Pittswood Birds

This morning was overcast, mild and still, perfect conditions for birding. It proved to be so, as an excellent total of 48 species was recorded in the 3hr visit. The total could of been higher had the Coal Tit or even more likely the Rook (which had been seen every visit until today!) had put in an appearance. The more scarce species such as, MARSH TIT, YELLOWHAMMER, TREECREEPER, NUTHATCH, KESTREL, SPARROWHAWK, GREY LAG and CANADA GEESE all showed today, the latter in a flock of 28, flying very low over the field below, which also held 2 GREY HERON and a PHEASANT - just visable to the sharp eyed among you.



One Of TheGrey Herons, Along The Hedge/Ditch

Pheasant In The Same Field

Water-Logged Woods - Home For Teal At This Time Of Year

Nuthatch - Foraging On A Gravel Drive.

Signs of spring were becoming evident, a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER drummed from a large oak, and a MISTLE THRUSH sang its rather melancholy song across the watery woods. Several BLUE TITS were displaying around one of my nest boxes. The TEAL had increased to at least 7, and SISKIN were flying over in singles, calling all the while. Walking to the farmland area a CORMORANT flew over, but once at migrant alley all was quiet - apart from a SPARROWHAWK that was gliding slow and low over the paddocks. I reached the the River Bourne, (just a stream really) behind the College and found at least 30 SISKIN feeding in alders, but infuriatingly no Redpoll!! I was consoled though, for as I stood chatting on my mobile to a birder friend (watching Redpoll 1km to the north) first a GREY WAGTAIL flew low over, then a LITTLE EGRET, probably the one seen a few days earlier. It flew low and alighted along the stream 100m off my patch..................as I sit and write this, I glanced at the feeders, and a COAL TIT arrived! 49 for the day - great total.