A few odds & ends at Eastney Point & Black Redstart for its 5th day.

Tuesday 30th December 2025.

A female Kestrel was by the ruined buildings by Fort Cumberland.

It was back down to Eastney Outfall again this morning with my dogs and the weather was much more obliging, although very cold again. In fact, snow is forecast in the coming days within the north of the UK and I wouldn't be surprised if we have a flurry or two over the weekend. The high tide this morning was around 7am and so there was a possibility of something on the Solent when we arrived.

Eastney Point & the Langstone Harbour entrance, Portsmouth:

One of two Shags flying into the harbour at Eastney Point.

I took the same route along the beach and walked the concrete promenade east to where it was fenced off to view the sea and harbour entrance. The sun was low and so reflecting on the sea made viewing a bit challenging. However, a dark blob on the water grabbed my attention and on closer inspection, it was an adult Shag and a second bird was seen flying back into the harbour entrance. Again, the sea was dead calm, but there were no Auks or Divers sitting on the water.

Distant Sanderlings on the shoreline at Eastney beach.

Again, I checked the holes in the perimeter wall for an Owl, but nothing at all was within them, though up to 5 Stock Doves were sunning themselves quietly in the bright sunshine. A female Kestrel was seen perched high on a post and an adult Mediterranean Gull was seen flying by the shoreline, but flew off south over the sea before I could get a decent photo of it. I let my dogs, soon after, off their lead so they could have a good run while I checked the shoreline further along the beach to the west. I picked out at least half a dozen Sanderlings along the water edge although these were eventually disturbed by dog-walkers and flew off further west. A flock of 6 Siskins flew high overhead, calling in doing so and headed off west; which was a bit of a surprise, but a most welcome sighting.

Brent Geese on the foreshore at Lock Lake.

I didnt have a lot of time this morning as my wife wanted me to take a trip with her and so I made a brief stop by the Hayling Ferry Termimal to view the harbour entrance and both Lock Lake and the northern end of Langstone Harbour. Sadly, apart from the many Black-headed Gulls and Brent Geese, all I could find was a distant female Red-breasted Merganser flying over on the Hayling Island side of the harbour.

Black-headed Gulls make use of the many small boats in Lock Lake.

The Black Redstart at the back of my garden is now spending its 5th day here in Southsea and looking good to be a very early, but good, New Years ‘tick’. Birding pal Geoff Farwell, went to Hayling Oysterbeds yesterday morning and saw the following species: Black-necked Grebe, 8 Little Grebes, 2 Great Northern Divers, Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Peregrine, Greenshank, Rock Pipit, Kingfisher and a Cetti’s Warbler. He then went onto Farlington Marshes and saw and adult White-fronted Goose, a ‘pale-bellied’ Brent Goose and a Stonechat. 

In Hampshire today:

More White-fronted Geese were still around including 3 on Farlington Marshes and a few more on Pennington Marshes. A Yellow-browed Warbler was still at Fishlake Meadows and over at the Hayling Oysterbeds, the Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Slavonian and Black-necked Grebe along with the Great Northern Diver were all still present and correct.