Pembroke Road & a Southsea sea-watch.

Thursday 24th April 2025.

Shelduck flew west over the Solent on my sea-watch this morning.

I thought the weather was a bit more grey than yesterday and there was still a bit of a chill in the air first thing this morning at Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth. There was a light southerly wind, which helped me pick up the distant birdsong, which was always a pleasure to listen too when there were no cars moving down the road. After my first shift, I took myself back over to the shelter on Southsea seafront for a two hour sea-watch to check if anything was on the move or coming in off the sea. Over on Hayling Island, Sandy Point was getting some coverage this morning by a couple of Hampshire’s 'Top Guns' and notching up a nice little list of birds going through too.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

I managed to notch up around 13 species this morning, but it was a bit slow going at times and nothing really out of the ordinary this morning either. I did enjoy watching a Wren perched on a traffic sign close by and then bursting into song a few times. I actually got within about 6 feet from the bird and so left it alone to proclaim its territory. The usual pair of Pied Wagtails were joined by a Starling on the Bowling Green before the first Bowlers turned up. On my second shift, as expected, the temperature rose into double figures and was quite comfortable standing in the sunshine. A Swallow was a pleasant surprise as it flew along the road heading westbound until disappearing over the rooftops.

Southsea Seafront:

Having just caught a fish, this Sandwich Tern flew off west along the shoreline.

Though there was hardly any wind to speak of, the sea was nearly flat calm, but visibility was a bit restricted with a lot of sea on the horizon. However, during my two hours here in the Shelter, it was rather peaceful with hardly anyone walking or jogging past, though I did have a nice chat with a couple who live near me and chatted about the Swifts and the nest boxes in their road. I have not seen any Swifts yet so far this year, but I am sure they should be here over the coming days. Over 300+ were recorded at Staines Reservoir already!

There was a nice variety during my 2 hours here, including a few birds arriving in off the sea and also a Harbour Seal popped its head up out of the calm sea fairly close in and for a minute or so, it checked its surroundings before it sank back into the sea. The bird life seen this morning included the following:

• Black-throated Diver: I picked up two distant Divers heading east over the Solent and as they passed Horse Sands Fort, I could clearly see their plumage details and was happy that they were both Black-throated Divers. A good record here for a Spring sea-watch.

• Sandwich Tern: A couple of pairs were fishing just offshore throughout my stay and at least 8 more were seen out in the Solent either passing east or west.

• Mediterranean Gull: It is always nice to see the Med Gulls passing by and today I had three small groups flying east, with one pair flying westbound low over the sea.

• Whimbrel: Three single birds were seen during the two hours all heading east.

Above, small numbers of Med Gulls flew through and below, a Mute Swan sails gracefully eastbound. Last week, I had a Black Swan drifting past and today, a Mute Swan. What next?

Above, the female Sparrowhawk coming in off the sea and below, a flock of Oystercatchers head east over the sea.

Above, a Seal poked its head briefly out of the water. 

• Common Scoter: A pair was seen to fly low over the sea heading west.

• Shelduck: A flock of four birds were seen to fly west.

• Oystercatcher: A flock of 8 birds headed east over the sea.

• Great Crested Grebe: Not often seen here during a sea-watch, but a pair were seen flying fast westbound.

• Swallow: Three single birds came in off the sea and then straight on north over the promenade. Fantastic to see them flying over the sea, having probably had a good feed on the Isle of Wight on route.

• Sparrowhawk: A real surprise and a species I rarely encounter on a sea-watch. This female bird was luckily picked up when I was watching a Sandwich Tern fly by. I watched it carefully in case it was something much rarer, but the bird was getting more obvious as it eventually flew over my head.

Earlier, as I was making my way to the seafront from Old Portsmouth, I watched a small flock of four Grey Lag Geese flying west high over Southsea. Meanwhile, over at Sandy Point (Hayling Island), Gary Fennemore and others, had a Great Skua off the Point and the bird actually sat on the sea for some time. Also, a pair of Cattle Egret went past as did several Fulmars, Kittiwakes and a Red-throated Diver on the sea. Mark Francis had 3 Arctic Terns among Common Terns off Hill Head and 3 Hobbies were over Fishlake Meadows today along with a Cuckoo and Grasshopper Warbler.