TWO male Blackcaps today!

Sunday 1st February 2026.

It was still very damp over the Cemetery on arrival.

The dogs got their daily walk this morning over Highland Road Cemetery and after a lot more rain early this morning, it was dry enough to take a pleasant walk around my favourite part of Portsmouth. By the time I finished my walk here, a bright blue sky was heading our way from the south followed by bright sunshine. It was all the usual birds seen here this morning with the added bonus of a female Sparrowhawk over and a pair of Jays showing very well by the main footpath.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

A pair of Jays showed incredibly well for me this morning.

A good count of 18 bird species were present here this morning, although a lot were heard only, but what did show had shown very well indeed. A large scattering of Wood Pigeons overhead and the distant Herring Gulls screaming had me searching the sky for the cause of all this commotion and as expected, a Sparrowhawk flew low over the rooftops heading south-east; a large female bird too.

Above, a trio of Great Black-backed Gulls flying high south over the Cemetery and below, this well soaked Collared Dove was busy preening itself high up in one of the Chestnut trees.

Above, the pair of Jays near the footpath and below, the female Sparrowhawk flying over the rooftops nearby.

The Jays were heard as soon as I arrived in the Cemetery, but it wasn't till I got over onto the east side that a pair of birds were seen close to the main footpath and probably looking for the acorns they had buried late last year? A notable sighting included a small flock of three Great Black-backed Gulls flying very high towards the coast and thankfully, using my camera on its highest zoom, I could identify what the distant birds were. Most handy. No Crests or Warblers in the Cemy today, but it will not be long before we get our first singing Chiffchaff and Blackcap here.

Above, Crocuses are starting to bloom in the Cemetery and below, a fine male Blackbird perched in one of the smaller trees.

Above, a rather pale female Blackbird and below, one of the Jays perched on a gravestone.

It was good to see and hear the House Sparrows again today within the Cemetery, though staying deep within cover over on the east side. As mentioned yesterday on my blog, they really are getting scarcer and this small flock is one of the few places I have found them recently in Portsmouth. A good number of Blackbirds are still present, though I wonder how many of these are immigrants from Scandinavia? Sadly, nothing out of the ordinary, but always good to see some of our common birds close up and doing well.

Above, my first flowering Germander Speedwell of the year.

My Garden:

The female Black Redstart was getting a soaking this afternoon.

The female Black Redstart was again showing well in the back of my garden and neighbouring gardens both in the morning and in the afternoon and she was joined by TWO male Blackcaps that were showing well in the tall bare tree. Along with a couple of Blackbirds, a pair of Great Tits and three Blue Tits, it was a good showing of birds despite the rain falling again this afternoon.

Above, another shot of the female Black Redstart and below, the male Blackcap was sharing the same tree.

Above, a record photo of both the male Blackcaps.