Thursday 26th February 2026.
It was back to wintry weather again this morning with an overcast sky and a breezy south-westerly blowing down Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth. Thankfully, I had my gloves this morning, though rain was threatening as the morning wore on. Temperatures were around 10 degrees, but it felt a lot colder in the wind. I had the Moth Box on overnight and was rewarded with a few moths.
My Moth Box:
A total of three Moths were present this morning: a Double-striped Pug that was sat on the glass panel of the Kitchen Back Door and two Common Plume moths (my first of the year) that were sat together on the Garden Box which my Moth Box sat on. A good search in and around the Moth Box revealed no other moths, but the usual Winter Gnats.
Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:
Yes, it was breezy this morning on my first shift and a grey sky overhead did not bode well for more rain on the way later today. In fact, there was a bit of drizzle as I drove home after my shift. A total of 12 bird species were noted this morning, though nothing to get too excited about. A couple of Wood Pigeons were not paying attention to the road traffic and one bird actually got hit by a passing car, but somehow lived to tell the tale! Up to four Blue Tits were chasing each other again and nearby, TWO Dunnocks were in full song, though some distance apart. Already, Sand Martins have been reported at various locations recently, so I am keeping my eyes peeled overhead for any migrants passing through.
No more bird species were added this afternoon in the strong wind and overcast conditions. In fact, I was rather glad my second shift went quite quickly as the wind was getting a bit of a pain! There were a lot of Herring Gulls flying over this afternoon and the Squirrel population by the Holm Oaks seems to be increasing. I saw 6 individuals at one time!
St. Augustine LNR (My Garden):
Birding pal, Matt Parkes, came up with the above name and so I have adopted St. Augustine Local Nature Reserve for my Garden! While checking the Moth Box, apart from the noisy squabbling Magpies in the bare tree at the back of the garden, one of the male Blackcaps was in full song in the Bay Tree and overhead, a calling Meadow Pipit flew high over heading east.
In Hampshire today:
Yesterday’s reported drake Ring-necked Duck was still on Fleet Pond and was also seen by two of Hampshire’s leading ‘Listers’ this morning. Also, the Ruddy Shelduck was still by Ranvilles Lane, Fareham. There were a few Great Northern Divers around today including birds seen off Southsea beach and over at Weston Shore, Southampton. Spotted Redshanks are not an easy bird to see in Hampshire over the past few years, but the long staying birds at both Normandy Marshes and Bunny Meadows at Warsash were seen today. Three Spoonbills were on Titchfield Haven today along with 9 Avocets. The Bittern was seen again today from the Woodland Hide, Blashford Lakes. Up to 7 Purple Sandpipers were west of the Castle, but in the closed off area by the rocks. Finally, a Water Pipit was on the Watercress Beds at New Alresford.
No comments:
Post a Comment