Black Redstart & Blackcap still by my garden.

Wednesday 14th January 2026.

The French Passenger Ship 'The Guillaume de Normande' sailing out of Portsmouth Harbour and passing Governor's Green early this morning.

An unexpected icy start to the day with a heavy frost here on the south coast and seeing how wet it was yesterday, it certainly took me by surprise. It was near freezing when I took my dogs for their early morning walk at 6.45am, but I could see the ice on the windscreens as I walked past and the cloudless dawn sky held a bright crescent moon over in the south east as I strolled past Highland Road Cemetery. There was a good movement of Redwing passing overhead, unseen in the dark sky, with at least 16 birds heard calling. I have heard them every morning this week, but this morning there were a lot more than usual.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

There were no Peregrine sightings this morning, but I did notch up 14 bird species on my first shift in Pembroke Road today. Both Governor’s Green and the Bowling Green had a heavy frost upon them, while overhead, I saw a lot of Brent Geese flying over Portsmouth Harbour and the Solent from where I stood; all passing eastbound. All the usual suspects were present, which included both Blue Tits and a Great Tit all singing from the tops of the Holm Oaks.

Two male Blackbirds were fighting over who was to feed on the Yucca Plant berries close by, until one flew off back over the road looking a bit peeved! In the afternoon, the weather had changed completely. Cloud had rolled in around midday and by 3pm, light rain was falling. The only other bird species of note to be seen was a singing Wren that was somewhere deep within the hedgerow by the Bowling Green.

My Garden:

The female Black Redstart by my garden yet again.

Both the female Black Redstart and the male Blackcap showed relatively well today in my back garden. The former was seen briefly up in the tall bare tree in my neighbours garden again although it didn't hang around long, but long enough to grab a few photos of the bird before it flew off over the gardens.

Another photo of the female Black Redstart in her fourth week by my garden. 

The male Blackcap also popped into the same tree briefly, but would not hang around long enough for a photo as it flew back and forth to the same tree and then headed off south. Later in the afternoon, I heard the Blackcap singing in my neighbours Bay Tree, but the rain came in and the chance of a photo was lost; though it was deep within cover and out of view. A couple of male Blackbirds were much more obliging as they seemed to chase each other around the gardens and the tall tree.

One of the Blackbirds at the back of my garden.

In Hampshire today:

A very large flock of 22 Tundra Bean Geese were seen to fly down the Beaulieu Estuary towards the Isle of Wight this morning; one of the largest flocks of this species ever in Hampshire. From Hayling Oysterbeds, a Red-necked Grebe, Black-necked Grebe and a Slavonian Grebe were seen this morning along with the regular male Scaup and Long-tailed Duck. Up to four Little Gulls were off Sandy Point, Hayling Island this morning and over at Woolmer Pond, up to four Woodlarks were seen including a singing bird.