Tuesday 4th November 2025.
Two of the four Purple Sandpipers at Southsea Castle this morning.
I had the opportunity today to try out my new camera, the Nikon P950 Bridge Camera, down at Southsea Castle to see the returning Purple Sandpipers, though I had to admit, I was fortunate to see the birds. The weather was overcast this morning as I returned to Pembroke Road after the Autumn School break. There was a possibility of drizzly rain this morning, but that didn't happen and though there was a breezy onshore wind, it was pleasant enough to take a walk on the new promenade in front of Southsea Castle.
Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:
There were just 11 bird species recorded this morning on my first shift here in Pembroke Road and probably the pick of a small bunch were the Jays. I counted at least 5 here this morning, chasing each other through the Holm Oaks along the roadside. I am not sure I have ever seen so many here at this site, but five, possibly six birds is quite some number here. Governor's Green held a good number of Herring Gulls with a mixture of both adults and juveniles present searching for food on the wet grass.
Behind me, there were several Garden Spiders still, hanging in their webs between the Bushes, but little else of note this morning.
Southsea Castle, Southsea:
Southsea Castle.
Now it was time to really test my new camera and having watched a good tutorial on YouTube last night, I had all the settings saved on my camera. The tide was high within the Solent and a little choppy too; but how will the camera cope with the light? It was still overcast here at just after 9am and where were the Sandpipers? So I walked east first of all up to the big rocky spit, taking in a passing Oystercatcher that landed further up the beach with the many Gulls and also a small group of three Brent Geese heading east. Black-headed Gulls were flying around nearby with some on the water that made a good study to test the camera.
Above, looking south-west over the Solent and below, the birds can easily be missed as they huddle up on the rocks at high tide. I had to stand on the seawall to get these shots.
Above, some of my favourite photos of the Purple Sandpipers this morning.
There was no sign of the Purple Sandpipers by the time I got up to the Rocky Spit and so I turned round and walked west, past the Castle and headed westbound along the promenade. If it wasn't for the fact that a couple of birds flew up briefly and then back onto the rocks, I probably would have missed seeing them. So I had to climb and stand on the seawall and look down to find a small group of four birds together resting while the tide was high. I had the camera on fast shutter speed and managed to grab a lot of nice photos of the bird and the zoom on the camera is something else. I was well impressed. The camera roughly weighs around two pounds and though heavier than my Panasonic Bridge Camera, it was still not too heavy.
Above, one of many Black-headed Gulls offshore from the Promenade. Below, the Promenade looking west in front of the Castle.
Above, a mixture of Gulls over the shoreline near South Parade Pier and below, a 1st winter Black-headed Gull flying over a juvenile Herring Gull offshore.
Above, the 1st winter Black-headed Gull over the sea and below, the Promenade looking east to the Spit.
I was pleased to see the Purple Sandpipers and when the light is much better, I hope to get some more photos of the delightful waders during the coming Winter. Not a great deal else here to be seen, with mostly Gulls passing by, but I could not find anything of note on the sea or any lingering Black Redstarts on the Castle.
Above, my new Nikon P950 Bridge Camera and below, last night I set it to Moon mode and took a photo of the Moon itself.
The Boat-tailed Grackle was still at Calshot Spit this morning and will no doubt attract many more birders down there to hopefully add to their year and life lists. I am in two minds whether I really want to go down there, but if the Great Grey Shrike (was still there this morning) hangs around at Shatterford in the New Forest; I just might.
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