My local patch & Moors Valley Country Park.

Sunday 31st August 2025.

One of at least two Willow Warblers in Highland Road Cemetery this morning. Both birds sang a little.

The dogs got their walk this morning around Highland Road Cemtery where I was hoping there might be a migrant or two lurking about on my ‘local patch’. The weather was good this morning with a clear blue sky overhead and bright sunshine with a bit of a breeze. Not too bad. However, I knew rain was coming this afternoon and my wife had booked the ‘Go Ape’ at Moors Valley Country Park late this morning for our Granddaughter, Isabelle.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

The leaves are starting to turn brown on the Horse Chestnuts but they bear a lot of fruit.

There were a few migrant birds around the Cemetery and it kicked off nicely when I found a couple of Willow Warbler flitting about high up in the trees in the south-west corner of the Cemy. A Blackcap was heard ‘chacking’ deep within vegetation over on the east side, but I did not get a sighting of the bird. 

Above, Horse Chestnuts bearing fruit and below, the walk to the southern half of the Cemy from the west side. The Willow Warblers were in the tall tree in the background. 

Above, there were two clumps of Honey Fungus growing and below, a juvenile Robin coming into adult plumage.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew out of cover and flew off west before I could get a photo of the bird and the only other bird of note was a Jay; first heard calling near the Mausoleum and then seen trying to hide behind leaves in the trees by the Holm Oak clump. Up to 15 species of birds were recorded here today, so it was well worth the journey over there. 

Above, I found this Common Field Grasshopper on the fence panel near the main entrance, which I found unusual to be so exposed. Below, a Jay was being coy in the trees.

Above, several Blue Tits were present and below, this Starling was lit up by the early morning sun.

Above, Yarrow plants were everywhere on the short turf. Below, a pair of Starlings on the roof of one of adjacent houses.

Above, Lady Bedstraw was still in bloom around the graves at the southern end.

Regarding the insects, both Migrant Hawker and a male Common Darter were seen, but proved too difficult to get a photo of the dragonflies as were the few butterflies seen: Large White and Speckled Wood. At least plants don't hardly move and although very few were in flower now, there was a lot of Yarrow still in bloom in the grassy areas. Two large clumps of Honey Fungus were growing where the old Beech Tree used to stand, reminding me that Autumn is now around the corner. 

Moors Valley Country Park, Ashley Heath, nr Ringwood:

The Lake within the Country Park.

As mentioned earlier, Isabelle had been booked to go on the ‘Go Ape’ and we had to be there for 11.15am of which we got there nice and early. While Isabelle and her Dad took part, I kept an eye out around the site for anything of note and I did find a few interesting birds to keep me entertained.

Above and below, one of the Chiffchaffs by the Lake.

Above, there were two Water Strider's on the Lake close in from one of the Swims. Below, sleeping Mallards.

Within the woodland, there were sightings of a large Titmice flock that included a few Coal Tits, several Long-tailed Tits and a Treecreeper nearby. Both Siskin and Crossbill were heard flying over (not seen), but a Great Spotted Woodpecker was a bit more obliging as we watched it flying over the trees.

Above, a male Mute Swan and below, one of its offspring.

Above, a family flock of Mute Swans on the Lake and below, Purple Loosestrife was still growing by the edge of the Lake.

While Becky sat on one of the park benches, I took a walk by the large lake there and heard a couple of Chiffchaffs and saw them flitting about in the Willows and a Cetti’s Warbler was heard calling deep within the reedbeds there. A calling Mistle Thrush was seen flying high over the lake, but nothing on the lake itself bar a family flock of Mute Swans and several Mallard. What fascinated me was the Water Strider insects on the still water and below them, I could see small fish swimming about in the clear water. Realising that nearly 45 minutes had passed, I quickly made my way back to Becky and then returned to the ‘Go Ape’ to pick up the guys and then get a bite to eat. It was a mixture of sunshine and showers there, but, thankfully, it wasn't too wet. On the way back home, along the A31, I saw a pair of Ravens flying low over the road and then flew back over the neighbouring heath.

In Hampshire today:

Mark Francis found this leucistic Arctic Tern on the foreshore at Hill Head this morning.

The Wryneck at the Oysterbeds did not show for the small crowd present today and that included Matt & Emma Parkes, but on a plus side, they did see their first Osprey this morning with a bird perched on North Binness Island, within Langstone Harbour. They then went off to Blashford Lakes and got to see the juvenile Black Tern, of which they added to their year list.

This Magpie gave this Sparrowhawk a bad time over at the Oysterbeds today. Photo by Emma Parkes.

Hill Head regular, Mark Francis, found a stunning leucistic Arctic Tern on the beach among the Gulls (see photos), but little else of note there today. Over at Keyhaven Marshes, there was no sign of yesterdays Bonaparte’s Gull, but up to 4 Ruff and a Curlew Sandpiper were present and two Pied Flycatchers were noted; one at Northney Paddocks and another at the Old Cemetery, Southampton.