Ring Ouzel at Butser Hill yesterday.

Monday 19th October 2026.

Dawn over Highland Road Cemetery this morning while I was walking the dogs.

There was some overnight rain that put me off putting out the Moth Box last night and the rest of the week looks very wet too. However, today remained dry though it did try to spit with rain while I was making my way to Old Portsmouth for my first shift.

There was a large bank of cloud over the Isle of Wight but everything seemed to be heading west, and the rest of the day remained dry and bright. A light easterly blew for most of the day, which should bring in some interesting migrants. I read that a lot of both Redwing and Fieldfare were being reported in large flocks along the south coast, but I didn’t see any this morning going over.

 

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

A bright start over Pembroke Road on my first shift there this morning.

A total of 16 bird species were either heard or seen during both my shifts. The Jays were active again here, seen picking off Acorns and taking them away to be buried somewhere. As soon as I arrived and parked up in Pembroke Road, a flock of at least 40+ Goldfinch flew low overhead heading east and another large flock of Goldfinches headed east about ten minutes later. A flock of 10 Siskins flew low in the same direction, and I honestly thought there was going to be a lot of visible migration going over this morning, but I was wrong. It literally dried up after the Siskins went through.

The House Sparrows were heard again in the hedgerow beside the Bowling Green as was the Wren, Robin and Dunnock. It was very quiet this afternoon with little of note.

One of the Jay's from yesterday within Highland Road Cemetery.

The birds seen or heard this morning included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Great Black-backed Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Blackbird
• House Sparrow (heard only)
• Starling
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Jay (2)
• Goldfinch two flocks and a singleton
• Siskin (flock of 10)
• Wren (heard only)
• Dunnock (heard only)
• Robin (heard only)

Yesterday, birding pal Geoff Farwell tried his luck at Butser Hill and successfully saw a Ring Ouzel, which he thought was a 1^st winter bird. Also seen here included 2 Brambling, Marsh Tit, Firecrest, 2 Stonechats, Siskin, Chiffchaff and several Red Kites and Common Buzzards.