Back over the Cemy this afternoon.

 Tuesday 21st April 2026.

The micro moth Hourglass Mompha was the only moth in my Moth Box this morning.

Despite some sunshine and a lot of high cloud, it honestly felt like winter this morning as a cold north-easterly blew down Pembroke Road this morning. Thank God it was a lot warmer this afternoon. Later this afternoon, after my second shift, I took the dogs out for a walk around Highland Road Cemetery where it was still breezy, but a lot warmer than this morning! I had the Moth Box on overnight, but I started to think this morning why I should have bothered. There was only one Moth, though it was a new one for the year, the micro Moth Hourglass Mompha (Mompha divisella).

This was my second Sulphur Tubic micro moth of the year. I found it in the Eastney area perched on a wall.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

Governor's Green with the Royal Garrison Church in the background. I am hoping for a Wheatear one morning soon bouncing on the grass here.

Up to 14 species were recorded here this morning; exactly the same number that was seen yesterday too, but nothing out of the ordinary again. Yesterday, four species of Gull were recorded (Herring, Black-headed, Great Black-backed and Mediterranean Gull), but just the three this morning with no Med Gull today. A Pied Wagtail took the opportunity to chase after insects on the Bowling Green while the players went off for refreshments in the afternoon, but little else of note again.

Despite some lovely plants growing in the gardens here in Pembroke Road, there are still some weeds permitted to grow including this Common Groundsel. Goldfinches love the seed of this plant.

A few Bees were around the plants close to where I stood, of which one I was pretty sure was a Chocolate Mining Bee, but it didn't linger long and flew off on my approach.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

The western footpath within the Cemy. the grass is very long still and plenty of wild flowers growing among the graves.

Apart from the tail-less singing male Chiffchaff, the birds were very shy this afternoon, bar the usual Wood Pigeons, Carrion Crows and the Herring Gulls sailing high overhead. A Jay was heard briefly as I was leaving the site, but little else to be honest. At least the insects kept me entertained, especially in the more secluded places where the blustery wind did not reach. Yellow-legged Mining Bees, Chocolate Mining Bees, Batman Hoverflies and Spring Epostriphe were all recorded in just a couple of sheltered sunny spots.

Above, this Wood Pigeon was a bit showy perched just a few feet from where I stood! Below, one of several Batman Hoverflies present in the sunshine.

Above, the hoverfly Spring Epistrophe and below, the tail-less Chiffchaff seen singing over on the east side of the Cemy. 

Above and below, a few more photos of the Chiffchaff. Below, you can clearly see that it was lacking a tail.

Above, a Yellow-legged Mining Bee and below, a Nomad Bee species.

I know I shouldn't, but the dogs got a good run around the far east side of the Cemy, just to stretch their little legs, though the grass is very long around there and I was worried a little about ticks, but a good check when I got back home revealed they had none onboard. Nevertheless, it was a good walk around the Cemetery and not too many dog-walkers either. More and more plants are beginning to flower and I found my first Herb Bennet of the year growing on one of the graves.

In Hampshire today:

This Grasshopper Warbler was found yesterday at Lower Test Marshes. Photo by Andy Tew.

More interesting migrants have arrived in Hampshire and yesterday, at least two Hoopoe’s were reported; one in Popley near Basingstoke and another in the New Forest. A Black Kite was seen yesterday morning over Hook-with-Warsash, but it didn't linger for the ‘listers’. A Wood Sandpiper was also found at Testwood Lakes and was still present this morning. The first winter Velvet Scoter was seen this afternoon along with a Common Scoter by birding pal Matt Parkes and an Arctic Tern was seen early this morning at the same location of Brownwich. A mass of more common migrants were posted on the Hants Birding website today including a male Redstart and a few Wheatears on Farlington Marshes this morning.