Saturday 25th April 2026.
Now for a 3hr 'sea-watch'.
My plan today was to do a very early ‘sea-watch’ from my usual Shelter on Southsea Promenade along with my birding pal, Andy Fisher. Sadly, Andy was indisposed and so I spent 3 hrs checking out whatever passes by through the Solent and anything of note flying in. The weather was glorious again, with the sea state calm with a very light easterly wind and though there was a bit of white high cloud around, the temperature wasn't too bad though I had wrapped myself up thoroughly.
When I got back home, after a cup of coffee, I took the dogs for their walk and it was back over Highland Road Cemetery and although it was fairly quiet, I had the misfortune of the battery from my camera running out of juice! Harrumph! On a positive note, I did find an unexpected Warbler within the Cemy and when I got home, I also had a nice surprise when I sat out in the garden.
The Solent, Southsea Seafront:
One of at least 23 Sandwich Terns seen this morning including this close in bird.
Buoyed on from Thursday's ‘sea-watch’ earlier in the week, by coming very early this morning for 6am start, I was very hopeful of a productive time here, but apart from seeing my first Gannets of the year (both adults) it was a bit disappointing with long periods of nothing but Gulls drifting past. A few flocks of Terns headed east and a good number of Whimbrel went through, but all in all, a quiet ‘sea-watch’. But hey, it was a beautiful morning and I did actually enjoy it, especially when a couple of ‘piss-taking’ joggers went past and then ran into each other and sent flying. Karma!
Above, the Cruise Liner Spirit of Adventure sailing into town first thing this morning. Below, dawn over South Parade Pier.
The birds seen this morning included the following:
Gannet: Two adult birds were seen, both adults and both nearer the Isle of Wight side of the Solent; but it was my first sighting of this species for the year.
Peregrine: A male Peregrine was seen flying around and dive bombing Gulls on Horse Sand Forts; seen through my scope.
Sandwich Tern: Most of the Sandwich Terns were single birds or in pairs flying east although some did fly both east and west close in and allowed for some photos. Up to 23 birds were seen during the three hours.
Common Tern: Up to 7 birds were seen close enough for an ID of which the largest number were 3 in one flock. All were seen heading east.
‘Commic’ Tern: A total of 23 ‘Commic Terns’ (Common or Arctic) were all fairly distant of which the largest flock contained 10 birds; all of which were heading east.
Whimbrel: A good total of 20 birds were seen during my time here and the biggest number contained 5 birds. Whimbrels have been going past all week here through the Solent in very good numbers. I have yet to hear one call yet, but I suppose all were quite distant.
Above, three Whimbrels flying east fairly close in and below, a Sandwich Tern having a scratch on the wing!
Above, one of two Shelduck seen today.
Oystercatcher: Though these waders barely get a mention, I did see up to 10 single birds throughout the morning all heading east and most some distance out.
Med Gull: Just the three birds seen, all adults.
Shag: An immature bird flew low close in heading west.
Meadow Pipit: A single bird flew in off the sea. Strangely, no Hirundines were seen at all this morning.
As mentioned, despite it being rather low key here this morning, I had a hot flask to hand and some nice chocolate cookies to munch on while checking out a very calm Solent and with a nice recently bought seat cushion to hand, I was very comfortable this morning. Over at Sandy Point, Hayling Island, fellow ‘Lazee Birder’ Garry Fennemore scored with a Bonxie flying distantly and a Hobby flying in off the sea; his fourth one of the year coming in off the sea!
Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:
A beautiful cloud formation over the Cemy looking north.
The weather continued to be fine this morning and so I took the dogs for their morning walk. A bit later than usual, but they enjoyed it nonetheless. A Chiffchaff was singing throughout my time there, though I didn't get to see the bird and was most likely the tail-less bird again waiting for a mate. However, I did hear another Warbler doing a bit of sub-singing and I soon got a reasonable view of it and realised it was Common Whitethroat. I think that all the time I have been birding here, I have only ever seen one before and that was many years ago.
Above, Ox-eye Daisies and below, one particular grave had Brome Grass growing on it.
Though my battery in my Camera went down, I did take a few photos of some of the plants here and that included a clump of Ox-eye Daisies and the Brome Grass of which Google believes it to be Ripgut Brome. A Red Admiral butterfly showed briefly but too quickly for a photo as it disappeared behind bushes in the southern half of the Cemy.
My Garden:
While enjoying a cup of coffee in the back garden with my dogs, I heard the sound of Swifts overhead and craning my head up, a small group of three birds chased each other low over the rooftops. At last, they are back. Happy days.
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