Pittswood Birds

Its back to work today, boo, but off again wednesday onwards, hurrah!
The walk in was wet and miserable with nothing to report, just the SWALLOWS on the wires at the riding stables.
This afternoon I thought i'd walk round Migrant alley and the college grounds, the latter gave me two close encounters with a KINGFISHER, but not long enough for a photograph! Crossing the college sports pitch I found another SAND MARTIN feeding with the swallows, and half a dozen HOUSE MARTINS.
Having walked through Migrant alley to get home from work, and again to get to the college, I decided to give it another go. I sat and waited for 40 mins, just a CORMORANT going over was of any note, I kept scanning the Maize crop, and fence lines for the Whinchat, but nothing. I decided to move on, and as always happens, suddenly, a movement in the paddocks and a WHEATEAR had appeared. Where do they come from ? I had scanned, and looked and seen nothing, then there it was!! After a few pics, I left it in peace and walked up the side of the maize crop that abuts some large gardens. There, I found a dozen GOLDFINCH feeding on seedheads, and as i watched, a WILLOW WARBLER flew from the Maize and into a hawthorne bush, just giving me a short view of it's lovely lemon plumage.


Cormorant flying over Migrant Alley

Above and below, The Wheatear. I looked at last Aug. sightings for wheatear and found that I had recored them on 14 days, starting from the 5th, with 2 birds on 3 of those days. So this Aug. doesn't look like being good as last Aug. ...........so far.