A pleasant stroll with the dogs over the Cemy.

Sunday 10th August 2025.

The view of the Cemetery looking north from the southern end.

The dogs got their walk this morning over Highland Road Cemetery where it was a bright sunny morning with a cloudless sky and next to no wind whatsoever. I was thinking that now we are in August, migrating passerines are now on the move and there is always a chance of something unusual within my ‘local patch’ and the likes of a Pied Flycatcher or Redstart would not be out of the question.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

This young Blackbird was gorging itself on Blackberries.

Sadly, none of the above passerines were found, but there were a few birds of note around the Cemetery that included a couple of Chiffchaffs seen searching for insects within the Silver Birch tree near the Holm Oak clump. Always a delight to see and this time, quite showy too as they flitted about high up. I was hoping for Blackcap too, but no sight or sound of any either and though it was mostly the more common birds noted (up to 14 species in all), there was always something to see.

Above, a Meadow Brown and below, a Holly Blue.

Above, a Red Admiral and below, a Small White.

A few butterflies were on the wing, notably a Holly Blue, both Large and Small White, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and a few Red Admirals. Even some moths got in on the act as I flushed a Jersey Tiger moth and there were plenty of Straw-barred Pearl micro moths being flushed up from the grass over in the south-east corner. These were my first of the year too, which was a bonus. Not only Moths and Butterflies, but even Dragonflies were around that included my at least two Migrant Hawkers and a male Common Darter. Good to see.

Above, a Straw-barred Pearl moth with a Six-spotted Ladybird and below, the Jersey Tiger moth.

Above, a Migrant Hawker dragonfly and below, a Speckled Wood butterfly.

Later that morning, we had to take a drive up the Eastern Road and Becky and I watched a female Sparrowhawk flying low over the road heading towards Langstone Harbour. I got a text this evening to say that Matt & Emma connected with a couple of Whinchats over the TLC Horsefields over at Hook-with-Warsash. Nice one guys. 

I watched this Chiffchaff joined by a second bird as they both searched for insects within a Silver Birch tree.