A lovely walk over the Cemy & a BBQ on the beach.

Sunday 18th May 2025.

The male Great Spotted Woodpecker showed well again this morning.

There was no Moth Box overnight, for I had a nice lay-in this morning, but I did take the dogs for an early morning walk to Highland Road Cemetery. It was overcast this morning with the sky looking white rather than grey during the time I was over there, but the cloud eventually dispersed as the morning wore on. Later this morning, we were invited to a BBQ on Hayling Island beach as Becky’s cousin was now a proud owner of a Beach Hut. Sharing it with 3 other friends, she invited a nice crowd of people along to share a beautiful afternoon.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

A Brown House Moth was found fluttering by Highland Road and then it settled on a neighbouring wall of a house.

It was warm enough to wear shorts this morning, but I did wear a fleece over my t-shirt and therefore it was pleasant enough for a lovely stroll around my local patch. Just before we reached the Cemetery, I found a Brown House Moth fluttering around close to the front of a house and eventually, it settled on the front wall and so was able to get a quick photo of this common micro moth.

Above, only the graves themselves were spared being mowed down, thus supporting a wealth of plants to look at of which the insect life can prosper. Below, I found some Bittersweet plants growing on a few graves.

Within the Cemetery, I am sad to say that the Council did not go along with the ‘No mow May’ as the place looked sterile and frankly bloody awful. Obviously, they are not concerned about nature here and letting things grow naturally for just one month of the year. The only saving grace was that the graves were full of wild flowers and grasses; but I fear that even this will be sprayed with vile weedkillers. For what purpose I would like to know for most of the graves are nearly 100 years old and most of their relatives have moved on or died. I think anyone who wants to see the graves bare and the grass cut so it ends up yellow due the lack of rainfall, most definitely need therapy!! 

Above, several Robins were seen on my way round and overhead, a good number of Swifts were overhead.

Above, Birds-foot Trefoil adds a big splash of colour and below, a Blue Tit in full voice.

On a positive note, the overcast conditions had brought the Swifts much lower than normal and at least a dozen or more were hawking just over the trees and nearby houses. Though there were all the usual birds seen including juvenile Starlings following their parents, the Great Spotted Woodpecker showed well again, albeit distantly perched on one of the smaller trees over on the east side. I heard him first calling loudly from his favourite perch and then saw him flitting about the same tree and I even managed a few photos of this lovely bird. There were a few Robins around including a few singing birds and a single Goldfinch flew high overhead.

Above, Ox-eye Daisies growing on one of the graves and below, Blackbirds were busy in search for food for their offspring.

Above, a flowering Herb Bennett plant and below, a Carrion Crow sharing a tree with a male Blackbird. 

The plant life here was growing abundantly on the graves as mentioned and included my first sighting of Smooth Tare of the year. These delicate pink flowering plants were found on graves in the southern half of the Cemetery, while other graves were supporting Ox-eye Daisies, the yellow flowers of Herb Bennett and also the pinkish purple flowers of Herb Robert. Big swarfs of the yellow and red flowers of Birds-foot Trefoil were also seen. In fact, there was a splash of colour everywhere you looked throughout the Cemy. What's not to love?

Hayling Island Beach:

As mentioned, Becky, Russell and myself were invited by Becky’s cousin Jane and her husband over to their beach hut with her friends on Hayling Island Beach for a BBQ. So, there I was thoroughly enjoying myself with great company watching the Med Gulls, Sandwich and Common Terns flying past over the shoreline or further out to sea, with a pint of IPA and a Burger or two in hand. Wonderful.