A male Peregrine two days running at Pembroke Road.

Tuesday 13th January 2026.

A horrible wet day here at Pembroke Road, but a Peregrine two days running despite the weather was encouraging. 

It was back to Pembroke Road in Pod in Old Portsmouth again this week and there was an all change with the weather conditions. Gone are the freezing cold mornings and a lukewarm welcome to the much milder weather although it has brought along the rain with it. A breezy south south-westerly wind was still blowing off the Solent, but at least it wasn't finger numbing cold.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

I found this Drone Fly last week, despite the cold weather, perched on someone's wall in Southsea. Whether there were any plants flowering in the area for it to nectar on is anyone's guess. Still, a very early record for January. 

Yesterday, I managed to notch up 14 species of birds for the day during both shifts at Pembroke Road. Easily, the pick of the birds was a male Peregrine flying at speed eastbound and it looked as though it was stooping for one of the Pigeons within the Holm Oaks. However, when it reappeared again, it looked as though it failed in its attempt to catch something and was seen heading off east towards Southsea.

Other birds of note included a Cormorant flying over my head and was then seen heading off towards Portsmouth Harbour during my afternoon shift. Several small flocks of Brent Geese were flying high over Curtain Moat and heading off eastbound to Southsea Common. The House Sparrows were very vocal again in the hedgerow by the Bowling Green and a Great Tit was in full song in the gardens behind me.

Today, there was a repeat performance from the male Peregrine and this time, it flew, again at great speed, westbound towards Portsmouth Harbour. Who would have guessed seeing the same bird again two days running and at exactly the same time of day? Unfortunately, the weather was very poor this morning as the rain beat down and a very dark overcast sky throughout the morning. Just 10 bird species were recorded this morning and if it wasn't for the Peregrine, it would have been very uneventful.

This afternoon, on my second shift at Pembroke Road, yes, it was wet yet again and though not heavy with rain, it was bearable and the only bird species added this afternoon was a small flock of three Great Black-backed Gulls flying over Governor’s Green and a Pied Wagtail, that was heard only flying over.

My Garden:

Yesterday, the female Black Redstart was sighted in my neighbours garden for the 4th week. The bird flew up into the tall bare tree and stayed there for a few seconds before flying off north. I could not find it this morning, but the male Blackcap put in a brief appearance again, picking off berries, but too quick for me to grab a photo, despite rushing back into my living room to grab my camera. It was heard again this afternoon, singing deep within my neighbours Bay Tree despite the poor weather and a few Blackbirds were around, gorging themselves on the berries from my Cotoneaster plant.

In Hampshire today:

One of the Tundra Bean Geese at Pennington Marshes recently. Photo by Andy Tew.

In the harbour entrance at Sandy Point, up to 9 Little Gulls were counted this afternoon along with a Razorbill and a Shag. Yesterday, the Tundra Bean Geese were still at Pennington Marshes and though I gave it a good search on Sunday at Southsea Castle with next to nothing being seen there; yesterday, one lucky birder incredibly saw a Red-necked Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Guillemot and 10 Purple Sandpipers at the same site.

Slavonian Grebes off Pennington Marshes. Photos by Andy Tew.

My lovely dog, Scruff who passed away a few years ago now. Though I love my current dogs, I still miss him terribly. He was a great companion on many of my birding trips including here at The Burgh, West Sussex.