A Woodcock over Pembroke Road!

Tuesday 18th November 2025.

A cold, frosty start to the day as I walked the dogs past Highland Road Cemetery this morning.

The cold spell continued this morning with a clear sky most of the night producing a frosty windscreen for me to clear before I made my way for my first shift in Pembroke Road. The dogs got their early morning walk, with several Herring Gulls drifting overhead in the early morning half-light. Though Pembroke Road was fairly quiet this morning, I was in for a surprise.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

The Bowling Green early this morning. I think I saw more Squirrels here than birds on my first shift!

It was quiet yesterday with just 13 bird species seen that included a Meadow Pipit heading south, a pair of Jays flying about throughout both of my shifts and three species of Gull (Black-headed, Herring and Great Black-backed Gull) were the highlights. Early yesterday morning, while walking the dogs, the Fox I had seen in Highland Road Cemetery on Sunday, was seen again in Haslemere Road on the opposite side of the road from us. Its dark underside and short snout was exactly the same as the one I saw Sunday.

Back to today and there were only 11 bird species seen within both shifts in Pembroke Road. It was clear and bright again at first, but a weather front quickly moved through during the middle of the day, leaving a wet ground, but it didn't linger and the sun came out again for my second shift of the day. A keen westerly wind blew down the road, but sporting hand warmers within my gloves, I wasn’t as cold as I was this morning! Yet again, the Jays were showing well throughout the day, but little else of note in the afternoon.

It was in the morning, around 8.15am, that I caught sight of a Woodcock flying south high over the road. I managed to catch a quick sighting of it flying over the green to the east of the Bowling Green before disappearing from view. Well, that was one species I never expected to see and can only assume it had been flushed from somewhere?

I was surprised to find this Jasmine Moth by my Moth Box......and the box wasn't even turned on!

When I got home, I got the bird feeder out of the Garden Box, which needed a damn good clean. I then found a Jasmine Moth perched on the white sheet, which was totally unexpected as I have not had the Moth Box on for a few days. I am not sure how long this cold spell is going to last, but I heard rumours today that it is going to be a cold winter. I will consider putting my Moth Box away for the Winter soon.

In Hampshire today:

The Boat-tailed Grackle is still very confiding in someone's garden in Holbury today, while nearby, the Red-necked Grebe was still showing off Weston Shore, midway out in Southampton Water. Over at Woolmer Pond, there were sightings of Brambling, a male Merlin, a Raven and up to 35 Redpolls still. There were 16 Spoonbills on Normandy Marsh today along with a Spotted Redshank and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers.

Apparently, Dartford Warblers have been doing very well this year in Hampshire. I do hope they carry on doing well during this cold snap. Photo by Pete Appleton.