The cold weather continues but some interesting birds around.

Tuesday 11th February 2025.

The Blackbirds are enjoying the Apples I am putting out in my garden.

Another very cold day and dull day with heavy cloud overhead and a very light north-easterly wind. The trend for this week is the same weather conditions virtually all week. It was back to Old Portsmouth again today and after both my  shifts there, I took the dogs for a walk around Highland Road Cemetery to grab the last hour there before it was closed at 5pm.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

It was damn cold this morning and things didn't really improve at all this afternoon either. During my first shift in Pembroke Road, a few small flocks of Brent Geese headed eastbound high over Governor’s Green and three birds actually landed there. But it was this afternoon when there were a few more interesting sightings that included a flock of 11 Pied Wagtails flying silently over and headed off northbound. A Goldcrest was heard several times within the Holm Oaks, but I didn't get not one sighting of the bird. Finally, a Kestrel was seen flying south over Governor’s Green and then went into a stoop and landed briefly on the Royal Garrison’s Church, some distance away. The school kids were playing football on the Green this afternoon, so the Kestrel didn't stay long. In all, just 12 species were seen all day here.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

This Jay showed very well for about a few minutes, Did it bury this acorn or dig it up?

Once I got back from my second shift, I made my wife a cup of tea and then grabbed my camera and took the dogs over Highland Road Cemetery for a slow walk round. I had an hour left before the Cemy actually shut for the day and surprisingly, there were a few interesting sightings here today. Both the Green & Great Spotted Woodpecker were present this afternoon, but only the Great Spotted was actually seen, albeit briefly.

Above, one of the Long-tailed Tits in the Oak tree and below, a male Greenfinch in the same tree. 

Over near the lone Holm Oak in the north-east corner, I found a flock of Long-tailed Tits high up in the Oak Tree; numbering around 10 birds and along with them, there was a small flock of 6 Greenfinches within the same tree. This species has gone through a major decline of late, a loss of down to a disease called Trichomoniasis that has wiped out about 80% of the British population. So, any numbers here are noteworthy.

Above, another male Greenfinch in the same Oak Tree and below, Starlings perching on a heavily pruned tree in the southern half of the Cemy.

Apart from the birds, Daffodils were starting to bloom in the Cemetery, despite the cold weather and this should provide the necessary nectar for our insects to arrive. Spring is just around the corner? 

Above, a lead grey sky overhead and a heavily pruned tree. What's not to love? Below, Daffodils about to bloom on one of the graves.

In Hampshire today, both Red-necked Grebe and a Long-tailed Duck were seen off Hill Head and a small flock of 5 Black-necked Grebes were off Hayling Oyster Beds with another on Ibsley Water, Blashford Lakes.

There have been a good number of Hawfinches in the village of Wherwell, near Basingstoke of late. Film footage of one by James Cutting.