Tuesday 3rd March 2026.
This Peacock butterfly showed well basking in Highland Road Cemetery.
This week's fine, dry weather continued today and though a tad cool first thing, the afternoon’s temperature climbed up to around 16 degrees and I certainly am not complaining. I am keeping an eye out for migrants flying over as good numbers of Sand Martins have been seen at various locations on the south coast and also plenty of Blackcaps heard singing. I have yet to hear a Chiffchaff singing, but I bet it will not be too long.
I learnt today that Car Parking charges will be taking place at the end of April within the car parks within the New Forest. True, it has angered a lot of people and has raised the question: is it just the Council fleecing the public yet again? How they are going to check the vehicles in all those Car Parks sounds interesting, but on the other side of the coin, hopefully, some of the money will go towards fixing the terrible pot-holes and idiots fly-tipping here. I, for one, will probably buy a ‘Years Pass’ for it would be far cheaper for the amount of times I do go to the New Forest.
Today, I did my usual two shifts at Pembroke Road in Old Portsmouth and also, between the shifts, I took my dogs for a walk around Highland Road Cemetery.
Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:
A stunning cloud formation over Pembroke Road early this morning.
The weather was just perfect here at Pembroke Road this morning as I notched up a total of 15 species today. All the usual suspects showed well today and plenty of the passerines were in full song close to where I stood. Three species of Gull: Black-headed, Herring and Great Black-backed, all showed well. It will not be long for the first Mediterranean Gulls to be flying over. I shall look forward to that. The Jay reappeared after about a week's absence and showed well as I pointed it out to a friend of mine that was on her way to work.
Just before I started my second shift at Pembroke Road, a Peacock butterfly fluttered around my parked car and flew off southbound over the houses. Yesterday, a total of 17 species were recorded here and the pick of the bunch was a Meadow Pipit that was heard flying over and heading off southbound; the first I have seen here this year.
Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:
Always warming to see the Cherry trees in blossom here in the Cemy.
It certainly felt so Spring-like here in the Cemetery as I slowly walked my dogs along the main footpath. There were a variety of birds seen here today and I was really pleased to find a male Blackcap here in song over on the east side of the Cemetery. The bird wasn't easy to photograph and showed only briefly in one of the tall bushes before flying off into another bush. A small flock of four Long-tailed Tits were also unexpected as they flew north into the bushes in the southern end of the Cemy. Sadly, they never showed again and I can only assume they flew off east.
Common Field-speedwell was abundant on the graves. Below, looking north from the south-west corner.
Above, this singing male Blackcap was a nice surprise and below, my first Red Admiral butterfly of the year.
Plenty of birds were singing including a Dunnock, which are scarce here, but I could not get a sighting of the bird. I had more luck with the Blackbirds and Robins proclaiming their respective territories. A Jay showed very well above my head in trees close to the Mausoleum.
Above, Leaf buds are starting to appear on the Horse Chestnut trees and below, several Blackbirds were seen today searching for food in the long grass.
Above, this was one of several Common Furrow Bee's seen today and below, a queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee enjoying the flowering Heather.
There were plenty of insects on the wing today, making the most of the gorgeous sunshine, that included two species of butterfly. My second Peacock of the year was sitting on a gravestone and basking in the sunshine and a little later, I found my first Red Admiral of the year that was nectaring on the Cherry blossom.
Above, another of the Cherry trees in full blossom and below, a Drone Fly nectaring on the same tree.
Bees and Hoverflies were abundant too with so much blossom on show and other flowering plants that included Buff-tailed Bumblebees, Drone Flies and also a lot of Common Furrow Bees (a species of Solitary Bee). I was sure I also saw my first male Hairy-footed Flower Bee, but it was too quick for me to grab a photo.
Above, this Jay was just above my head near the Mausoleum and below, a Starling is searching for food in the grass close by.
As I have always said about my ‘local patch’, it's not just the birds I like to find and look at, but also the wealth of nature here at this quiet and beautiful place. Yes, there are a lot of dog-walkers at times, but most are very chatty and it is nice to chat about the various types of wildlife within my favourite location.
In Hampshire today:
Though I have not heard any singing Chiffchaffs as yet, up to 6 singing birds were on Lower Test Marshes today and a Common Sandpiper on the reserve too. Up to 5 Purple Sandpipers were in front of Southsea Castle this morning and a Light-bellied Brent Goose was with the more common Dark-bellied Brent Geese in the closed off area on Southsea Common this morning. A singing male Black Redstart was in Fratton today, though my female bird in my garden seems to have gone now and has not been seen since last week. Someone spent 90 minutes waiting for the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker to show up in its usual tree at Acres Down today and never showed up (sounds familiar!), though two Crossbills put in an appearance.
This Rock Pipit was seen by the River Hamble at Bunny Meadows last Saturday.
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