Pittswood Birds

Another cracking morning for being out on my patch. This didn't make it any easier to find the summer migrants though, few were singing. A LESSER WHITETHROAT sang from the hedgerow on the golfcourse, a CUCKOO gave a brief and stuttering cuck- cuck -cuckoo, from the scrub area around the lake, where also a pair of BLACKCAPS were foraging for food, and a CHIFFCHAFF called in the background. A GARDEN WARBLER gave a short burst of song from the tree nursery, where the YELLOWHAMMER was singing from his songpost atop a pine tree. At migrant alley it was just ROOKS and other corvids, a flyover GREY HERON and the usual SWALLOWS, SWIFTS and HOUSE MARTINS spinning above. As I walked on to the college grounds and gardens I saw a SPOTTED FLYCATCHER, the first seen here since mid may. I wonder if they are breeding here, as in other years? I'll have to keep a close lookout. Also I saw the first sighting this month of the PEREGRINE, putting in a brief appearance, flying over low and vanishing behind the treeline. So all in all, it was a good morning out, with 51 species being recorded, and I didn't see a Jay!

This Whitethroat was in an Oak tree, in the headland at migrant alley, with at least two fledged young. The Whitethroats are more abundant on my patch this year, and appear to be doing well.

Thought i'd put these two Nuthatch photo's on, always a nice bird to see. Although they are looking a it dull after their breeding exertions.

Back to Damselflies! Now I think this could well be a White Legged Damselfly. The pattern on the second segment doesn't seem to fit the Common or Azure blue. Also it has got somewhat ''swollen'' tibia, and the legs look white to me! Anyone agree?

last of all, just to say yesterday evening at 20:30 a LITTLE EGRET flew over my house, I saw it from the front window whist watching telly. This is the 86th species i've recorded in and around my garden.