Lots more rain on the way!

Monday 9th February 2026.

The female Black Redstart was showing well again from my back garden.

More rain was on the way this afternoon, but it wasn't till I had finished my last shift at Pembroke Road when the rain finally arrived. Serious flood warnings are in place, affecting many areas where rivers have burst their banks and according to the Met Office, the only dry day this week is Saturday! Despite the wet weather, it is going to be mild with temperatures in double figures and today, there was hardly any wind, keeping it mild throughout the day.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

I managed to get up to 15 bird species today though nothing out of the ordinary among them. The Blue Tits here were a bit frisky again, chasing one another in the trees and then flying off north over the houses. A Cormorant, possibly two birds, were seen sailing over Curtain Moat, but again, no Brent Geese were seen coming in off Portsmouth Harbour, though around 40+ Brent Geese were on Southsea Common when I drove past. It seems this year that they have not used Governor’s Green for a feeding station unlike last year where there would be at least 30+ birds grazing on the short grass.

There were plenty of birds singing around the Bowling Green including Great Tit, Wren and a Dunnock and the usual House Sparrows were vocal, as per usual, in the hedgerow beside the Bowling Green. As I drove down Pembroke Road to park up for my first shift, the big grassy area just east of the Bowling Green held at least 30+ Carrion Crows and among them were two Rooks. I have seen Rooks on the grass by Duisberg Way while driving to Pembroke Road earlier this year, but it's the first time I have seen them this far west.

My Garden:

Film footage of the female Black Redstart today.

Yet again, the female Black Redstart was seen perched up high in the bare tree in my neighbours garden and later in the day, it was high up in another tree and calling repeatedly. This time, as well as a few photos, I managed to grab a bit of film footage of the bird. The Blackcap was heard singing again late this afternoon, deep within my neighbours Bay Tree, but no sighting of the bird today.

Yesterday, birding pal Geoff Farwell was birding in the Ramsdean / Langrish area, near Petersfield and saw the following birds: Hawfinch, 37+ Yellowhammers, 50+ Chaffinches, 2 Marsh Tits, 2 Red Kites, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Ravens and a Little Egret.

In Hampshire today:

The Bittern from Ivy North Hide, Blashford Lakes today. Photo by Steve Laycock.

On Hayling Island today, in the Black Point area, the Snow Bunting was seen again and probably had been flushed from nearby East Head. A juvenile Little Gull was seen from the Lifeboat Station plus three Great Northern Divers and a Slavonian Grebe. At the other end of Hayling Island, from the Oyster Beds, there were sightings of the male Scaup, 2 Great Northern Divers and 2 Black-necked Grebes. On Blashford Lakes, up to two Bitterns were showing from a packed Ivy North Hide. 5 Glossy Ibis were on the Bridge Street Floods this morning.