Pembroke Road and the Cemy.

Tuesday 25th November 2025.

Up to three Jays were seen in Pembroke Road this morning, though this was one of a pair of birds in the Cemetery later in the morning.

It was back to sunny but cold weather again today as temperatures were below 10 degrees throughout most of the day; but at least it was dry. A light northerly wind kept it cold as I paid my usual daily visit to Pembroke Road in Old Portsmouth and then treated the dogs for a nice slow walk around Highland Road Cemetery around midday. To be honest, nothing that exciting to report from this morning and my walk with the dogs, but there was plenty to look at.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

One of two paths that lead to the Curtain Moat.

I notched up 13 bird species this morning here and although most of the birds were all the common ones, it is interesting to note the number of birds that are out and about between 8 and 9am. The local House Sparrows were ‘chirruping’ from their usual hedgerow by the Bowling Green and a flock of seven birds flew out and headed off to gardens north of the road, leaving behind several still calling within the same hedge.

The local Jays numbered at least three individuals as I watched a couple of them try to dislodge Holm Oak acorns from their husks; trying to hover briefly as they grabbed a few and then flew off to a neighbouring tree to devour them. Not a great deal else of note, though plenty of Wood Pigeons were still up in the nearby Sycamore Trees until a couple of stroppy Carrion Crows flew in and scattered the birds. A Dunnock was heard calling somewhere down the pathway leading to the Curtain Moat and the ‘ticking’ of a Robin could also be heard as was a Goldfinch. Hopefully, something interesting will turn up on my second shift later today.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

A fresh lovely morning with the dogs over the Cemetery.

The weather was still bright and sunny around 11am as I then took the dogs for another walk around my ‘local patch’. Around a dozen bird species were noted during my slow walk round, but despite the lovely weather (still cold though!), nothing was singing at all and that included the local Robins here. I did, however, hear a Blackbird ‘sub-singing’ deep within vegetation near the Mausoleum.

Another view of the Cemy looking south-east and below, one of several Blackbirds seen today.

Above, there were many Wood Pigeons around today, some all fluffed up like these two individuals high up in the Lime Trees and below, clumps of Yarrow plants were still in bloom; good news for the remaining insects.

Above, a Marmalade Hoverfly resting on an Ivy leaf and below, one of the big branches that has come down during the last storm here.

There was still no sign of the Green Woodpecker on my trip here and I am wondering if it really is still here. It has been well over a month now since I saw one here last, though someone I was talking to a few weeks back claimed to have seen the bird. The Herring Gulls were giving their alarm calls somewhere over rooftops near Winter Road, but there was no sign of any Sparrowhawks circling high above either. A pair of Jays were making a din within the trees by the Mausoleum, but it was about 15 minutes later when I got good views of the birds in a nearby tree (see photo) and in this excellent light this morning, I was pleased to get a good shot of it. 

Above, one of a pair of female Greenfinches high up in the Plane Tree and below, the footpath leading west at the top of the Cemetery.

Above, I couldn't resist taking this photo of a Squirrel eating acorns in the bright sunshine and below, a clump of Ox-eye Daisies still in bloom.

Above, a Lawson's Cypress Conifer. The Cemetery has a lot of different tree species within it and getting to grips with them isn't easy unless you are an expert (of which I am not!).

As I entered the Cemetery, the Cedar Tree near the entrance held a quiet calling Goldcrest; but I simply could not get a view of the bird. At least two Pied Wagtails were heard flying over the Cemetery as did a small flock of Starlings; but none settled. The usual flowering plants were by the gravesides including Yarrow, Smooth Sow-thistle and I even found a clump of Ox-eye Daisies by one of the graves. With some flowers still in bloom, I wasn’t really surprised that a few insects were on the wing as I found a Red Admiral butterfly and a Marmalade Hoverfly from the pathway, although the former would not settle for me. Hurrumph!