A brief Desert Wheatear in Hampshire & large numbers of Wood Pigeons on the move.

Tuesday 3^rd November 2026.

Dawn over Highland Road Cemetery when I walked the dog this morning.

Another bright start to the day although a lot of high cloud around this morning (thankfully!) however it was quite cold in that north-easterly wind when I walked the dogs early this morning. In fact, it was back to my woolly hat for my first shift at Pembroke Road this morning.

I didn’t put the Moth Box on last night for fear of trapping the same Moths, but it will be back on tonight. Pembroke Road was a little quieter than yesterday on my first shift, but there was an excellent display of Wood Pigeons going over this morning. If only I had my camera on me!

The male Desert Wheatear at Weston Shore this morning. Photo by Tim Doran.

Amazing news this morning was the discovery of a male Desert Wheatear at Weston Shore, near Southampton! However, it eventually flew off and no further sign by 10am. Sob! I have seen several Desert Wheatears over the years and even one in Hampshire; the infamous Hayling seafront bird, way back in 2005.

 

 

Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:

A very bright start to the day again though there was some overhead cloud.

Yes, another bright start, but at least there was a bit of cloud cover this morning, and I never had a problem with the motorists today so far! As mentioned, the Wood Pigeons put on a good display this morning with one flock estimated to be around at least 200+ birds right over my head, all heading north in a tight flock. A little while later, a smaller flock of around 100+ birds went over, also heading north and when one of the Cross-channel Ferries blew its horn when exiting Portsmouth Harbour, at least 40+ Wood Pigeons flew off Governor’s Green in panic!

Up to 4 Jays were seen together going up and down Pembroke Road and a couple of large flocks of Goldfinches also flew over heading eastbound. Unfortunately, there were no additional species seen on my second shift and the only saving grace was that the rain had stopped on my arrival at Pembroke Road.

The birds seen or heard this morning included the following:

• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Jay (4)
• Magpie
• Carrion Crow
• Pied Wagtail (heard)
• Robin (heard)
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit (heard singing)
• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Goldfinch (16 + 12)
• Starling

 

Harbour Entrance, Eastney:

Ted & Buddy enjoying stretching their legs on the spit opposite the Hayling Ferry.

Around 1pm, I took the dogs for a stroll by the Langstone Harbour entrance at Eastney. The tide was out and so we took a walk down to the Hayling Ferry and walked west down on the sandy spit so they can run their little legs off. There was nobody around or any other dogs and so they were safe off their leads as I checked out any bird life in the area.

I managed to take several photos of my short trip to the Harbour entrance at Eastney around midday. Above, a pristine adult winter Black-headed Gull on the foreshore. Below, due to the feeders recently being stocked, not only did it attract many birds, but also these two Brown Rats!

Above, Starlings perched on the roof of the RNLI Building and below, our Buddy having a good run.

The nearby mudflats held virtually no birds at all, bar the odd Black-headed Gull, but on the mudflats further north in the harbour held good numbers of Oystercatchers. A Little Egret flew in briefly and began fishing in the shallow tideline before flying off east over the harbour. I couldn’t see any Brent Geese on the mudflats, which was surprising, but their numbers will swell as the month progresses.

Above, the view looking north from the spit into Langstone Harbour and below, one of many Oystercatchers in the area.

Above, a Little Egret splashing about in the water by the spit and below, ominous looking rain clouds heading my way.

As I slowly made my way to the car, a Sandwich Tern flew north into the harbour and rounded the Ferry Terminal to fly into Lock Lake to fish. Back at the car park adjacent to the Harbour entrance, there was an impressive flock of both House Sparrows and Starlings present. Someone had put up some feeders that looked empty by the look of it, but it also attracted around a 100+ Feral Pigeons and two Brown Rats! The Rats were right out in the open and well known for being shy creatures, these two did not bother to scarper on our arrival whatsoever!

Above, another photo of the fishing Little Egret and below, this lovely sandy area by the spit was just what my dogs needed to have a good run.

Above, good numbers of Starlings on top of the RNLI Building. Below, a large gathering of both Starlings and House Sparrows utilising the feeders.

I couldn’t see anything of note within the Harbour entrance and so got the dogs into the car and headed off back home. The sky was very dark over Hayling Island, and it looked as though rain was heading our way. Groan!

 

In Hampshire today:

A male Blackbird enjoying feeding on the berries in my garden.

Obviously, the Desert Wheatear stole the Hampshire headlines, but sadly no further sign of the bird throughout the day. An incredible count of 40,400 Wood Pigeons between 7.15am to 8am this morning at Tweseldown, near Aldershot made my effort this morning totally miniscule! Other than that, most of the sightings today were of the usual winter birds and a few summer stragglers just about hanging on.