Pittswood Birds

This morning was bright and sunny, and the wind had dropped right out. However I could see the shower clouds building on the horizon, but it stayed dry for my 4 hour visit.
The day started well, when one of the first birds I came across was a WILLOW WARBLER, in Ashes lane, young lemon yellow one. This summer migrant was the first of the many I saw today, in fact I saw all the summer birds that use my patch, except the Swift, which have now gone (well I might see an odd one yet!) CHIFFCHAFF, BLACKCAP, and GARDEN WARBLER were at the lake area, feeding on elder berries, a TURTLE DOVE flew out of the tree nursery, LESSER and COMMON WHITETHROATS were in the scrub at the north end of Migrant Alley, also SWALLOWS and HOUSE MARTINS were over the Stables at the college. Whilst in the college grounds the SPOTTED FLCATCHERS were found again, and it was here I had the first encounter with a HOBBY, two in fact! My attention was drwn by 4 House martins above me giving an alarm call, all of a sudden two Hobbies came in at head height, clashed talons, and zoomed off again, quite a site! I walked through the college grounds and out onto the sports field, where I was surrounded by low feeding Swallows, I stood and watched, and had another encounter with a Hobby, all the swallows went crazy as the small falcon dived and chased them, just yards from my feet! An even better encounter than the first!!
Al that came after I was already feeling pleased with the days list, which ended on 48. This included another sighting of the BARN OWL at his roost, and a SPARROWHAWK. Quite a day.

Above and below are the better shots I took of the Hobby.

The two shots below are poor, but it shows the falcon in action, and how it just ignored me!

Above is one of the Swallows after everthing calmed down, taking a breather!



Below. A Sparrowhawk going over

This young Great Spotted Woodpecker below was one of two that were just outside the wet woods, in the small holding

last of all, one of the Rooks that frequents Migrant Alley