Pittswood Birds

It was a slow start to the day, only 30 species were recorded whilst walking the first half of my patch. The lake was completely devoid of birds, and the surrounding scrub wasn't much better, although I did see a nice fresh male BLACKCAP.
After a quick drink and a snack, I went out on the farmland part of my walk, it was still quiet, a MEADOW PIPIT flew over the greenhouses and into Migrant Alley, as did a couple of LINNETS. I walked through the tree nursery, and flushed up the usual GREEN WOODPECKER, but little else was seen here. Along the hedgerow that leads onto Migrant Alley, the fruit was hanging copiously, but nothing was feeding on it. I was able to peer over the hedge and see that the BARN OWL was at it's roost, it still gives me a thrill to think I've got a Barn Owl on my patch!
On to Migrant Alley, and I straight away saw that there was an increase in the Linnet/Meadow Pipit flock, it had grow to 60-70 strong. I looked at the far fenceline for the Stonechat, no luck today, but there was a WHINCHAT. I thought I'd finish the rest of the walk before scanning the fields, and as I walked along the stream behind the college I picked up GREY HERON and a GREY WAGTAIL, the latter is the first this month. I crossed the stream and walked through the grounds and gardens of the college and came across a feeding flock of some 10 or so LONG TAILED TITS, with them were 2 GOLDCREST and at least 3 CHIFFCHAFF. I made my way up to the north end of migrant alley, through the Scrubby wood, and then, along the boundary with the watery ditch, I found another WHEATEAR here, which gave good photo opportunities. I then crossed the field back to the Maize stubbles and paddocks for a better look at the Whinchat and for some skywatching, which produced SPARROWHAWK, KESTREL and HERRING GULL.
At 14:00 I went back out for a quick session at Migrant Alley again, and added 2 HOBBIES and two BUZZARDS to the list, also I found the same, or possibly a different Wheatear. I studied the Buzzards for some time as they sparred with each other overhead, but I could't make a case for either of them being Honey Buzzards.


Below. Two Common Buzzards ''Sparring''

The same two going over

The next two photo's are of a single Buzzard I saw a few minutes before the ones above. It has got some Honey buzzard features - Long Neck, but not much else.

Below is a Long Tailed Tit, part of the flock in the College gardens

This Goldcrest was with the Long Tailed Tits

Here's the Wheatear Below

The next bird is a MEADOW PIPIT

Finally, a pic. of the Green woodpecker as I flushed it from the tree nursery