Green Woody over Pembroke Road and another huge seabird passage.

 Friday 1st May 2026

A flock of Starlings flying over my head in Highland Road Cemetery this morning.

Another fine morning with unbroken sunshine yet again and a very light south-westerly wind. There were a few notable birds seen this morning at Pembroke Road that got my attention and the afternoon saw clouds roll in and although still fairly warm, it remained cloudy up until around 5pm where it eventually dissipated and the blue sky rounded off the day. Throughout the day, there was a lot of seabird action from various Hampshire localities along the south coast, but I had a busy day at work. The Moth Box was redundant last night, but I wanted to take the dogs for a walk around the Cemetery after my first shift.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

A Speckled Wood butterfly sunning itself in the southern half of the Cemetery.

The trip to the Cemy didn't go exactly according to plan and although the weather was superb, I was a bit disappointed to come across one of the Council Workers cutting the grass, which was damn noisy. Thankfully, the strimmers were not around this morning! I took the dogs over to the south-east corner where I could let them run free for a while, but, somehow, Buddy had pulled or twisted his Dewclaw on his right leg and he began to limp badly. I, therefore, had to cut short our walk around the Cemy and carry him most of the way home. As I write this up this evening, he is seemingly a lot better, although we are keeping an eye on him.

Above, one of many Holly Blue butterflies seen today. This one was in the Cemy. Below, a carpet of Germander Speedwell growing in the tall grass.

Above, a large clump of Smooth Sow-thistle. Below, another photo of the Speckled Wood.

There weren't all that many birds to take photos of, but a flock of Starlings flew low over my head as I just arrived within the Cemy, but really, little else of note regarding the birds. A Speckled Wood butterfly provided a bit of interest as it perched nicely in the sunshine in the southern half of the Cemy. A short trip here, but Buddy comes first and hopefully, all shall be OK by tomorrow. On the way to the Cemy, a pair of Swifts flew low over the house, but were not seen subsequently.

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

A Giant Tree Echium growing in Pembroke Close. This is one of my favourite plants for when the flowers come out, it becomes a Bee Castle! 

Up to 13 bird species were recorded today here at Pembroke Road and among them, I saw my first Green Woodpecker at this site. The bird was flying away from me, flying over Governor’s Green and then landing in a distant small tree in Penny Lane and then lost sight. I did not expect that. I have seen Great Spotted Woodpeckers here before, several times, but to see a Green Woodpecker here is a cracking site ‘tick’.

I found my first Carnation Tortrix of the year growing on one of the bushes near where I stand.

A Grey Heron was seen coming off Curtain Moat and being chased by a couple of Herring Gulls, the Heron headed off west towards Portsmouth Harbour with the Gulls giving it a bad time. The Jay was seen again and showed well flying up to one of the Holm Oaks and then through the trees heading east.

A couple of Painted Lady butterflies flew in and both of them struggled to get a strong foothold as they flew down the road heading east. One of them managed to fly over the road heading north and into the big garden in Pembroke Close. So, some nice birds today here and a good species of butterfly recorded. On my second shift in Pembroke Road, I found a micro moth perched on one of the bushes where I stand and it was my first Carnation Tortrix (Cacoecimorpha pronubana) of the year. I have seen them here for the last few years and occasionally get them in my Moth Box most years.

My Garden:

One of two Painted Ladies in my back garden this evening.

Playing football with my granddaughter Isabelle this evening, the late sunshine produced up to two Painted Lady butterflies in the back of my garden; a Red Admiral also flew in and at least 3 Holly Blue’s fluttering around the garden. During my day, I must have seen dozens of Holly Blue’s today. As someone said, they are most certainly having a very good Spring currently.

A Red Admiral flew into the garden briefly.

While Isabelle and myself were playing football, I heard the distinctive call of Swifts overhead and sure enough, a pair flew low over my rooftop and a little while later, the two were joined by four more! Even as I write tonight at 8pm, I can hear them screaming outside. Incredibly, I heard the distinctive sound of a Whimbrel calling high overhead, but I failed to locate the bird and a second bird was heard calling around an hour later. I read that there was a huge number of Whimbrels passing through the Solent today.

In Hampshire today:

There were just the usual migrants recorded today according to Going Birding, though a male Whinchat on Bransbury Common was a nice find. Most of the attention fell upon the Solent and the sightings off Cut Bridge at Milford upon Avon included the following: 13 Arctic Skua, 49 Whimbrel, 27 Bar-tailed Godwits, 6 Arctic Tern, 13 Brent Geese, Red-throated Diver, 12 Sanderling, Hobby and a Fulmar. Earlier this morning, a Black Tern, 4 Arctic Terns, 4 Gannet, 25 Bar-tailed Godwit, 15 Whimbrel and 3 Brent Geese went through the Solent from Southsea. Two pale phased Arctic Skua’s flew north up through Titchfield Haven and beyond!