Pittswood Birds

It was qiute chilly, with a light mist early this morning, and the birds were hard to find. I was surprised to hear at least 4 CHIFFCHAFFS still singing, those and the ROBINS were the only birds to do so. JAYS were making themselves obvious as they collected acorns for the the winter, all the oak trees I looked at seemed to have a really poor crop on them. NUTHATCH and and TREECREEPER were heard at the golf course, but the lake area was again empty, as was the wet woods. A SPARROWHAWK flew from the tree nursery, where there were a few SONGTHRUSH in the Laurel shrubs, with two MISTLE THRUSH and a small flock of LONG TAILED TITS. Migrant alley again provided most of the days highlights, still plenty of LINNET and MEADOW PIPIT and a WHINCHAT was on the fenceline. At least 6 SKYLARK flew up from the stubbles, and as I watched them a group of Meadow Pipits flew up, with them was a YELLOW WAGTAIL. I carried on with my walk and found a feeding flock of birds along the stream, they were in 3 large elms and included 2 BLACKCAPS, and 3 Chiffchaff. A KESTREL was perched up in a fir tree at the college grounds, and a few GOLDCREST were calling. Only 3 SWALLOWS and 2 HOUSE MARTINS were seen in the skies, they are slowly but surley beginning to leave.
A total species count of 43 was a reasonable tally, but surprisingly I didn't find a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Above: Chiffchaff

Above: A Whinchat, yes another one!

Above: A partially moulted WREN. It still has some re-growing to do around its head. As does this BLACKBIRD, below.