A short walk this time at the Cemy.

Saturday 6th December 2025.

This Coal Tit was probably the highlight of a short walk within the Cemy this morning.

As Andy Fisher had other arrangements booked today and myself was asked to take our Granddaughter to Gymnastics this morning and Xmas Shopping in the afternoon, it was left to Geoff to go birding where he took part in a ‘Webs’ (Wetland Bird Survey) Count at Farlington Marshes today, despite the poor weather forecast for today. However, I did have time to take the dogs for their walk this morning and so took a walk around Highland Road Cemetery.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

Above and below, the moon was still showing well this morning. 

Though the sky was nearly clear of cloud, it was still a bit dark within the Cemetery on arrival at 8am this morning and the big full moon was still quite visible over in the west as I made my way anticlockwise around my ‘local patch’. Annoyingly, I forgot to recharge the battery in my camera, hence cutting my trip here short and not that many photos were taken before the camera stopped working. ‘I am ze idiot, non? Oui!!!

At least a couple of Blackbirds were seen here this morning and below, the Coal Tit showed well briefly.

Above, one of the trees over on the east side looks as though one of the large branches is dangerously hanging onto another large branch. I shall have to contact the relevant people to report this.  

Above, Wood Pigeons were abundant throughout the Cemy this morning and below, the view you get looking south-east across the area.

Despite this setback, I did see at least one Jay on my walk round of which I flushed from the conifer by the footpath in the south-east corner and a Coal Tit showed briefly in the bushes close by with three Blue Tits. Apart from all the usual Gulls, Wood Pigeons and Carrion Crows, it was fairly quiet here and so after the camera ‘gave up the ghost’, I made my way home.

In Hampshire today:

A Short-eared Owl was seen by Hayling Oysterbeds today, a species I have wanted to see this year and the Great Grey Shrike was still at Shatterford yet again near the big pond. Weston Shore still held the Velvet Scoters and two Great Northern Divers and another of the latter was in Portsmouth Harbour today. The Boat-tailed Grackle was still showing very well at a house in Holbury, Southampton, still; but it was interesting what the observer had said ‘behaving like an escaped pet rather than a wild bird’. The Wild Bird Trade is still rife around Europe and the UK, so could it be an escape from someone's collection?

Birding pal Geoff Farwell was at Farlington Marshes, despite the showery conditions, but he did see the following sightings including a Marsh harrier, Peregrine, 2 Ravens and two Avocets.

Frost then rain. The wonders of our British weather!

Friday 5th December 2025.

While walking the dogs early this morning, I took a quick photo of Highland Road Cemetery during first light.

A day of two halves regarding the weather as first thing this morning, there was a layer of ice on the car windscreen as temperatures plummeted overnight which included a ‘Super Moon’. However, rain was coming in from the west and sure enough, by 2pm, the first drops of rain began to fall and a wet and wild night followed.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

An orangy start to the day in Pembroke Road.

In the cold, near frosty morning, up to 16 bird species were noted during my first shift that included a flock of 6 Brent Geese flying low over Curtain Moat heading eastbound and a single Cormorant circled the area until disappearing from view. I think Starling numbers are increasing in the area with at least 20 birds circling and also landing on the Garrison Church. I also saw a large flock doing a ‘murmuration’ around South Esplanade Pier where they roost on my way back home along the seafront.

An Isle of Wight Car Ferry going out into the Solent behind the Garrison Church.

There were a few passerine species around too with a flock of 5 Greenfinches circling overhead and a single bird seen later in the afternoon. The House Sparrows were calling within the Bowling Green hedge and seen a few times while up in the Holm Oaks, a pair of Blue Tits flew out and flew off northbound. A Great Tit was singing near the Bowling Green as was a Wren and both Dunnock and Robin were heard calling from the same area.

The afternoon was a wet affair at Pembroke Road.

Though nothing out of the ordinary here in Old Portsmouth, to see 18 species in one area is a good achievement here and to be honest, seeing birds literally every minute here is always a pleasure. Yes, the weather turned windy and wet in the afternoon, but watching the Gulls fly so easily in the worst of weather is something to see.

The following birds were recorded here today in Pembroke Road:

• Cormorant
• Brent Geese: 6
• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull: 2
• Great Black-backed Gull: 2
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Wren
• Dunnock
• Robin
• House Sparrow
• Starling
• Pied Wagtail
• Greenfinch: 5

In Hampshire today:

Incredibly, the Great Grey Shrike is still in the same place we saw it last month, in the Shatterford area along with a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and a Raven also seen. The three Velvet Scoters were still off Weston Shore along with a Great Northern Diver and a Bittern was seen in flight at Fishlake Meadows by one lucky observer. 

Away from Hampshire, a Lesser Crested Tern was found a few days ago off Dawlish Warren, Devon; a species I have always wanted to see in the UK. I dipped on seeing one a few times in the past in my ‘twitcher’ days and it looks as though I am going to ‘dip’ on this lovely bird too. Fellow birder Simon Craft kindly allowed me to put a couple of his photos of the bird on my blog.

The Lesser Crested Tern at Dawlish Warren, Devon. Photos by Simon Craft.

A summary of the Moths of 2025.

Thursday 4th December 2025.

My first ever Miller moth was recorded on the 20th June in my garden.

As December has reached us, I have decided to put my Moth Box away for the year and sum up the total moths seen this year at a variety of locations in 2025. A superb total of 44 new moth species for my UK Moth Life List were recorded that included 11 macro moths and a staggering 33 micro moths.

Another cracking new macro moth to my life list was this Rosy Wave that was recorded on the 13th June in my garden.

My Life List now stands at 422 ‘macro’ moths and 305 ‘micro’ moths, 727 moth species in all. These were all recorded at various locations including my garden, Andy Fisher’s garden (Cowplain Marsh) and Devon (twice). Some species did elude me this year which was a bit disappointing, but to get the variety I had was somewhat incredible with some mornings, exceeding 200+ moths when we had a period of very warm weather. Also, being on the south coast, I encountered some good ‘Continental’ moths, notably my first ever Sombre Brocade, Sand Dart, Rosy Wave and Small Marbled.

Above, on the 23rd March, this Lichen Tortrix was in my Moth Box and below, this Marbled Fern was an incredible find within my Moth Box on the 28th March.

The Moths that were new to my Life List were as follows: 

MACRO MOTHS:

• Blotched Emerald
• Brown Rustic
• Dark Umber
• Grey Pug
• Maple Pug
• Miller
• Plain Pug
• Rosy Wave
• Sand Dart
• Sombre Brocade
• Water Ermine 

MICRO MOTHS:

• Heath Knot-horn (Pumpelia palumbella)
• Holly Tortrix (Rhopobota naevana)
• Scarce Oak Stilt (Povolyna leucapennella)
• Little Grass-moth (Platytes carussella)
• Banded Honeysuckle Leaf-miner (Phyllonorycter trifasciella)
• Norway Maple Leaf-miner (Phyllonorycter joannisi)
• White-faced Tortrix (Pandemis cinnemomeana)
• Tawny Sycamore Piercer (Pammene aurita)
• Barred Yellowneck (Oegoconia deauratella)
• Large Longhorn (Nematogopan swammerdamella)
• Marbled Fern (Musotima nitidalis)
• Thistle Marble (Lobesia abscisana)
• Speckled Fanner (Glyphipterix thrasonella)
• Dark-barred Straw (Eupoecilia angustana)
• The Minister (Eulia ministrana)
• Shaded Tortrix (Eucosma obumbratana)
• Diamond-back Marble (Eudemis profundana)
• Small Marbled (Eublemma parva) 
• Black-marked Tortrix (Epinotia ramella)
• Pale Water-veneer (Donacaula forficella)
• Western Thyme Knot-horn (Delplanqueia dilutella)
• Beech-mast Piercer (Cydia faglglandana)
• Verge Case-bearer (Coleophora trochilella)
• Apple Leaf Skeletonizer (Choreutis pariana)
• Gold-barred Marble (Celypha aurofasciana)
• Willow Stilt (Caloptilia stigmatella)
• Black-dot Stilt (Caloptilia populetorum) 
• Apple Nymph (Callisto denticullela)
• Dark Spruce Knot-horn (Assara terebrella)
• Thrift Elder (Aristotelia brizella)
• Purple-washed Tip Moth (Argyresthia semifusca)
• Tufted Oak Knot-horn (Acrobasis tumidana)
• Lichen Tortrix (Acleris literana)
• Dark-marked Tortrix (Acleris laterana)     

Above, this Tufted Oak Knot-horn was in the Moth Box on the 30th July and below, a long awaited Blotched Emerald finally was found in my garden Moth Trap on the 1st June.

For 2025, a total of 375 moth species were recorded that included 224 macro and 151 micro moths. My Life list now currently stands at 727 species seen in the UK. I am looking forward to 2026 and see if I can add to my total. We shall see.

Two Raptors over Pembroke Road despite poor weather.

Tuesday 2nd December 2025.

Large dark clouds were looming on the horizon early this morning as heavy rain was the order of the day; but a good total of bird species were seen today here at Pembroke Road along with two raptors.

Another day of sunshine and showers of which some were very heavy and I got caught in one of them this morning! A south south-westerly wind blew into Southsea from the Solent and some of the large cloud formations looked very impressive around 8am when I arrived to do my first shift. Temperatures were around the 8 degree mark when I arrived, but felt colder in the breeze.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

I was pleased to notch up at least 14 species this morning within my first hour here and that included yet another sighting of the male Peregrine powerfully flying low over the road and then headed off over the rooftops towards Portsmouth Harbour. The wind was nowhere near as strong as yesterday as the Falcon sped over and scattered the Wood and Feral Pigeons in the nearby tree.

Above and below, two photos from December 2021. Both were taken at the Hayling Oysterbeds on a high tide. Above, we have Shelduck, Dunlin, Grey Plover and Oystercatchers and below, one of several Rock Pipits present.

Other birds of note included a Cormorant that could not decide to settle on the Curtain Moat or not and so circled a couple of times before heading off into the Solent. A Grey Heron was seen briefly flying at the western end of the road and continued over the rooftops towards Portsmouth Harbour. Strange to say, that no Jays were seen or heard today during my first shift.

Again, another two photos from December 2021 with a Cetti's Warbler at Titchfield Haven and a drake Pintail at Hayling Oysterbeds.

My second shift produced four more species to my day total which include another raptor as well. The weather was getting worse this afternoon as large dark clouds loomed on the horizon and by the time my shift ended, the rain poured down and stayed that way into the evening. However, as mentioned, another four more bird species were seen that included a Robin, Jay (one finally turned up and showed well in one of the Sycamore trees) and a superb male Sparrowhawk flew low over the road and headed off north over the houses. Finally, a Great Black-backed Gull completed the foursome as it flew over the houses heading west.

The bird species seen this morning included the following:

• Peregrine
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Feral Pigeon
• Wood Pigeon
• Starling
• Blue Tit
• Dunnock
• Blackbird
• House Sparrow
• Cormorant
• Grey Heron
• Sparrowhawk: male
• Great Black-backed Gull
• Robin
• Jay

In Hampshire today:

The Razorbill off Southsea Castle this morning. Photo by Chris Geary.

After talking about Razorbills yesterday on my blog and also the lack of them this year, low and behold, a Razorbill was seen and photographed from Southsea Castle by fellow ‘Lazee Birder’ Chris Geary. Birdguides reported a Black Guillemot off the same location, but only seen by one observer and could have been the same bird that flew past Selsey Bill earlier today. Up to 5 Glossy Ibis were at Titchfield Haven this afternoon as they dropped in on the South Scrape. The three female type Velvet Scoters were still off the Weston Shore.

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!

A rare sighting of a Fieldfare in the Cemy.

Sunday 30th November 2025.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

The female Sparrowhawk high up in one of the Horse Chestnut trees.

It was back over to Highland Road Cemetery this morning where the morning kicked off bright and sunny, with a cloudless sky and temperatures around 5 degrees at 8.30am today. There is always a chance of something unusual here if you can get here early enough and I was rewarded this morning with a superb Fieldfare and a brief, but showy, female Sparrowhawk.

Above, a Fieldfare was most unexpected here and below, a male Blackbird high up on one of the trees in the bright early morning sunshine.

The large Oak tree in the north-east corner. I have seen some nice birds here over the years.

Kicking off with the Fieldfare, I had got over to the east side of the Cemy when I heard a Fieldfare ‘chacking’ loudly somewhere in the bushes by the Mausoleum. The last time I had seen this species here was when there was snow on the ground many years ago and feeding on apples that someone had kindly put out. There was a large flock of them plus many Redwing too. Will the same happen again this Winter? This bird here this morning was hiding until it flew out and landed high up in one of the Horse Chestnuts trees. The bird then flew west and landed in one of the tall Lime trees and after grabbing some nice photos of the bird, I carried on with my walk around my local patch.

Above, another photo of the male Blackbird sitting proud and below, another photo of the female Sparrowhawk.

Above, one of the four Jays seen on arrival and below, a Wood Pigeon high up preening.

Shortly before the Fieldfare sighting, the female Sparrowhawk flew in and landed high in one of the tall trees by the Mausoleum. Fortunately, this bird showed well this time and I managed to grab a few nice photos and looking at that yellow eye, I swear it took a good look at me looking at her! It is always a pleasure watching a Sparrowhawk and to see one perched is a privilege.

Above, the Fieldfare showing well again in the Lime tree and below, the female Sparrowhawk gliding in to rest in one of the Horse Chestnut trees.

Above, another one of the four Jays present and below, all four Jays together.

In third place for a good sighting was a Coal Tit; though I only saw the bird very briefly as it flew out of one of the ornamental Conifers and into another (and still hid from me!). On arrival at the Cemy, as I walked south down the footpath with the dogs, I saw a group of four Jays together in one of the Lime trees. I know they do group up as Winter approaches, just like the birds I see in Pembroke Road during my working week. All the usual birds here were seen or heard this morning, although in small numbers as expected for this time of day and I did find a large number of Magpies in just one tree (see photo). A pair of Collared Doves were seen and heard calling in the southern half of the Cemy briefly; a species that has become scarce here of late.

So how many Magpies, dear readers, are in this tree. Answers on a Postcard to..........

Away from birds, another Red Admiral and a Buff-tailed Bumblebee was again seen within the Cemy, despite the low temperatures. All the same plants were in flower as per the last time I was here. Yes, it was a trifle nippy this morning, but a good day for birding nonetheless wherever you are.