Redwing, the surprise bird of the morning.

Wednesday 16th March 2022.

This Redwing was a nice suprise during my walk around the Cemy this morning. Just look at the colour of the sky behind the bird, which was laden with dust from the Sahara desert! 

With heavy rain showers coming in this morning, I decided to do an early walk around Highland Road Cemetery with Scruff. The sky, however, was an eerie yellowy grey colour which was due to the Saharan desert dust high in the clouds, which will soon be deposited all over Southern England later in the day. Hence, why a lot of my photos look as though they have a ‘sepia’ look to them! 

It was most certainly a lot darker than normal due to the sky. 

The Jays put in an appearance again.

It was still rather cool this morning, roughly around 10 degrees with an easterly breeze blowing across the Cemy, but I had my coat on to keep the worst of the cold out. I counted up to 20 species of bird again, either heard or seen during my walk, though there was no sign of the Firecrest this morning, despite a good search around the Holm Oaks. The surprise of the morning was a late Redwing seen flying high across the Cemy heading north and then settling high up in the bare branches of one of the Beech Trees.

Another photo of the surprise Redwing this morning.

Someone's been feeding the Feral Pigeons here.

The Green Woodpecker showed well again, over on the east side for a change, but because of the hazy light conditions, the photo of the bird was a little dark. Two adult Mediterranean Gulls flew low over the Cemy, heading eastbound towards Langstone Harbour, I presume, with another heard later flying over, but there was no sighting of this individual due to the trees being in the way. Up to two Jays showed occasionally, but were always skittish. The following birds were seen or heard in the Cemy this morning:

• Herring Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Mediterranean Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Feral Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Jay
• Goldfinch
• Greenfinch
• Wren
• Robin
• Blackbird
• Redwing
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Dunnock
• House Sparrow
• Starling

Both Winter Heliotrope and Mallow plants were in leaf around the Cemetery, the former in its usual spot under the Holm Oak clump, while the latter was scattered in a variety of areas within the Cemy. I could not find any new plants on show, bar the usual Daisies and Common Groundsel, but it will not be long before more plants begin to flower, especially with the weather forecast looking good for the rest of the week. 

The ever vocal Green Woodpecker was first seen over the east side of the Cemy this morning.

Mallow growing at the base of the one of the Holm Oak trees.

Earlier today, the moth trap held no moths again, but close by, near the moth box there were up to 10 Common Plume’s and just the one Light Brown Apple Moth. There was a Double-striped Pug last night but it seemed to have disappeared. Surely an Early Grey or Hebrew Character moth sometime soon? The moth guys in the north of the County are faring a lot better than I am, though I assume they are near woodland, which does produced more moth species?

The male Greenfinch 'wheezing' from his song post.

Both Firecrest and Green Woody seen again.

Tuesday 15th March 2022.

True, not the greatest photo of a Firecrest, but it looked as though this bird has just had a good bathe.  

I am still Covid positive according to my flow test again today, but I cannot be far away now from getting the all-clear. The moth trap was out again last night, despite the cold overnight temperatures and I was rewarded with 8 moths of 3 species in total. There were 5 Common Plume moths, 2 Double-striped Pugs and my first Beautiful Plume of the month, hiding at the  base of the fencing panel below my moth box. No doubt, with overcast conditions and slightly warmer temperatures, I shall endeavour to set up the moth trap again tonight.

Beautiful Plume by the moth box.

Now there's a splash of colour to warm up the old cockles, matey!

The male Green Woodpecker being a tad showy this afternoon.

This afternoon, it was back over Highland Road Cemetery with Scruff in somewhat pleasant sunny conditions. There were a lot of dog-walkers present this afternoon and a few out for a stroll on their own too as I made my way slowly anti-clockwise around the perimeter of the Cemy. I clocked up to an impressive 20 species this afternoon, which included a few birds I did not see on Monday and even the delightful small male Firecrest and the vocal Green Woodpecker put in an appearance again.

Our humble Goldfinch was enjoying feeding on the seeds of Common Groundsel.

This female Blackbird came close enough to be most obliging in the sunshine.

There wasn't many insects about this afternoon but this Hoverfly species, Meliscaeva auricollis, put in an appearance. I had one of these in my garden a few days ago.

The male Firecrest showed on and off for at least ten minutes in the lone Holm Oak on the east side of the Cemy, but proved very difficult to photograph high up in the branches, so apologies for the scrappy photos. The Green Woodpecker, however, was much more obliging and literally sat out in the open in a tall tree in the centre of the Cemy, calling every now and then. In fact, there were a lot of birds singing this afternoon with both Dunnock, Wren and Robin in fine voice. I noticed Blackbird numbers have increased in the Cemy again with at least 6 birds seen, with a female bird already collecting worms! Has she an early brood already hidden away? 

Even the Dunnock showed well and sang at the southern end of the Cemy.

Total species seen or heard this afternoon included the following:

• Herring Gull
• Great Black-backed Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Wood Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Feral Pigeon
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Jay
• Goldfinch
• Greenfinch
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Robin
• House Sparrow
• Dunnock
• Blackbird
• Wren
• Firecrest
• Green Woodpecker

Not a great deal of insect life on the wing, though there was a Hoverfly species seen enjoying nectaring on the blossom of a small Cherry Tree. It was sad to see a large clump of bushes chopped away on the south-east corner of the footpath where the conifer was. It seems the Council are on a mission to remove a lot of bushes from the graves, a good feeding source for the insects, which can only have a negative effect for all nature here concerned.

A pair of Great Black-backed Gulls circled over the Cemy a few times before heading off north.

Sadly, another area of bushes has been destroyed by the Council.

This Wren was singing nicely above my head as I walked north up the footpath.

In Hampshire today, it seems the Little Ringed Plovers are back at Blashford Lakes, with a supporting cast of both Green and Common Sandpiper there. The Great Grey Shrike was again at Backley Bottom in the New Forest again and AJ had sightings of the Black-throated Divers in the northern end of Chichester Harbour this morning along with a ringtail Hen-Harrier. One of the re-introduced White-tailed Eagles was seen to fly west over Warsash this morning. Yesterday, Andy texted me to say he had a flock of Med Gulls, 5 Common Buzzards and a Red Kite over Cowplain Marsh yesterday!    

I particularly liked the colours in this photo of a singing Robin.  

A nice haul of Micro moths this morning.

Monday 14th March 2022.

One of three Double-striped Pugs this morning.

I took a gamble with the weather last night and put the moth box on again and this morning, I ACTUALLY got some moths! We were going to have someone in this morning to start work on our back garden, but now have to rearrange due to the fact both Becky and I have Covid and now has been put back to after Easter. So, with the garden all clear, I put the moth box on overnight and hoped for the best.

A close up of the Common Plume on my back door today.

It was a crisp clear start to this morning as I got up early to check the moth box. There was hardly a cloud in the sky as I went about checking the fencing panels first for moths and then finally the white sheet behind the box and then the box itself. I found a total of 12 moths, which included 3 Double-striped Pugs, 5 Light Brown Apple Moth's and 4 Common Plume’s. I was hoping for my first Early Grey of the year, but I am sure one will pop in over the coming weeks.

One of the many forms of Light Brown Apple Moth on the white sheet. 

There was a probable Bonaparte’s Gull reported yesterday at Blashford Lakes, which has yet to be confirmed and also an adult Winter Little Gull on Posbrook Flood late in the afternoon. There is a good influx of Wheatears today in the UK and I shall be taking our Scruff for a walk, hopefully, down Eastney seafront later this afternoon to see if I can find one.    

One of many Black-headed Gulls on the small pools within the car park at Eastney this afternoon.

I took that walk around Eastney Outfall in the afternoon, but it was to be a dire affair, with very little of note to be seen. A few newly arrived Wheatears had been seen not too far away from here and I was hoping one had arrived early this morning here. Sadly, it was not to be as I made my way through driving across the treacherous car park (pot holes here are ridiculous!) to park overlooking the harbour entrance. I was greeted immediately with good numbers of Black-headed and Herring Gulls within the car park, but little else of note here. 

Oxford Ragwort in bloom at Eastney Point.

So I took a walk to the Outfall, stopping to check out a couple of Oxford Ragwort plants to take a photo and then check out the grassy area around the Water Treatment Works for something interesting. Again, all was very quiet here and even the sea was near bird-less. I checked the buildings for a possible Black Redstart, but to no avail and even the large grassy field by the fence line was also void of birds, bar lots of Feral Pigeons. I have to admit, I am never comfortable leaving my car in this car park as some dodgy people hang around here, like the three dodgy (east Europeans?) guys doing something odd with their car while I was there.

A lone Mediterranean Gull was probably the highlight on a quiet walk around Eastney Point.

I decided to give the Little Owls a try along the seafront by Fort Cumberland, but they were not on show either this afternoon despite favourable conditions. The sun was shining and there was very little wind, so I was surprised the Owls were not on show as were any Black Redstarts within the ruined buildings behind the fence line. In fact, the only birds I saw here were a few Black-headed Gulls on the beach and sea and Feral Pigeons on the rooftops of the buildings. Some would say that it was a total waste of time, but I did get some nice fresh air for my efforts. There were no signs of any Sanderlings on the tideline, but there were a lot of dog-walkers on the beach today, but it was a nice afternoon and who could blame anyone for taking in some lovely weather.      

A calm sea over the Solent looking west from Eastney Point.

This beautiful male Wheatear was found at Hook-with-Warsash this morning. Photo by Pete Appleton. 

Some garden wildlife.

Sunday 13th March 2022.

A couple of male House Sparrows picking of cement granules at the back of our houses.

Last night, I set up the moth box hoping for a few nice moths to study first thing in the morning, but it turned out to be a disastrous move. Maybe I should have checked the weather forecast beforehand, which would have been the most sensible thing to do, but no; I went for it and paid the price at getting up at 3am to turn the moth box OFF! Before I retired for the night, the wind was blowing like buggery, my white sheet flapping menacingly due to the strength of the wind and yet it was clear overhead. But it was when I heard the rain pounding on our bedroom window when I realised that I had to get up and turn the light off on the moth box.

One, two and then three enjoying the sunflower hearts from my feeder. 

As expected, I did not get up till 9.30am and staggering down into the garden to check the box, I was not surprised to see not one moth in or around the moth box! So my wait for a decent moth in my garden continues. A little later in the morning, the sun came out and checking the few plants I have in the garden (we are having a major garden makeover next week), there was little insect life of note, unlike yesterday when there were several of the Hoverflies, Meliscaeva auricollis, flying around our Privet plant. However, I did find an interesting Crane Fly species that was kindly identified on Facebook as Tipula rufina. This is a Spring species of Crane Fly and though common throughout various parts of the UK, to look at it close up, one can see how intricate the wing pattern is.

The Crane Fly species Tipula rufina.

Away from insects, our local House Sparrows were enjoying the sunflower hearts on my feeder with at least 8 to 10 birds coming down to feed. A little later, several of the House Sparrows were seen to pick off the granules of cement between the brickwork off the terraced houses. They use these granules to break down the seeds in the gullets and evidence of this can be seen all along the terraced housing here in my road. I am still awaiting the first Chiffchaff or Blackcap singing in the back gardens and I don't think we are far away from their delightful songs. 

The Hoverfly species, Meliscaeva auricollis. This individual is a female.

A few more migrants have been seen today in Hampshire including Wheatears, Little Ringed Plovers and even a Hobby was seen in some lucky birders' gardens within Southampton. 

Firecrest in the Cemy.

Saturday 12th March 2022.

A rather showy Jay this afternoon.

I was back over Highland Road Cemetery on a much sunnier, but breezy afternoon, hoping for a possible early migrant and although no Chiffchaffs or Black Redstarts were present, I did find a Firecrest skulking about by the Holm Oak clump. Firecrests are regular here in early Spring and Autumn, but still a nice surprise among the 18 species of birds recorded here this afternoon. I had heard the bird calling at first deep within one of the Holm Oaks and then it flew out of cover briefly and straight back out of sight within another Holm Oak. It was also heard twice more in the same area though never seen.

Above, buds are starting to come out on the Chestnut trees and below, the Jay showing well in the sunshine.

It was mostly the same birds as yesterday here at the Cemetery, with the addition of the Firecrest and Dunnock. The male Green Woodpecker showed well briefly, perched up in a tree before flying down and out of sight; though it was quite vocal throughout my walk this afternoon. There was just the one Jay saw today, but it did show very well. The following species were recorded this afternoon: 

• Herring Gull
• Feral Pigeon
• Wood Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Carrion Crow
• Magpie
• Jay
• Greenfinch
• Goldfinch
• Blue Tit
• Great Tit
• Robin
• Dunnock
• Wren
• House Sparrow
• Blackbird
• Firecrest
• Green Woodpecker

Other notable sightings included my first Light Brown Apple Moth which fluttered over a few graves and then briefly settled on a gravestone for me to quickly grab a photo or two. White-tailed Bumble bees were noted around the grave that was covered in purple Heather, including a Queen that looked a bit dormant. Throughout the year, the Bee’s love this particular grave and a wide variety can be seen here.

Above, a White-tailed Bumble Bee on the heather and below, the Queen deep within the heather.

I found my first Light Brown Apple Moth of the year this afternoon.

In Hampshire today, migrants have been turning up in various locations including Sand Martins at various locations, a White Wagtail at Posbrook Floods and a pair of Little Ringed Plovers at Moorcroft Farm in Ringwood. The Ring-billed Gull was again on Ibsley Water, Blashford Lakes, with a fine photo of the bird on the Hants Whatsapp. Back in West Sussex, a pair of LRP’s were at Medmerry RSPB Reserve on the Stilt Pool today.

Above, one of several Robins seen today. Below, there were quite a few Greenfinches around here today.

Another Robin posing nicely in the sunshine.

On a lighter note, though I am being very careful with this Covid I have at present, I have been watching Series 1 of Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone fishing. If you have not seen it yet, it is a ‘must watch’. Not only are the two comedians superb in it, but they take fishing and the nature involved quite seriously (well mostly!), but I have not seen a rubbish episode yet. BBC iPlayer is showing both series 1 and 4 at the moment and my wife and I are really enjoying them. Hopefully, a series 5 is on the horizon?    

The male Green Woodpecker was vocal today.

A female Sparrowhawk was a garden surprise.

Friday 11th March 2022.

This female Sparrowhawk perched conveniently on a neighbouring rooftop.

I can confirm that both my wife and myself have definitely caught Covid, however, I am so pleased, I guess, that I had all my jabs as it has really taken hold of me at the moment. The coughing is simply ridiculous and the hot and cold sweats along with it is incredible. I have been lucky most of my life and rarely had the ‘Flu’, but I suppose this is what it must feel like. I am keeping a close eye on my wife who is on a fair bit of medication for other ailments, so I am busy looking after her as she is working from home despite feeling awful! My employer has been told of my situation and it looks as though I will not be going back to work till next Wednesday. We have plenty of Lateral Flow kits and I shall test myself later this weekend.

She showed well during the few minutes perched on a TV Aerial.

The new Covid rules says that one does not have to ‘Self-isolate’ and though the weather this morning was looking a little grim, overcast and breezy with a bit of rain thrown in, I decided to get some fresh air and take Scruff for a walk around the Cemetery for a bit of fresh air. As I grabbed my camera from upstairs, something caught my eye when I looked out into our garden from the back door. It was a female Sparrowhawk that had popped up into our neighbours tree, so I rushed back to the front room to grab my camera to take some photos of the bird.

I liked the way the wind caught the birds tail in this photo. 

The Green Woodpecker scattered all these Wood Pigeons within the Cemetery. 

Unfortunately, though I slowly got to the back door, the bird had flown off, but thankfully landed on a TV Aerial on the block of houses opposite. Though the trees were in the way, I managed to focus on the bird and took as many photos of this beautiful bird and to be honest, I was rather pleased with the outcome. She sat there for a good minute or two and then popped down on the other side of the building and out of view, scattering the local Wood Pigeons in doing so.

Above, there were plenty of the usual Carrion Crows in the Cemy this morning including this showy bird. Below, several Starlings were passing overhead and this bird was singing from a rooftop at the southern end of the Cemetery. 

During my walk this morning, I avoided any contact with any person and kept a very wide berth from them, however, I had a good chat with a dog-walker who told me about both the Green Woodpecker and Jays he had seen this morning. So, we got into a chat, all the while keeping a big distance from him. There was rain in the air and wind when I arrived at Highland Road Cemetery, the first time I have been here since Storm Eunice and I was wondering what devastation that particular nasty bit of weather had caused. In fact, it looked as though the Cemetery got away quite lightly, though there was evidence of some large branches down on the ground still and a lot of big bushes have been removed from the Council by the look of it, exposing graves that would have not normally been seen because of the bushes.

There was evidence of Storm damage from recent weeks in the Cemy and plenty of work done by the Council too.

During my walk, there was a count of at least 16 species of birds either seen or heard within the Cemy this morning, of which the Green Woodpecker made a couple of brief appearances; seen flying from tree to tree, but always distant. I was a bit surprised to see the Jays still here, with three birds following one another through the Cemetery; though they proved  difficult to photograph as they hardly kept still long enough. All the usual suspects were present but there were no early surprise migrants to shout about. Both Black Redstarts and Chiffchaffs could have been lurking about here today, but I was not lucky enough to see any this morning.

A flock of Goldfinch were always present around the trees.

Red-dead Nettle was abundant.

Common Groundsel, a familiar weed on the graves. Their seeds provide food for the Goldfinches.

Blossom is now sprouting from some of the Cherry Trees, which attracted one hardy Bumble Bee (Buff-tailed?) to make a foray through the Cemetery. Flowering plants on show included Common Groundsel and Red Dead-nettle, which were abundant by the footpaths, though apart from Daffodils and a few Bluebells, hardly any other flowers have appeared yet. A few warmer, dryer days will change all that. As I was leaving the Cemetery and Scruff had his good walk (he is 15 years old now, but still enjoys his walk) , the rain got a little harder and so we hot footed it back home for lunch. Yes, I still have my appetite, but there's no birding with Andy tomorrow, though I might put my moth box in the garden if it's dry overnight?   

How long will the Jays be present here?