Pittswood Birds

It was much fresher as I walked to work this morning, and as I walked along Ashes lane towards Migrant Alley, ROBINS were already up and singing, a BULLFINCH flew from the hedgerow and a loose flock of 7 HERRING GULLS flew over the greenhouses.
In Migrant Alley there was a WHEATEAR in the paddocks, while at the college grounds, COAL TIT, GOLDCREST and 2 MISTLE THRUSH all called.
On the way home from work I again scanned the paddocks and found 3 WHEATEAR, I had a brief look then hurried off home for my camera. As I was passing the greenhouses a HOBBY circled low over head, giving some good views - like they always do when you've not got the camera!
After woolfing down a sandwich and gulping down a drink, I was off out to catch up with the Wheatear. I found them where I had last seen them, depite a dog walker allowing his 4 dogs to run all through the maize crop. I sat and waited, and hoped for a Whinchat to turn up, but alas it never did. A couple of CHIFFCHAFF were chasing around in the Maize, and a BLUE TIT scolded me from the top one of the plants. I was there for 2 hours in some pleasant sunshine and saw a Red Admiral butterfly, the first for weeks and a couple of tatty looking Meadow Browns. Also a Common Darter. I wonder if I missed anything during the morning! I feel sure something would have been with those Wheatear when they came in!!


Above: A Common Darter

Above: A Blue Tit in the Maize crop

Above : One Wheatear

Above : Two Wheatear

Above : Three Wheater!

I looked back over the years at Autumn Wheatear sightings and found. - :

2002 - one record, in Aug (one bird)

2003 - 4 records, from Sept. 4 to Sept. 28 (peak 4 birds)

2004 - 9 records, from Aug. 7 to Sept. 15 (peak 2)

2005 - 3 records from Aug. 13 to Sept. 18 (peak 2)

2006 - 11 records from Aug. 14 to sept 20 (peak 3)

2007 - 27 records from Aug 5 to Oct 23 (peak 2 )

2008 - 10 records from Aug 11 up to today (peak 3)

In 2003 I went part time working, so I had more visits. This probably explains the rise in sightings in the later years.