Swallows over Pembroke Road and another trip over the Cemy.

 Wednesday 22nd April 2026.

This Sulphur Tubic micro moth was perched on my car window this morning.

A very bright sunny day though, again, chilly first thing this morning in Pembroke Road. Temperatures were around 12 degrees in the sunshine, but with that north-easterly wind, it was certainly a lot colder. Thankfully, it was a lot warmer in the afternoon again. When I finished my second shift, once home, I quickly took the dogs out for a good walk (and run) around Highland Road Cemetery; making the most of getting a bit of exercise for both my dogs and myself! Some exciting birds were around Hampshire today and finally, Hampshire got its first reported Garganey of the year.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

The view from my Office window (again).

Being bright and sunny had its advantages and disadvantages as the bright sunshine helped me ID some of the birds from some distance away, but looking up into the bright blue sky to find birds was not easy; but hey, I am not complaining. Up to 13 bird species were recorded over both shifts and the pick of the bunch was the pair of Swallows flying low over my head and heading off north and in this morning sunshine, the colours of the birds were stunning.

This Chocolate Mining Bee was certainly enjoying nectaring on these garden plants this morning.

All the usual birds were present and correct, though strangely, no sign of any Great Black-backed Gulls today. A Pied Wagtail made full use of an empty Bowling Green this morning, but the Green was busy in the afternoon again with Bowlers. The flowering plants in the roadside gardens are now attracting the Bees and Hoverflies and this afternoon, a Chocolate Mining Bee enjoyed nectaring near where I stood. When I went to get in my car after finishing off my first shift, a micro moth was perched on the car window, which turned out to be another Sulphur Tubic (Esperia sulphurella). This was probably my third of the year so far!

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

The Cemetery is certainly looking lush at the moment.

Apart from the singing tail-less Chiffchaff in the Cemy, there were no other migrants of note. In fact, bird sightings were far and few between in the Cemy, so a small flock of Starlings searching for food in the south-east corner caught my eye as did a male House Sparrow. I never got to see the Chiffchaff this time as it seemed to be doing a circuit around the site.

Above, my first ever Cuckoo Flowers on my 'local patch' and below, my first Creeping Cinquefoil plant of the year.

Above, a close up of some Common Vetch and below, a Batman Hoverfly (top) sharing the Bramble with a Common Green Bottle Fly.

Above, Daisies and Germander Speedwell. Below, a Marmalade Hoverfly perched on Holly.

Above and below, Starlings searching for food in the Cemetery.

Above, a male House Sparrow on the perimeter fence by the south-east corner of the site and below, the dead plant growing on these gravestones remind me of the Rock and Gravel Slag, the Cavemen Brothers in Wacky Races!

Yesterday, there was just one Field Poppy in bloom and today there are four!

I found my first ever Cuckoo Flowers growing near the main path in the southern end of the Cemetery. I couldn't believe seeing them here for I only thought they grew in wet and damp areas? Maybe a few seeds blew over this way? Another flowering plant that was new for the year was the Creeping Cinquefoil that was growing on one of the footpaths. The wind was still a bit blustery, but it wasn't as cold as early this morning. The sheltered areas attracted a good number of Hoverflies and Bees which included Chocolate and Yellow-legged Mining Bees and good numbers of Batman Hoverflies. A Speckled Wood butterfly flew around the Holm Oak clump and rose to the top of the trees to disappear between them.

In Hampshire today:

The drake Garganey on Farlington Marshes today. Photo by Steve Laycock.

There was a good variety of birds around today that included Hampshire’s first Garganey of the year. A cracking drake was found early this morning on the Stream area at Farlington Marshes, of which birding pal Andy Fisher took full advantage of by rushing down there on his day off and connecting with the bird along with a Hobby flying over! Well done mate. Meanwhile, top Hampshire birder Garry Fennemore got his 200th bird species in Hampshire with a Whinchat on Hayling Island. Incredible! Could the Hampshire Listing Record be broken this year? The Wood Sandpiper was still on Testwood Lakes and a White Stork was seen flying east over Clanfield this afternoon.

Of note, finally, there is actually a Birding programme on the TV currently called Sam & Ade Go Birding and it is the style of Go Fishing with Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer. Though there are only three hour long episodes (a lot less due to adverts), it is good as the guys go to first Cornwall and then North Norfolk. The last one is next week where they visit the Somerset Levels. It stars Sam West and Adrian Edmonson of which the Adrian is the novice and Sam is the far more experienced birder with 400+ species under his belt. Good stuff. I do hope there is a follow up series.