An amazing view of a male Sparrowhawk.

Tuesday 7th April 2025.

The male Great Spotted Woodpecker showed nicely again this afternoon.

I took the dogs for their walk again this afternoon back over Highland Road Cemetery. Finally, the nagging north-east wind had dropped and it was actually quite warm this afternoon as me and the boys took a slow walk around my local patch again. It was 5pm when I arrived in the Cemy and noticed how much of the grass here had been cut except by the graves in most places; it therefore attracted a lot of both Blackbirds and Starlings to forage among the cut grass.

Above, one of the many Starlings present late this afternoon and below, this adult Herring Gull was collecting nesting material.

Above, a Robin singing under the moon and below, a close up of the same bird.

There were some memorable moments I had during my walk and one particularly stood out when a male Sparrowhawk was seen flying low over the grass and heading towards me. It then veered to my right at the last moment and flew over the perimeter wall heading south at speed. Simply, a ‘wow’ moment! Unfortunately, it was far too quick to get a photo, but that is one moment that I will not forget in a hurry.

Above, the Horse-chestnut trees are well in leaf now and below, this male Blackbird was perched up in a lone tree; one of many here this afternoon.

Above and below, the male Great Spotted Woodpecker preening.

Another good sighting was of the male Great Spotted Woodpecker high up in one of the trees over in the north-east corner. In this bright sunshine, it showed superbly in the tree preening itself for around ten minutes until flying off heading south over the Cemetery. The last memorable moment was of a Jay. I saw the bird hopping about on the ground by a grave in search of something to eat and as it was so close, I managed to film the bird for around a minute or so.

Above, the Jay that showed extremely well while I was walking the dogs.

There was a 'Willowchiff' calling quietly somewhere in the bushes near the Mausoleum, but no sighting of the bird this time. Unusually, there were not many insects around apart from a few Buff-tailed Bumblebees skirting over the grass. Still, a lovely evening around my favourite part of Southsea.

Above, the female Western Subalpine Warbler in Weymouth today. Photos by Emma Parkes.