Firecrest showing well at Pembroke Road.

Wednesday 1st October 2025.

A pleasant start to the day again as I gave the dogs their early morning this morning, though there were hardly any birds calling or heard going overhead. Thankfully, Pembroke Road made up for that with a nice variety of birds seen or heard this morning. My new bulb for my Moth Box is on its way and so hopefully get back into checking the Moth Box soon. October is now upon us and with it, hopefully, will come a wealth of scarcities and rare birds to hit the UK. 

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

Another stunning sunrise over Highland Road Cemetery while walking my dogs.

By the time I got to Pembroke Road at 7.45am, it was now overcast and my mobile phone warned me that rain was due to arrive in a few hours. Thankfully, not on my first shift and this morning I was rewarded with up to 15 bird species recorded this morning. There was virtually no wind as the mild temperatures produced a few nice birds. 

These two Sycamores seem to attract some unusual birds over the year, including today's Firecrest.

Best of all was a Firecrest. One of my Teacher friends asked me what I was looking at and I replied I think it is a Goldcrest high up in one of the Sycamore trees on the opposite side of the road and I went on to explain how small they were. I had already seen a Chiffchaff up there and after my friend had left, the ‘crest’ had flown out and unbelievably, it flew right at me! It was only in the last moment that it veered off and flew to the other side of the road and then up into the nearby Holm Oaks and began calling. I knew already when it was flying towards me that it was a Firecrest, with its green upperparts and white underparts; but its facial pattern was diagnostic for this gorgeous little bird.

A Song Thrush, which was most likely a migrant bird, flew out of the Holm Oaks and headed off west, calling in doing so. A pair of Jays were also in the Holm Oaks until flying off north over the road to the nearby trees north of Pembroke Close. Just the one Meadow Pipit seen this morning, heading south, but no Siskins today. I am hoping that I might pick out a Redpoll soon and as you readers might know, that Common Redpoll, Arctic Redpoll and Lesser Redpoll  have all been lumped as one species, Lesser Redpoll. I have yet to see one this year and I am pretty confident that I will before the year’s out. Of interest, I was 99% certain that a Hummingbird Hawk-moth flew past me at great speed, but before I could get to grips with it, it flew over the rooftops and disappeared!

Three years ago today, this Great White Egret showed well on the Great Deeps on Thorney Island, West Sussex.

This afternoon, I was struggling with my cold and my eyes were watering a lot with the bright sunshine and a very itchy nose! Someone asked me if I was upset about something so I had to explain to her why my eyes were watering!!! However, despite this, the Firecrest was showing again in the Sycamores and quite vocal at times before flying off back towards the Holm Oaks. Sadly, no new bird species were added to my total this afternoon.

In Hampshire today:

The Ring Ouzels were still at Old Winchester Hill on the southern slope of the Hill Fort. I was hoping to pay a visit there or Butser Hill on Saturday, but this 'Storm Amy' coming into the UK on Friday might put paid to that idea. Three more Ring Ouzels were discovered at Beaulieu Heath in the New Forest. Farlington Marshes held a selection of notable waders today including 2 Ruff, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Little Stints and singles of Common Sandpiper and Snipe. Titchfield Haven held a single Glossy Ibis, Common Sandpiper, Great White Egret, 16 Snipe and the Bearded Tits were showing well for the lucky few. Up to 21 Eiders were off the Sailing Club at Hill Head.

Another trip to a sunny Cemy.

Tuesday 30th September 2025.

Dawn over Highland Road Cemetery while I was walking the dogs early in the morning.

The last day of September and I decided that once I had done my first shift at Pembroke Road, I was going to take the dogs for a good walk around Highland Road Cemetery. There was another clear blue sky first thing this morning and the sunrise was gorgeous once again when I walked the dogs around 6.45am. Annoyingly, my Moth Box bulb had blown and so I had to order a new one and they are not cheap either!!! So, no Moths for the next few days. Still, there are still plenty of birds to be seen throughout the day, so I shall keep my eyes open.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

Another reasonable number of bird species this morning on my first shift at Pembroke Road with 15 species seen or heard. A Great Black-backed Gull was seen flying over the houses by Penny Street, the first sighting for some time of this species here and a pair of Pied Wagtails were on the Bowling Green again. Chiffchaffs numbered around 3 individuals, though only one very brief sighting as one flew across the road. Siskins and Meadow Pipits were evident again, though most were heard only and not easy either with the noise of cars going past.

This afternoon, on my second shift here, there were two more species added to my day list which included a Black-headed Gull that flew low over Governor’s Green and a Blue Tit calling in the Holm Oaks. Another warm afternoon with temperatures around 19 degrees.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

A Collared Dove was preening high up in one of the Lime Trees.

The sunny weather was still present when I made my way into Highland Road Cemetery with my dogs, Ted and Buddy, as we slowly made our way around anticlockwise around the footpath. At first, I thought all the Council workers were in the Cemetery when I first saw someone on a Motorised Grasscutter and the din it made was awful. However, the good news was I think he was nearly finished as not only was the grass very wet and long, I thought he really looked pissed off! After ten minutes or so, the noise stopped and that was the end of that. Phew!

Above, I just managed to grab a poor photo of one of the passing Skylarks heading west and below, though not much better, a Jay flew across the Cemy to land in the Conifer in the south-west corner.

Above, a Buff-tailed Bumblebee nectaring on the Ivy flowers as did (below) this Red Admiral butterfly.

A good total of 19 species were seen or heard within the Cemetery this morning during my hour walk here and it was pleasing that the ‘visible migration’ had not stopped, with good numbers of Siskins, Meadow Pipits and ‘alba’ Wagtails going over in reasonable numbers. My first migrating Skylarks for the season also flew over with a pair of birds heading westbound. I had a job to get a decent photo of them as the dogs decided to walk the other way and got me all tangled up in their lead! Buggers!

Above, a Robin posing on a gravestone and below, Smooth Sow-thistle still flowering.

Above, two male Blackbirds searching for food in the tall grass and below, heavy dew this morning exposed this spider web in the sunshine.

There were no Woodpecker sightings this morning, but I did see a Collared Dove preening itself in one of the tall Lime Trees near the Mausoleum. They have been quite uncommon of late and I am wondering if they have been suffering from Bird Flu? Other notable birds included a Grey Wagtail heard flying over and a Coal Tit seen and heard calling with a small mixed flock of Blue and Great Tits. A Goldcrest was heard calling deep within a Conifer in the northern section of the Cemy, but no sighting this time.

Above, one of many passing Meadow Pipits overhead and below, the footpath leading to the southern end of the Cemetery.

Away from birds, several Red Admiral butterflies were seen nectaring on the many Ivy plants and at least one Small White butterfly too. A lot of the Ivy plants, if exposed to the morning sunshine, were alive with Common Wasps, Ivy Bees and Drone Flies and were literally ‘humming’ with them. 

Above, flowering Ribwort Plantain and below, the only small clump of Knapweed I could find today in the Cemy.

The birds recorded here today included the following:

• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Blackbird
• Skylark x2
• Meadow Pipit
• Grey Wagtail
• Pied Wagtail
• Siskin
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Coal Tit
• Goldcrest
• Robin
• Wren
• Starling
• Magpie
• Jay
• Carrion Crow

In Hampshire today:

The male Ring Ouzel on Farlington Marshes. Photo by Andy Friend.

A male Ring Ouzel was found in the Bushes area of Farlington Marshes today and a few people managed to connect with the bird (see photo). Four or possibly five Ring Ouzels were found at the bottom of the south slope on Old Winchester Hill this morning and an Osprey was hunting in Langstone Harbour again. 

A bright start to the morning in Southsea.

Monday 29th September 2025.

A misty start over Highland Road Cemetery this morning when I walked past with the dogs.

A beautiful start to the day with a clear blue sky overhead, though a cool 11 degrees to start the day off. There was a heavy dew on the grass within Highland Road Cemetery when I walked past with the dogs and a Chiffchaff was calling frequently close to the main entrance and I even saw the bird fly from a bush to a nearby tree. Overhead, a few Meadow Pipits went over as did a Grey Wagtail again. A small flock of 5 Siskins flew low over the houses heading west.

No Moth Box overnight as I felt a bit unwell yesterday and thought it would linger into today; but miracle of miracles, I felt a lot better this morning. So it was left to the bird sightings from Pembroke Road.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

A lovely bright start to my first shift in Pembroke Road this morning. A couple of Chiffchaffs were calling frequently in these Sycamore trees.

My first shift was particularly interesting with a variety of birds seen and heard as I notched up 15 bird species on my first shift. A pair of Chiffchaffs kept me entertained high up in the two nearby Sycamores and a pair of Grey Herons lazily flapped westbound just behind the Royal Garrison Church. Mipits were going over occasionally, though nowhere near the number I had last Friday. A pair of Pied Wagtails were on the Bowling Green and a Grey Wagtail flew low north over my head.

On my second shift, though a lot warmer, the only other bird species added to my day list here was a singing Wren. Again, the Chiffchaffs were active this afternoon in the Sycamore trees with at least two birds flitting about. I was sure I heard Jackdaws calling, but I could not locate the birds.

Above and below, a Comma in my garden.

Above, a Speckled Wood flew into the garden and below, at least two Chiffchaffs were flitting about here as well.

Back in my garden, the flowering Ivy attracted several Butterflies that included a Small White, a Comma and much rarer, a Speckled Wood; plus a couple of Chiffchaffs in the garden. All of which I tried to take photos of them using my mobile phone camera. Apologies about the poor quality.

Yesterday, birding pal Geoff Farwell was back down Farlington Marshes, despite the poor weather and recorded the following sightings: Osprey, 2 Peregrines, 2 Sparrowhawks, 4 Cattle Egrets, Common Sandpiper, 3 Little Stints, 300+ Brent Geese, Kingfisher, 4 Wheatear, 9 Stonechat, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 90+ Mipits, 10+ Blackcap, Spotted Flycatcher and numerous Chiffchaffs. Earlier in the morning at the same site, a Ring Ouzel was seen by the Stream area and another three birds were seen at Butser Hill area. A good case of trying our luck this Saturday?

Matt and Emma Parkes were in the New Forest where there was bright sunshine and this brought out a superb White-tailed Eagle over Longslade Bottom.

The juvenile White-tailed Eagle over the New Forest. Below, a good size comparison with a Common Buzzard. Photos by Emma Parkes.

 

An unexpected micro moth by the Box this morning.

Sunday 28th September 2025.

The Moth Box was on again overnight even though rain was predicted for this morning. At 7am today, it was still dry but overcast and a cool 9 degrees centigrade in the garden. Hardly a breath of wind was had as I went about checking the Moth Box. I was actually tempted to walk the dogs over the Cemetery this morning, but I did not feel 100% this morning and so got up around 5am and finished off my entry on my blog from yesterday's birding.

The Moth Box:

Lesser Yellow Underwing dominated the numbers of moths seen here this morning. 

Another good total of 49 moths of 15 species were seen this morning and probably the most unusual was in fact the micro moth Rosy Tabby (Endotricha flammealis), which was a very late individual. The highest count of one particular species went to the Lesser Yellow Underwings with up to 14 in and around the Moth Box.

The Rosy Tabby micro moth with its unusual, but distinctive posture.

Migrant moths this morning included two White-points, an Angle Shades, two Turnip Moths and up to 9 Rusty-dot Pearls. Though I bet there were more of them around the garden hiding in the plants?

One of two White-point moths today.

The following Moths were present this morning:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Lesser Yellow Underwing x14	Rusty-dot Pearl x9
Large Yellow Underwing x2	Light Brown Apple Moth x2
Lunar Underwing x2	Ruddy Streak x1
White-point x2	Beautiful Plume x1
Double-striped Pug x6	Rosy Tabby x1
Angle Shades x1
L-album Wainscot x4
Square-spot Rustic x1
Pale Mottled Willow x1
Turnip Moth x2

There was quite a lot of activity with visible migration going on overhead that included many flocks of Meadow Pipits over. A flock of 5 Siskins flew low over the garden heading east and a few ‘alba’ Wagtails were also heard going over. While taking the dogs out on the early morning walk, a Grey Wagtail flew low over the rooftops and more Meadow Pipits were passing overhead. While passing the Cemetery, I heard a Chiffchaff calling somewhere within there.

Above, more of yesterday's juvenile Osprey over Titchfield Haven. Photos by Emma Parkes.