Thursday 6th November 2025
A quiet hour spent at the Harbour entrance, Eastney.
I always try to keep up with tradition and go birding on my Birthday and today, I had the opportunity to take the dogs for a walk by the Harbour entrance at Eastney. The weather was occasionally bright and sunny, but there were a lot of clouds around and so it was a good opportunity to test my new camera again. But secondly, there was work to do and so it was back to Pembroke Road for my first shift of the day. Even before that, I had to check my Moth Box, which I put on for the first time this month overnight and I even managed to pick up a few moths too.
My Moth Box:
Only the one macro moth present this morning, a Double-striped Pug.
There were just 12 moths present this morning and considering I didn't have the white sheet up to attract more moths, I suppose that wasn't a bad total. Only one macro moth, a Double-striped Pug, was present, with the rest all being micro moths, though two of the Light Brown Apple Moths looked a bit ‘iffy’ and I just might get a second opinion on both of them later.
Rusty-dot Pearl were the most numerous species this morning.
The Moths present this morning included the following:
Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:
It was rather quiet this morning in Pembroke Road and if it wasn't for the Jays flying up and down the road and showing close to the roadside by Governor’s Green, it could have been very uneventful. Just 12 species were noted this morning, but of interest, a small group of three Blue Tits flying over, but another following was noticeably smaller and definitely had a stripe on the secondaries. A ‘crest’ I suspect, but without binoculars to hand, it will remain a mystery. Another bird had me scratching my head when I saw something resembling a Diver species heading fast westbound towards Portsmouth Harbour. Judging by the way it was flying (I only saw the back of it as it was flying away), I think it was a Red-throated Diver, but no way was I 100% sure to claim it.
Harbour entrance, Eastney:
Up to four Sandwich Terns were flying up and down the shoreline within the Harbour entrance.
I arrived around the Harbour entrance around 9am after grabbing the dogs and taking them with me for a nice walk. It was relatively mild too and no need for a coat as we first walked to the spit by the Hayling Ferry Terminal. Several Black-headed and Herring Gulls were fluttering about by the shoreline, with someone throwing them bread and a Great Black-backed Gull loafing on the water and then I caught sight of a Shag flying through the Harbour entrance and out to sea.
Above, this Great Black-backed Gull was having a preen in the Harbour entrance. Below, this Harbour Seal popped out of the water briefly before swimming off out to sea.
Above, Turnstone's resting on one of the boats within Langstone Harbour. Below, a juvenile type Pied Wagtail by one of the main buildings.
From the Ferry Terminal, all was very quiet in the harbour, with just a few Turnstone resting on some of the boats and just Black-headed Gulls and a few Cormorants out in Lock Lake. A juvenile Pied Wagtail was on one of the buildings by the Car Park, but very little else of note. I was hoping for an Auk in the Harbour entrance, but there were no birds at all at the time bar the usual Gulls.
Above, a couple more Turnstone found this buoy a useful place to rest and below, this juvenile Shag was seen flying out of the harbour.
Above, a small group of Black-headed Gulls resting on one of the small boats with Lock Lake and below, this Robin nearly landed by my feet as it rested by the Cars.
We got back into the car and took the short drive to the big car park further south by Eastney Pier. The smell of ‘weed’ coming from a couple of youngsters in a car with its music turned up grabbed my attention at first (I cannot stand the smell of the stuff), but a group of juvenile Herring Gulls distracted me from those guys shortly afterwards and another opportunity to test the camera again. We took a walk to the Pier and came across a small group of four Sandwich Terns noisily fishing close to the shoreline. Several times they went up and down the Harbour entrance, though a lot of my photos were poor (something I have to sort out with the camera).
Above, another photo of the Harbour Seal and below, a small group of juvenile Herring Gulls in the big Car Park.
Above, a close up of one of the juvenile Herring Gulls and below, looking out into the Solent from Eastney.
Overhead, a couple of Meadow Pipits flew over as did a flocks of both Goldfinch and Greenfinch. I decided to take a walk along the perimeter fence where I then came across the largest flock of Collared Doves I have seen this year; at least 14 birds present! Up to 9 birds rested on the wires in front of me while more Greenfinches flew over my head.
Above, looking north from the Harbour entrance and below, Sea Radish was still in bloom.
Above and below, one of the four Sandwich Terns fishing.
Above and below, Collared Doves were abundant here with up to 14 birds counted.
Above, a male Greenfinch on the perimeter fence.
After spending a good hour here, we then made our way back to the car and homewards for a nice cup of coffee.
No comments:
Post a Comment