Firecrests in Pembroke Road this morning.

Tuesday 24th March 2026.

The weather was most certainly not like yesterday where it was calm, albeit overcast with very little wind. Today, the complete opposite! Yes, still overcast, but a blustery south-westerly wind blasting down Pembroke Road this morning and although temperatures were supposed to be around 12 degrees, it felt an awful lot colder! I even wore my gloves and to be honest, I was so glad to finish my first shift this morning to warm up in the car home!

My Moth Box:

The Common Quaker by my Moth Box yesterday.

I put the Moth Box on again overnight on Sunday and was rewarded with just the one Moth, a Common Quaker. It was a very fresh individual and actually looked quite smart. The usual Winter Gnats were present and a couple of Lacewings on the white sheet were the only other insects present.

One of two Lacewings present on the white sheet yesterday.

While checking the Moth Box yesterday, a singing Chiffchaff was in my garden near the bird feeders and then flitted off heading in my neighbours garden.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

The view from my Office Window again! I am keeping an eye on Governor's Green for my first Wheatear of the year.

I managed to get 14 bird species this morning on my first shift and easily the bird(s) of the morning were the two Firecrests first heard calling in the Holm Oaks nearby and then flew out of the trees, only to land out of view in the bushes in the footpath between the Bowling Green and Governor’s Green.

Up to four species of Gull were encountered during my first shift of which were Herring, Great Black-backed, a very high up Mediterranean Gull and best of all, an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (which are very scarce here). Where were the regular Black-headed Gulls? Probably scrounging for food down by the Fun Fair? Most of the usual bird species were present including the displaying Blue Tits and singing Wrens and Robins; but there were a few omissions compared to yesterday, where up to 17 bird species were seen or heard. This included a calling Siskin flying high westbound; one of a few I have seen over the past few days over Southsea.

In Hampshire today:

The drake Scaup off Hayling Oyster Beds. Photo by Dolly Hawkes.

Wheatears are now trickling in and birding pal Geoff Farwell saw a Wheatear near HMS Collingwood in Gosport yesterday. Today, one was down Farlington Marshes, another two at Sandy Point, Hayling Island and finally, one at Lower Test Marshes. I have been checking Governor’s Green every day, but no luck yet. Other migrants included a whopping 125 Sand Martins over Posbrook Floods and two Glossy Ibis there too. Blashford Lakes still held a pair of Little Ringed Plovers this morning along with 20 Sand Martin and the female Red-crested Pochard. Willow Warblers were singing at Lakeside, Eastleigh, Testwood Lakes and also Workmans Lane, Hook-with Warsash. From Hayling Oysterbeds, 3 Slavonian Grebe were still present along with the drake Scaup and a Great Northern Diver.