Finally, after yesterday's first butterfly of 2018 (a Brimstone), today's afternoon sunshine brought out two male Anthophora plumipes sunbathing on the shingle between bouts of feeding on Pulmonaria. First identifiable insects so far - hopefully, once TBFTE2.0 moves through spring will settle down and a few hovers will appear.
Earlier, a shopping trip to Chi produced just a couple of Buzzards over the road but no sign of Peregrines. At Southsea Castle, on a dropping tide, 15 Purple Sandpipers appeared out of nowhere, presumable having been roosting on a buoy or fort; two Rock Pipits (one attempting some sub-song from a prominent part of the castle walls) and a scruffy Med Gull coasting eastwards.
Saturday.
A brief spin round the pond in a sleet flurry produced four Med Gulls and two Lesser Black-backs all washing.
