First Reed Warbler of the year at Milton Lakes.

Wednesday 9th April 2025.

This Red Kite was a nice surprise flying over Fort Cumberland Common.

A bright blue sky with bright sunshine kicked off the day nicely but it was damn cold at 7.30am this morning as I checked my Moth Box. The Easter break is going nicely and so I had the opportunity to get out and about and late this afternoon, I took a stroll around Milton Lakes to see if any of the Warblers have returned. In between times, I was asked to let my daughter's dog Margot out to relieve herself both in the morning and in the afternoon, which was actually a pleasure. She really is a gorgeous dog.

The Moth Box:

My second Angle Shades moth of the year.

Late last night, I found a couple of moths perched on the kitchen door window pane of which they turned out to be a Bloxworth Snout and a Double-striped Pug. The signs were good that I was in for a lot of moths in the morning. How wrong I was. There was in fact just three moths present: and Angle Shades, probably last night's Bloxworth Snout and a Light Brown Apple Moth. Better than nothing, I suppose.

Bloxworth Snout.

Milton Lakes, Portsmouth:

From the southern end of Swan Lake, I could hear the Reed Warbler and a Water Rail calling from this very spot. Then a Brown Rat walked in front of me!

Earlier today, I was driving around Eastney and from Ferry Road, I watched, and was actually quick enough to grab my camera from the boot of my car, a Red Kite sailing over Fort Cumberland Common. Scores of Pigeons, Starlings and Crows took off in panic as this big superb raptor circled over the Common and then headed off eastbound. Very nice.

The Bluebells were out around Milton Lakes and below, this pair of Mallard were on Swan Lake.

After checking on Margot in the afternoon, I made my way down to Milton Lakes and parking up down Moorings Way, I made my way to Swan Lake. A Chiffchaff was singing its heart out in the trees nearby, as I kept an ear out for anything interesting. I was hoping for my first Common Whitethroat of the year, but despite doing a complete circuit around the Lakes, there was no sight or sound of one. I got a text from Matt Parkes to say there were good numbers of Sedge & Cetti’s Warblers present at Fishlake Meadows and minutes later, I heard the distinctive song of a Reed Warbler at the southern end of Swan Lake.

Above, Hogweed was growing beside Swan Lake and below, these Gadwall were also on the same lake.

I waited patiently for the bird to put in an appearance and after 5 minutes or so, the bird popped out briefly and then disappeared again into the thick reedbed. While waiting, a Water Rail called and a Brown Rat popped out in front of me and then scurried back into cover again. Swan Lake held a few birds that included pairs of Gadwall and Little Grebe. On the opposite side of the Lakes, there were sightings of Greenfinch, Chiffchaffs and a close Wren singing from the brambles. Near the end of the walk, the Reed Warbler started singing again, but proved too difficult to see, but I did get lucky with a singing male Blackcap that showed briefly and then flew off further south.

Above, one of two male Greenfinches seen singing and below, one of several Chiffchaffs seen singing in the area.

Above, a large area of scrub and bramble had obviously been cleared to help keep this place up together. Below, this Wren showed nicely by the footpath.

This Brown Rat was by the waters edge near where I was listening to the Reed Warbler.

My first Hogweed and Bluebells of the year were seen around the Lakes and a couple of Small White butterflies were on the wing to round off a nice day here. In Hampshire today, a male Hen-Harrier was seen at Hook-with-Warsash and a lot of migrant birds were seen by many birders out and about including Whitethroats, Sedge & Reed Warblers, Yellow Wagtails and even a Garden Warbler at Martin Down. 

An amazing view of a male Sparrowhawk.

Tuesday 7th April 2025.

The male Great Spotted Woodpecker showed nicely again this afternoon.

I took the dogs for their walk again this afternoon back over Highland Road Cemetery. Finally, the nagging north-east wind had dropped and it was actually quite warm this afternoon as me and the boys took a slow walk around my local patch again. It was 5pm when I arrived in the Cemy and noticed how much of the grass here had been cut except by the graves in most places; it therefore attracted a lot of both Blackbirds and Starlings to forage among the cut grass.

Above, one of the many Starlings present late this afternoon and below, this adult Herring Gull was collecting nesting material.

Above, a Robin singing under the moon and below, a close up of the same bird.

There were some memorable moments I had during my walk and one particularly stood out when a male Sparrowhawk was seen flying low over the grass and heading towards me. It then veered to my right at the last moment and flew over the perimeter wall heading south at speed. Simply, a ‘wow’ moment! Unfortunately, it was far too quick to get a photo, but that is one moment that I will not forget in a hurry.

Above, the Horse-chestnut trees are well in leaf now and below, this male Blackbird was perched up in a lone tree; one of many here this afternoon.

Above and below, the male Great Spotted Woodpecker preening.

Another good sighting was of the male Great Spotted Woodpecker high up in one of the trees over in the north-east corner. In this bright sunshine, it showed superbly in the tree preening itself for around ten minutes until flying off heading south over the Cemetery. The last memorable moment was of a Jay. I saw the bird hopping about on the ground by a grave in search of something to eat and as it was so close, I managed to film the bird for around a minute or so.

Above, the Jay that showed extremely well while I was walking the dogs.

There was a 'Willowchiff' calling quietly somewhere in the bushes near the Mausoleum, but no sighting of the bird this time. Unusually, there were not many insects around apart from a few Buff-tailed Bumblebees skirting over the grass. Still, a lovely evening around my favourite part of Southsea.

Above, the female Western Subalpine Warbler in Weymouth today. Photos by Emma Parkes.

Much quieter off Southsea seafront.

Tuesday 8th April 2025.

Dawn over Southsea seafront.

I was most certainly in the mood for another ‘sea-watch’ this morning and therefore I had to be up before dawn. However, after the ‘Lord Mayor’s Show’ yesterday by one lucky birder, it was slow going this morning during the hour and a half I was there. I had to be back by 8.30am because my wife had us take our granddaughter out to the Mountbatten Centre and so, with less time that I hoped, I did manage to see a few birds of note.

Spitbank Fort at dawn.

Many Sandwich Terns fishing way offshore with only a few coming in fairly close and only the one Mediterranean Gull was seen this morning. Yet again, another clear blue sky overhead and the barest of north-easterly winds blew across the Solent, but some birds did make their way eastbound which included three small flocks of Brent Geese.

Photos of the birds were hard to come by, but I did see this Sandwich Tern fairly close in and below, three Brent Geese on the move back to their breeding grounds.

A small group of three Common Scoters actually stole the headlines on such a quiet morning here on Southsea seafront, while the other highlights among the many Gulls flying past included a female Kestrel heading east over the sea (probably heading to South Parade Pier), a pair of Oystercatchers heading west and a Shelduck heading east. A pair of Linnets flew in off the sea heading northbound. Finally, a small group of three Shags headed west close in too, but too quick for a photo. And that was it folks! I will probably be back on Thursday and hopefully a bit busier and with more time.

Both Herring and Black-headed Gulls on the beach kept me entertained while it was quiet, Below, a singing Dunnock in the Southsea Gardens behind me.

Emma and Matt Parkes had a near successful trip to Weymouth, but there was no sign of the Subalpine Warbler in Weymouth. So they went onto Portland and scored with sightings of both Redstart and Ring Ouzel! Meanwhile, the UK is currently experiencing an ‘irruption’ of Hoopoes that included one coming in off the sea at Barton-on-sea and another close by at Medmerry RSPB Reserve for those ‘twitching’ the Least Sandpiper. An Osprey was reported on Pilsey Island in Chichester Harbour and three Spoonbills on Farlington Marshes. 

A few Warblers in the Cemy.

Monday 7th April 2025.

Most of the trees are full of leaves within the Cemy.

Another day where it was fairly warm during the day and very cold at night with a persistent north-easterly blowing over the south coast once more. I put the Moth Box on last night and the end result this morning was a complete blank. Yes, it was a gamble, but not even a Plume Moth????? The only consolation was a singing Chiffchaff in the gardens behind mine. After work, I took the dogs for their walk around Highland Road Cemetery seeing it was still sunny, though I still wore my fleece.

Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea:

Now that's one sexy looking Starling!

Could there be any migrants lurking about within the Cemy today and perhaps a butterfly or two and thankfully, the answer to that was yes! I found at least three Chiffchaffs quietly going about through the vegetation and at least one Willow Warbler that was high up in a tree by the Holm Oaks near the main entrance. The only other birds of note was the regular male Great Spotted Woodpecker that was calling occasionally high up in the trees at various locations within the Cemy, but I did see it briefly perched near the top of one of the trees.

Above, a few Herb Robert plants were flowering today and below, this Grey-patched Mining Bee was my first of the year.

Mediterranean Gulls were calling overhead, but somehow failed to locate the birds and both Herring and Black-headed Gulls flew over as expected. The council had cut the grass here late last week and also yesterday, which helped both the Blackbirds and Starlings search for insects among the cuttings. A Dunnock was heard singing on the west side among the bushes, but the bird did not show itself.

Above, this Chiffchaff eventually showed well in the southern half of the Cemetery.

While trying to get a view of a Chiffchaff, a Speckled Wood butterfly flew up and over a large Bramble bush; but this was the only butterfly I could find this afternoon which was a surprise because I have seen so many Small White butterflies on the wing here in Southsea. Other insects on the wing included the Bees & Hoverflies, of which I found my first Batman Hoverfly (Myathropa florea) and Grey-patched Mining Bee this afternoon. The latter had me foxed at first, but the good old boys on the UK Bee’s Facebook page steered me in the right direction. There were a few other species on the wing, but would not stay still long enough for a decent photo. Maybe next time.

Above, the male Great Spotted Woodpecker was vocal this afternoon and below, my first Batman Hoverfly of the year resting on a gravestone.

Above, Herb Robert plants were found on some of the graves and below, the only Oak tree in the Cemy was now starting to leaf.

Above, this Grey Squirrel was picking off the freshly emerging leaves and below, a female Blackbird in search of food under the grass cuttings.

Above, this pair of Herring Gulls were standing on the Mausoleum. Below, one of several Robins seen today.

Above, this Blue Tit showed well by the footpath.

The trees were now coming into leaf with some more than others, but it really does look like Spring has really sprung within the Cemetery. Sightings in Hampshire of late included a female Ring Ouzel still on Hayling Golf Course and some chap done an early morning 'sea-watch' from Southsea and saw a Great White Egret, 5 Little Gulls, 7 Common Scoter and a Kittiwake. Maybe I might bump into him tomorrow should he be there!

Above, my first Willow Warbler in the Cemetery this year.

Birding pals, Emma and Matt Parkes took the long drive to Newhaven this morning to see a female Woodchat Shrike by West Beach car park. A cracker of a bird.                   

The female Woodchat Shrike in Newhaven today. Photo by Emma Parkes.

Second seawatch of the year produces Common Terns.

Sunday 6th April 2025.

Southsea seafront & the Solent:

Dawn at Southsea seafront. It was a 6.30am start to see what goodies were flying through the Solent this morning.

After doing a ‘sea-watch’ from Southsea Beach last Thursday, I couldn’t wait to get back there to see if there was anything moving through the Solent. It meant an early start where I arrived bright and early at 6.30am. Another cloudless sky overhead as I watched the sunrise in the east rising above the South Esplanade Pier. Just a few joggers went by at first, but their numbers increased as the morning wore on. A few swimmers braved the cold water as I got stuck into the birds going through. A very light north-easterly was blowing across the seafront, but from the comfort of one of the Shelters, it was rather cosy as I watched good numbers of Gulls (Herring, Black-headed and Great Black-backed Gulls) making their way over the Solent.

Above, Herring and Black-headed Gulls in front of the South Parade pier. Below, an adult Black-headed Gull poking his head above the shingle.

Above, a juvenile Herring Gull exploring the beach in front of me and below, you can just see the line of Common Terns flying east over the sea in this photo.

I saw my first Common Terns of the year flying some distance out heading east;  a big flock of 16 birds heading fast and low over the sea heading eastbound. This is what Spring sea-watching is all about, true migration at work and gives you such a buzz when you see sights like this. Was it going to be a good couple of hours here? To be honest, it was a bit slow at times, but I did get to see a distant adult Gannet going west and another juvenile Kittiwake flying east. Those three species were probably the best of the morning, but a blue Budgerigar flying fast in front of me over the beach was a strange sight. The bird, calling as it went past, eventually flew north and landed somewhere in the Gardens behind me!

Above, one of many Sandwich Terns passing over the Solent and below, 9 Brent Geese heading east to their breeding grounds.

Above, as I was walking back to the car, I found this Ragged Robin plant growing on the grass. Another plant was nearby. Below, yours truly in the Shelter on the seafront. What else will I pick up flying over the Solent in the coming months?

Good numbers of Sandwich Terns were fishing out in the Solent with at least 20+ birds seen this morning and Med Gulls were in double figures too. I particularly enjoyed watching small flocks of the birds flying low over the sea heading east. Other sightings this morning included a Little Egret (some distance out) flying east, two flocks of Brent Geese (a flock of 9 and 4) heading east, 2 Oystercatchers and 2 Shelduck all heading east. No Hirundines were seen this morning, which was a bit disappointing, but I was pleased with this morning's sightings. 

Above, the Light Brown Apple Moth I flushed while watering the garden and below, an Angle Shades moth Caterpillar by the Lavender plant.

This afternoon, a Willow Warbler showed up in my garden and was seen several times during the day. Though it never sang, it did utter its longer ‘hooeet’ call note and I could clearly see the bird was brighter, longer winged and pale legs at such close range. Becky and I bought some more flowers for the garden and later in the evening when I began watering the plants, I found both a Light Brown Apple Moth and also the Caterpillar of an Angle Shades moth.