Twenty bird species from Pembroke Road.

Thursday 25th September 2025.

Dawn over Highland Road Cemetery this morning while I was walking the dogs.

Similar to the last few days, there was a clear blue sky first thing this morning with a bit of patchy cloud over to the east, but a pleasant sunrise when I took the dogs for their early morning walk. It was quite cold again with temperatures in the single digits and most certainly gloves weather on my first shift this morning. I didn't have the Moth Box on overnight due to the fact I didn’t want to catch the same moths again and so let them live their short lives in peace! Back to Pembroke Road again this morning where I was to notch up easily my highest bird species total of the week so far.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

This Harvestman was on the wall of the house I stand nearby within Pembroke Road.

Up to 20 species were recorded within the hour I was there from 8am this morning of which there were a few notable species that included a Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Swallow and a very showy Jay. The Chaffinch is actually very scarce here, but with Autumn in full swing now, I expect to see a few more flying over. There was just the one Swallow over, a high flying bird heading east and small numbers of both Meadow Pipits and Siskins over (heard rather than seen).

The species seen or heard this morning included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Jay
• Starling
• Robin
• Pied Wagtail
• Meadow Pipit
• Siskin
• Chaffinch
• House Sparrow
• Dunnock
• Wren
• Chiffchaff
• Swallow
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit

Red Admiral's in my back garden this morning.

Back within my Southsea garden, a small flock of three Siskins flew low over heading east and at least two Red Admiral butterflies were on the Ivy while I was hanging the washing out!

In Hampshire today:

A Puffin was reported flying past Weston Sailing Club this morning heading south; one was reported earlier this month there too. Fingers crossed it might be relocated again soon, for I never have seen one in Hampshire. A flock of 6 Glossy Ibis flew over Southmoor, by Langstone Harbour and a stunning total of 103 Chiffchaffs around the Fort Widley area.

Above, the Little Stint on Titchfield Haven and below, a female Sparrowhawk on the reserve. Photos by Rob Porter.

On Titchfield Haven today, it was pretty much the same as yesterday with 2 Little Stints, 2 Glossy Ibis (a third bird later in the afternoon) and a Common Sandpiper in front of the Meonshore Hide plus a pair of Great White Egrets over the reserve. Farlington Marshes held 2 Curlew Sandpipers, a Wood Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper on the Stream area and a Little Stint on the main lake.