A male Peregrine over a stormy Pembroke Road.

Monday 1st December 2025.

On my travels, around midday, I stopped off briefly by the old Royal Marines Barracks and looking south, a large number of mostly Herring Gulls and one Great Black-backed Gull were keeping out of the strong onshore wind.

The last month of the year is upon us and what a horrible day to start the month with. Strong southerly winds and squally rain throughout most of the day and well into the evening was the order of the day and the only saving grace was that it was a fairly mild 11 degrees. Maybe the poor weather just might bring something interesting in, but for now, not great weather to be birding in.

Yesterday, birding pal Geoff Farwell, was birding on Farlington Marshes where he had a sighting of a White-tailed Eagle flying high west over the Chalkdock area. I think Andy Fisher was cringing with that info later in the evening! Other sightings on the Reserve included a Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Ravens, a Green Sandpiper, 23 Avocets and 2 Goldeneye’s.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

Despite the very poor and windy weather, I was always keeping an eye out for anything interesting and among the 11 bird species seen from both shifts, a male Peregrine flying low over the road was unexpected. I had to look twice as the bird looked quite small, but it was flying into the wind and had its wings tucked in as it sped over and flushing all the Herring and Black-headed Gulls from Governor’s Green.

Above, literally four years ago to the day, I was birding at Sandy Point, Hayling Island and there were good numbers of Razorbills around at the time. Unlike this year, where there have been hardly any sightings. Below, this Greenshank was in the harbour nearby.

Above, again, roughly four years ago this very day, I spent a trip to Titchfield Haven and from the Spurgin Hide, I saw this male Stonechat and below, a Cetti's Warbler. If memory serves me correct, several Chiffchaffs were in the reeds in front of the Hide, also.

A small flock of 5 Greenfinches flew over and a pair of Blue Tits flying over the road from the Holm Oaks, were the only passerines seen or heard today as the rest of the usual birds were probably hunkering down out of the strong wind. From where I stood, I could see the waves this morning, splashing over the sea wall by Curtain Moat! The weather got even worse in the afternoon and I struggled to stay on my feet at times as the blustery wind was so strong. It was just Wood Pigeons and Herring Gulls this afternoon and the occasional Carrion Crow seen this afternoon, trying to negotiate the wind of which all seemed perfectly at home in the poor conditions, though one silly Pigeon nearly flew into a tree and changed course……just!