Still bitterly cold this week.

Thursday 20th November 2025.

Dawn over the Cemetery this morning. 

The wintry weather continued today and it was so damn cold this morning here in Southsea. Temperatures were around -2 degrees when I took my dogs for their early morning walk, but at least it was dry and cloudless at first as I took a photo of Highland Road Cemetery as dawn broke. I had to 'de-ice' both mine and my wife's car before I headed to work, but once at Pembroke Road, the weather had not changed and the northerly wind seemed to go right through you! Thankfully, my hand warmers helped considerably and I was wrapped up the best I could to cope with the cold. However, the likes of Cornwall, South Wales and East Yorkshire were putting up with heavy snow of which we had a little flurry yesterday morning which fizzled out to nothing (phew)!

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

This photo of the Royal Garrison Church and Governor's Green was taken by a drone by Solent Sky Services who allowed me to post this superb photo on my blog.

OK, the bird species numbers were low; both today (11 species) and yesterday (9 species) and though all the normal species were abundant, a Grey Wagtail was the pick of the small bunch yesterday; though it was only heard and today, a Little Egret flew west high over Governor’s Green and disappeared over the houses towards Portsmouth Harbour. The Jays put on a good performance on both days and at times, they flew low over my head and I was wishing I had my camera with me. 

On my way to Pembroke Road, the small green by one of the main roads held easily over 50+ Carrion Crows and 30+ Herring Gulls that were attracted to some guy feeding them. Wood Pigeons here were abundant in Pembroke Road with at least 30+ being seen including a large number picking off grass shoots on Governor’s Green. I am pleased to say that at least a dozen or so House Sparrows (they are getting a lot rarer in Portsmouth now) are occupying the hedgerow by the Bowling Green and are quite vocal at times. Surprisingly, there have been very few passerines over the past few days, which I can only assume that they have found somewhere else to feed.

The French Passenger ship, the Mont St Michel, entered the Solent from Portsmouth Harbour with the Royal Garrison Church in the foreground. 

More very cold weather tonight and tomorrow, but I have just found out that wintry showers are forecast for Saturday here in the South coast. We shall see. On a different note, I have been following a Facebook site called Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) which helps to prosecute these bird murderers who put out nets and lime-sticks in the Mediterranean countries of Cyprus, Malta, Italy and even Spain. These countries and their so-called law-makers should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves for not doing enough to bring these horrible people to justice. A lot of our British guys help out with CABS in destroying all the equipment put out to trap and kill the birds and thankfully, social media has brought this to my attention. 

There has been a huge influx of Black Redstarts into the UK including this gorgeous male bird in Lee on Solent. Photo by Emma Parkes.

I have only been to Cyprus once and saw none of this activity, thankfully, but it does go on out there and though it is difficult to to get involved physically; at least I can put this on my blog for other birders and anyone interested and also on my Facebook Page. Sadly, these small birds are caught and as Chris Packham and Meg McCubbin had said, they are boiled, fried and cooked for a delicacy and some sad excuses for human beings ACTUALLY eating them!!! Seriously, hundreds, if not thousands of these poor little birds are caught each year, but with CABS out there pressurizing the local Governments, maybe this disgusting trend will diminish? Yes, in the UK, we still have Grouse shooting and other blood sports that this ‘slow to act’ Government should surely respond to, but we can only wish! Rant over.

In Hampshire today:

A Whooper Swan was a nice surprise for one lucky birder in Basingstoke today as the bird flew over his head. A Red-necked Grebe was off Netley Castle and a Slavonian Grebe was off Calshot Spit. The Boat-tailed Grackle was again in its usual place in Holbury, Southampton and a late Swallow flew through Titchfield Haven. A pair of Black Swans have joined the regular Mute Swans on nearby Canoe Lake.