Gone, but never forgotton.

Thursday 23rd October 2025.

It was that dark first thing this morning in Pembroke Road, that one of the lights by the Bowling Green was still on.

So called Storm Benjamin never really arrived over the south coast and it looked as though France took the main brunt of it. OK, we did have a few heavy showers overnight, but the morning started off grey, but it did turn out rather bright during the morning, which was really a blessing as my wife and I said a final goodbye to one of our best friends, Chris Warren, who we attended his funeral today at The Oaks Crematorium. Over 200 people attended the funeral, which showed how well this great man was loved by all that met him, especially myself.

Before the 1pm funeral, I still had my first shift at Pembroke Road this morning and although it was a bit windy and overcast at first, there were a few bird sightings to keep me entertained. 

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

I counted up to 12 bird species here this morning at Pembroke Road and though I was wrapped up against the north-westerly wind, I was damn cold by the end of my shift. Overhead, a pair of Song Thrushes flew out of the Holm Oaks and headed off high west and a Grey Wagtail flew high west, calling in doing so. The Bowling Green had large puddles on it again due to the overnight rain, but it still held a pair of Pied Wagtails. Governor’s Green held a large number of both Herring Gulls and Wood Pigeons, but most took off due to something that spooked them; Peregrine or Sparrowhawk perhaps? Whatever it was, I never saw it.

In Hampshire today:

There were a few surprises in Hampshire today, but not a great deal on the Hants Birding Website. Fellow birder, Andy Tew saw the White-tailed Eagle again at Fishlake Meadows and took a few nice photos. A female Black Redstart was seen at Hinton Ampner, near Cheriton and up to 8 Common Sandpipers were at Lower Test Marshes today. 

This White-tailed Eagle, flanked by a Magpie, just goes to show how huge these birds are. This individual showed well at Fishlake Meadows today. Photo by Andy Tew.

Above, this photo and story was in this month's Birdwatch Magazine. It was the big 'twitch' to see the UK's first ever Long-billed Murrelet in Dawlish, Devon. I was there at the time, during my 'twitching days' in November 2006 and though I am not in the photo, I was behind the photographer on a jetty going out into the harbour. The bird was typically fishing Auk style out offshore and I remember grabbing some photos of the bird when it popped up close to where I stood.