Peregrine over Pembroke Road.

Wednesday 7th January 2025.

A wintry morning in Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth this morning.

The cold weather continued here in the south over the past few days, but we have narrowly avoided any significant snowfall, but back to working in Pembroke Road this week, what with the windchill, it was below freezing again for the past two mornings! OK, there has been near unbroken sunshine over the past couple of days, but that freezing wind was grim.

There are still some superb birds in Hampshire if one has the time off to ‘tick-off’ for the year, but for me, it's back to checking the birds while I am working in Pembroke Road and already, there have been a few nice birds seen already here. The male Blackcap is still ‘sub-singing’ in my back garden both yesterday and this morning, but no sign of the female Black Redstart yet this week. The last time I saw it was last Sunday.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

Yesterday, despite the freezing temperatures, I got up to 13 species for the day on my shifts within Pembroke Road. There was a good number of Brent Geese passing eastbound high over and were most likely joining the flock on Southsea Common, which I saw on the way home. A Cormorant was seen circling near Curtain Moat and a flock of three Mute Swans were seen heading towards Portsmouth Harbour late in the afternoon.

This morning, I was blessed with a superb male Peregrine flying low over the road, heading west over the houses and in this excellent light, I could see all the plumage details of the fastest bird in the world. A cracking start to the day. There was a constant stream of flocks of Brent Geese heading eastbound to Southsea Common during my first shift and another Cormorant was again seen flying east. 

The House Sparrows were in good voice within the hedgerow by the Bowling Green all morning and both Great Tit and Dunnock were heard calling. A Jay flew in and landed in the tall Poplar tree opposite where I stood; my first one of the year here at this site. Again, I got up to 13 species here this morning, but that was all to my total today as on my afternoon shift in Pembroke Road, all was quiet and horribly cold too! 

In Hampshire today:

One of the Glossy Ibis at the Bridge Street Floods today. Photo by Steve Laycock.

Three White-fronted Geese, an adult and two immature birds. were on Farlington Marshes again this morning, which is turning out to be a good winter for these scarce geese in Hampshire. The Great Grey Shrike was still near Shatterford again this morning along with a few Crossbills and back at the Bridge Street Floods, there were 3 Glossy Ibis and a Water Pipit showing well in the bright sunshine. Birding pal Andy Fisher had the day off and managed to connect with a Great Northern Diver and a Razorbill in the harbour entrance at Sandy Point, Hayling Island.

The Water Pipit at the Bridge Street Floods. Photo by Steve Laycock.