Pittswood Birds

At last the weather conditions are on the turn, although overcast and cool at 06:00 this morning, the wind had dropped, and by the end of my walk at 11:00am the sun was trying to break through. The CUCKOO was heard again as I walked along the golf course hedgerow, it called from the lakeside scrub. This was the area that I had hoped to hear the Nightingale, but although I spent an hour listening, none sang. It wasn't a complete loss, as a WILLOW WARBLER and a couple of BLACKCAPS did manage to brighten the gloom, and the CHIFFCHAFFS were in good form again.

At migrant alley there were 14 LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS and 3 HERRING GULLS, and at least 3 SKYLARKS sang. A new species for the year flew over the buildings at the college - 2 HOUSE MARTINS (77) and the walk back across migrant alley produced a MEADOW PIPIT, maybe the last until autumn, also a KESTREL and SPARROWHAWK were hunting over the fields. Another 2 House Martins flew across the ploughed field and the SWALLOWS were back in force with at least 10 seen. I may go out again this afternoon to check for Nightingales .

I checked the nest boxes this morning, and found, out of the 7 boxes, 6 had BLUE TITS in, with 11,5,13, and 8 eggs in, another was sitting, so I didn't disturb her, and the last had a nest but no eggs. The 7th box had a GREAT TIT nest containing 4 eggs. Photo's are difficult, as the boxes are shoulder hight, but I may be able to get some later.

The Hawthorn is just about to flower, I think the scent of this tree is great, some people think it smells of cat pee!

A male Linnet, singing at his songpost

Kestrel Hunting over Migrant Alley

This is the building that the House Martins nest on every year. Over the winter it has had the roof replaced and the soffits are now replaced with plastic ones, will the House martins be able to fix thier mud nests to it ? Will the scaffolding come down in time anyway ? This is the only place on my patch that these migrants nest regularly, it would be a shame to lose them.