Thursday 9th October 2025.
Beautiful Plume moth.
A much fresher start to the morning with temperatures only just into double figures, but it was dry and bright with a bit of high cloud. Visible migration continued into today, although I thought it was a bit quieter than yesterday. The Moth numbers remain low again and Pembroke Road had another good species count this morning.
The big news in the UK Birding scene was the discovery of a White-throated Needletail (Swift) at Tophill Low Nature Reserve in East Yorkshire. It did not linger but was rediscovered flying around Bempton Cliffs! This, I think, is on everyone's wish list and those in the area at the time were treated to some magnificent views of this extreme vagrant to the UK. Sadly, for those there at dawn this morning, there was only a possible sighting of the bird.
My Moth Box:
One of only two macro moths this morning, a Large Yellow Underwing.
There were just 9 moths of 6 species this morning to continue the poor run of moths this week. I cannot say more than that except it's better than nothing at all!
One of two White-shouldered House Moths today.
The Moths recorded this morning included the following:
However, while checking the Moth Box, overhead, there was a bit of bird movement going on with a few flocks of Meadow Pipits and ‘alba’ Wagtails passing over and singles of Goldfinch, Chaffinch and a Chiffchaff calling in one of the nearby gardens.
Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:
Another good total of 20 bird species were seen or heard this morning in cool, but sunny weather. Again, not a drop of wind to help the birds on their way. Pick of the bunch probably were the two flocks of Siskins flying south over the Holm Oaks and a Chiffchaff showed briefly flying over the road. Two Pied Wagtails were on the Bowling Green. I might consider getting here a bit earlier in the morning and take my binoculars along with me to see what I could find. At this time of year, maybe I might find a rarity?
The birds recorded here this morning included the following:
- Herring Gull
- Black-headed Gull
- Great Black-backed Gull
- Wood Pigeon
- Feral Pigeon
- Carrion Crow
- Magpie
- Blue Tit
- Pied Wagtail
- Grey Wagtail
- Meadow Pipit
- Starling
- Robin
- Wren
- House Sparrow
- Dunnock
- Blackbird
- Siskin
- Chaffinch
- Chiffchaff
Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:
This female Goldcrest showed nicely within the Blue Atlas Cedar tree.
I couldn't resist taking the dogs for another walk this morning and so chose my ‘Local Patch’ Highland Road Cemetery where there was a nice selection of birds to see during my hour there from about 10am to 11am. The weather was just perfect, with no wind and bright warm sunshine beaming down, making a very comfortable walk around my favourite area in Portsmouth.
Above, Honey Fungus growing by the main footpath and below, I did find one Speckled Wood sunning itself here.
Above, a Long Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta) nectaring on a Smooth Sow-thistle flower and below, a Northern Red Oak tree. There are several of these ornamental trees within the Cemetery.
The bird of the trip here was a Woodlark flying over heading east. The bird was first located by its familiar call and looking up, I did struggle in finding the bird, hence no photo, but it was seen eventually heading east high over the rooftops. I have seen this species here several times over the years around this time of year. I knew then because of the bright blue sky, it was going to be a struggle in finding passerines high up in the sky as the likes of Siskins and Mipits, though heard, were difficult to find.
Above and below, good numbers of Chiffchaffs were in the Cemy.
Much easier to see were the many Goldcrests showing well this morning. Almost immediately, the Blue Atlas Cedar tree near the main gate held at least one Goldcrest, but this individual did not want to play ball and proved elusive to see until it flew off east to nearby bushes. The other Blue Atlas Cedar tree in the southern half of the Cemy produced another three Goldcrests and some of these were much more obliging. Chiffchaffs could be heard in various locations within the Cemy and one particular area of bushes held at least four birds, but all told, there must have been easily 8 birds seen on my walk round the site.
Above, another Chiffchaff showing reasonably well and below, I found this skulking female Blackcap in one of the Buddliea bushes, but it didn't linger long.
The regular pair of Jays showed briefly flying from tree to tree, but they would not settle. A ‘charm’ of Goldfinches flew low over the Cemy, numbering around 6 birds; but even they did not settle and flew off towards the Horse Chestnut trees. As I was nearing the south-east corner, everything took off as Gulls gave their alarm call and Wood Pigeons scattered in all directions. It was the female Sparrowhawk again as she sailed quietly and stealthily over the Cemy and then the rooftops, heading south-east. That was the last I saw of her.
Above, flowering Ribwort Plantain attracting a Bumblebee and below, a Red Admiral butterfly basking in the sunshine.
Above and below, this female Goldcrest was searching for insects in the Buddleia.
Butterflies were on the wing in the sunshine with several Red Admirals basking themselves on the flowering Ivy and singles of Speckled Wood and Large White were also seen. The many Bees, Hoverflies and Wasps gorged themselves on the flowering Ivy, but all the usual suspects were among them.
Above, another nectaring Red Admiral butterfly and below, the female Sparrowhawk flying over the rooftops.
Above, one of the Chiffchaffs high up in a Lime Tree and below, another Goldcrest in the southern half of the Cemetery.
I even bumped into fellow ‘Lazee Birder’, Ollie Crabbe, who was also out taking photos of the birdlife within the Cemy. We had a good chat and then went our separate ways as he went off looking for those Goldcrests. He later told me that he had seen at least 10 birds!
In the UK today:
Left, the Mourning Dove with a Turtle Dove on St. Agnes, Scilly Isles. Photo by John Dodds.
Three amazing rarities are still in the UK and probably on everyone’s wish list was the White-throated Needletail that was rediscovered again at Filey in North Yorkshire. The Mourning Dove on St. Agnes, Scilly Isles, was refound again and showed well for the admiring crowd, that also included ‘Lazee Birder’ John Dodds, who kindly sent me some of his photos tonight including the Mourning Dove. The other star bird in the UK is the Siberian Thrush that is still residing nicely by Loch of Asta on the Mainland in the Shetlands. It's about time the south coast had a ‘crippler’!
Above, Sooty Shearwater and below, Great Shearwater.
Above, Hoopoe and below, Wilson's Phalarope.
Above, a Buff-bellied Pipit. All these photos were kindly sent to me by John Dodds who is currently on the Scilly Isles.
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