Sunday 26th April 2026.
Dawn over South Parade Pier, Southsea.
It was another 5am start this morning as I got ready to do another 3 hour ‘sea-watch’ from Southsea Promenade again today. The weather was identical to yesterday with yet another flat calm sea and a light easterly wind and again, I was treated to another ‘year-tick’ when my first Arctic Skua of the year flew through heading east low over the sea. There was a bit of variety again and a few surprises.
Afterwards, when I got home, I took my dogs out again to Highland Road Cemetery for a pleasant walk around my ‘local patch’.
The Solent, Southsea seafront:
A pair of Med Gulls passing Horse Sands Fort. There were dozens of Gulls resting on the Fort, mostly Great Black-backed and Herring Gulls.
Bird of the day was easily my first Arctic Skua of the year, a light phased bird that flew strongly east low over the sea around 7.13am. I did hear a little later that a dark-phased bird had entered the Solent, seen from Cut Bridge and the same bird seen later passing Hayling Island. Close behind, was a small flock of 3 adult Little Gulls going east in a tight flock low over the sea. Once again, it was beautifully calm at 6am when I arrived with an orangy hue in the sky to the east. There were, as expected, a large number of Gulls offshore and picking my way through them was never easy, especially the distant Gulls; but no pain, no gain and I certainly picked out a lot of nice birds during the three hours here.
Above, these three Shelduck flew close in heading east and a fourth bird shortly followed afterwards. Below, a flock of four Med Gulls passing close by.
The birds seen this morning from the Shelter included the following:
Whimbrel: A good total of 17 Whimbrels were seen this morning with most being single birds, though there were a pair and a small group of 4 birds all heading east bar one individual that went west!
Sandwich Tern: I did not want to count the birds flying along the foreshore due to the fact they were probably not migrant birds and have probably overwintered here. Of the more distant birds, I counted up to 28 birds seen throughout the morning.
Common Tern: Up to 14 birds were reliably identified going east and mostly in pairs. There was one flock of 7 birds seen going east.
‘Commic Tern’: Two flocks of ‘Commic’ Terns went east, a group of four birds and a pair, but too far out to be certain on the species.
Above, this large ship was carrying a very expensive cargo. Luxury boats! Below, the small flock of three Avocets passing east.
Above, it wasn't till I checked on my laptop that the left hand bird was actually a Bar-tailed Godwit with a Whimbrel. Below, one of several Oystercatchers this morning.
Mediterranean Gull: A big total of 37 birds were recorded this morning with all the birds seen heading east. Most likely not migrant birds and probably coming in from feeding out in the Solent and then heading back into Langstone Harbour?
Bar-tailed Godwit: One was seen with a Whimbrel flying east. I honestly throught it was two Whimbrels passing through.
Shag: A distant adult bird seen heading east.
Peregrine: A male bird was seen flying out to sea heading south-east. I did think it was going to land on Horse Sands Fort, but carried on flying out over the Solent.
Oystercatcher: Not as many as yesterday, with just five birds seen heading eastbound close in.
Little Gull: A flock of 3 birds flew close together heading east. All adult birds.
Sadly, litter louts are still plaguing the beach despite all the work that has been carried out here along the beach. The Herring Gulls made short work of the leftover food.
Swallow: The only Hirundine seen here this morning. It flew east over the beach but was lost to view.
Shelduck: A small group of 3 birds headed east and seconds later, another individual was flying behind the flock.
Arctic Skua: The pale-phased bird was my first one of the year as it sped low over the sea, but looked stunning through the scope.
Great Crested Grebe: An adult bird flew low over the Solent, fairly close in, heading west.
Avocet: A real surprise as a small group of three birds heading east close in. I think this is only the second time I have ever seen an Avocet on a ‘sea-watch’ here. Well pleased.
Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:
The tail-less Chiffchaff was still singing strongly within the Cemy.
The dogs enjoyed their walk in the sunshine this morning as I did my usual route around my ‘local patch’. The Starlings were busy searching for food within the long grass and showed well near the footpath. Our usual ‘tail-less’ Chiffchaff was in full song yet again as he did a circuit around the Cemetery and posed nicely on an exposed branch. With the leaves on the trees now, it is becoming more difficult to locate the birds unless they fly and so sightings this morning were few and far between. I might take another walk later in the afternoon today, so maybe something of interest could be present.
Above, another photo of the Chiffchaff and below, it looks like one of the Starlings had become a meal.
Above, one of the House Sparrows on the perimeter fence in the south-east corner and below, a Starling searching for more food for its hungry chicks?
Above, three of the small flock of Starlings searching for food in the long grass.
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