Pittswood Birds

There were still some good birds about today, this morning a YELLOW WAGTAIL flew over Migrant Alley, and whilst walking back home from work I found my first REED BUNTING of the Autumn, the first i've seen since the one I found in the golf course hedgerow back on new years day!
Back out again in the afternoon, a HOBBY flew over the Maize stubbles, as did SPARROWHAWK and KESTREL, each in turn putting up the MEADOW PIPITS, LINNETS and PIED WAGTAILS that were feeding below. It turned cloudy, and a chilly wind came up, so I took a walk around the tree nursery where I was surprised to see a WHINCHAT, only the second ever that has been recorded away from Migrant Alley, although the nursery is only seperated from it by a field and Ashes Lane. The Whinchat was the latest ever recorded on my patch, the previous latest date was the one I saw last week on the 20th, and another in 2006 on the same date. A few SWALLOWS and HOUSE MARTINS went south, and 4 CHIFFCHAFF were seen, but that was about it for today.


Above and below: Whinchat - the latest recorded to date.

Below is the watery ditch that runs along the Northern border of my patch. Its here I hope to find a Snipe or maybe a Green Sandpiper this winter, I think I will need one, if not both of these species if I am going to get 100 species for the year. Other possibilities are Redpoll and Golden Plover. The Tawny Owl frustratingly still eludes me, depite hanging out the window at night listening, and hoping one will call from the wet woods!