Two trips to the Cemy.

Sunday 9th November 2025.

I had managed to get the dogs out for a walk twice today, both times at Highland Road Cemetery; however, I only got to do around 30 minutes on each walk. It was fairly bright at first this morning with a heavy dew on the ground, but as the day wore on, it became a lot more overcast, though still quite mild for this time of year. I had the Moth Box on overnight, but I still have not put up my white sheet behind the Box which I shall get around doing that this coming week.

My Moth Box:

This Double-striped Pug was the only macro moth this morning.

Sadly, just five moths of 3 species this morning and was probably due to a cold night and mostly cloudless. I suppose five is better than nothing.

One of three Rusty-dot Pearl moths.

The following Moths were present in and around my Moth Box this morning:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Double-striped Pug x1	Light Brown Apple Moth x1
	Rusty-dot Pearl x3

While checking the Moth Box, there was a bit of bird movement going on overhead with a couple of large flocks of Wood Pigeons going over plus a flock of 5 Goldfinch and a few Linnets passing over.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

I do love the colour of the leaves in the Autumns. The various shades of green and gold are stunning.

As mentioned, the long grass was covered in heavy dew this morning as I took the dogs for their first walk of the day. However, though I took a few photos from my camera, I didn't get that far before the battery had run out on the camera! Bugger! So I made my way back home. A Goldcrest was heard calling deep within the conifer in the south-west corner, but apart from a lot of Wood Pigeons; all was quiet. On the way there, a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew high over Highland Road heading south.

Above, a recently tarmaced pathway in the centre of the Cemetery and below, it clouded up in the afternoon.

Above, I captured this shot of a Carrion Crow flying towards me and below, the stunning golds and greens of these trees and a dewy start to the early morning trip here.

This afternoon, I took the dogs out for their second walk back over the Cemy, though I only had around 40 minutes to walk them as the Cemetery now closes at 4pm. Again, it was very quiet with only Wood Pigeons, a few Carrion Crows and Magpies for company. Both Great Tit and Blue Tit were seen briefly and another Goldcrest was again heard deep within one of the bushes. OK, not a great deal to report, but the colour of the remaining leaves on the trees here was somewhat stunning to say the least.

In Hampshire today:

The Great Grey Shrike remained faithful to yesterday’s spot where we saw it today and a flock of 26 Fieldfare were seen in the area also. Over on Blashford Lakes, one of the re-introduced White-tailed Eagles was showing well in front of the Tern Hide. I suppose the weather wasn’t that great with it being mostly overcast and dull today, so I await to see what birding pal Geoff saw down at Farlington Marshes. Yesterday, a late report was sent of a pair of Penduline Tits in front of the Spurgen Hide at Titchfield Haven yesterday afternoon. Sadly, no further sign today.

The superb Pallas's Warbler at Peverel Point, Dorset yesterday. Photo by Emma Parkes.

A quick update: Geoff texted me tonight and said that Farlington Marshes today held 2 Peregrines, 2 Marsh Harriers, Sparrowhawk, 5 Greenshank, 2 Avocets, Raven, Water Rail, Kingfisher, 4 Rock Pipits, 2 Stonechats, Grey Wagtail, Chiffchaff and a Reed Bunting. A Garganey and a Curlew Sandpiper was on the Lake area in the morning.