and thankfully, the answer to that was yes! I found at least three Chiffchaffs quietly going about through the vegetation and at least one Willow Warbler that was high up in a tree by the Holm Oaks near the main entrance. The only other birds of note was the regular male Great Spotted Woodpecker that was calling occasionally high up in the trees at various locations within the Cemy, but I did see it briefly perched near the top of one of the trees.

Above, a few Herb Robert plants were flowering today and below, this Grey-patched Mining Bee was my first of the year.

Mediterranean Gulls were calling overhead, but somehow failed to locate the birds and both Herring and Black-headed Gulls flew over as expected. The council had cut the grass here late last week and also yesterday, which helped both the Blackbirds and Starlings search for insects among the cuttings. A Dunnock was heard singing on the west side among the bushes, but the bird did not show itself.

Above, this Chiffchaff eventually showed well in the southern half of the Cemetery.

While trying to get a view of a Chiffchaff, a Speckled Wood butterfly flew up and over a large Bramble bush; but this was the only butterfly I could find this afternoon which was a surprise because I have seen so many Small White butterflies on the wing here in Southsea. Other insects on the wing included the Bees & Hoverflies, of which I found my first Batman Hoverfly (Myathropa florea) and Grey-patched Mining Bee this afternoon. The latter had me foxed at first, but the good old boys on the UK Bee’s Facebook page steered me in the right direction. There were a few other species on the wing, but would not stay still long enough for a decent photo. Maybe next time.

Above, the male Great Spotted Woodpecker was vocal this afternoon and below, my first Batman Hoverfly of the year resting on a gravestone.

Above, Herb Robert plants were found on some of the graves and below, the only Oak tree in the Cemy was now starting to leaf.

Above, this Grey Squirrel was picking off the freshly emerging leaves and below, a female Blackbird in search of food under the grass cuttings.

Above, this pair of Herring Gulls were standing on the Mausoleum. Below, one of several Robins seen today.

Above, this Blue Tit showed well by the footpath.

The trees were now coming into leaf with some more than others, but it really does look like Spring has really sprung within the Cemetery. Sightings in Hampshire of late included a female Ring Ouzel still on Hayling Golf Course and some chap done an early morning 'sea-watch' from Southsea and saw a Great White Egret, 5 Little Gulls, 7 Common Scoter and a Kittiwake. Maybe I might bump into him tomorrow should he be there!

Above, my first Willow Warbler in the Cemetery this year.

Birding pals, Emma and Matt Parkes took the long drive to Newhaven this morning to see a female Woodchat Shrike by West Beach car park. A cracker of a bird.                   

The female Woodchat Shrike in Newhaven today. Photo by Emma Parkes.