Pittswood Birds

This morning was mild and virtually windless, a day so benign, it felt like it had been borrowed from late spring. As I left for a 4 hour walk, I heard song from MISTLE and SONG THRUSH as well as ROBIN, which backed up the days spring like feel. Highlights from my walk, were 15 YELLOWHAMMER at migrant alley, flitting between the stubble and a hedgerow, with them was a REED BUNTING, whilst watching these, a new species for the month flew over - two MUTE SWANS, a common enough bird, but a real treat on my patch. A KINGFISHER flew across the college grounds, and a few yards further a SPARROWHAWK did the same. A Large flock of SISKIN, over 100 strong was feeding in the alders along the college stream.
I'd noticed earlier a small flock of MALLARD fly from the wet woods/lake area, and when I got to the lake I found why they had been flushed, two fishermen were fishing the smallest lake. I hope this isn't going to become a regular thing. Walking back through the wet woods I located a large feeding flock of birds, there were at least 16 LONG TAILED TITS with the usual followers, BLUE and GREAT TIT, as well as a TRREECREEPER, a COAL TIT and a MARSH TIT. I went into the tree nursery, and followed the edge of the woods, where again the feeding party crossed my path, I stopped and watched them fly from the woods and into the sapling trees, this time I noticed at least two REDPOLL with them, nice to see them on my patch instead of flying over it! I checked to see if the BARN OWL was at home, which it was, and as I left for home a pair of CORMORANT flew over, the 48th species for the day, another good November day total, which could easily gone to more than 50 had Fieldfare, Redwing or Kestrel showed up. I did get a NUTHATCH in the garden to bring the total to 49.
All that activity with the feeding flock, and I still didn't manage a picture! So I took some garden bird pics while the sun shone.

Above. A DUNNOCK, and below a MAGPIE

A GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER at his personal feeder!

Blue and great Tit on the suet.

Below is one of the 13 COLLARED DOVES that came in

Number 49 for the day, a NUTHATCH

I am always pleased to see one of these nowdays, HOUSE SPARROWS are venturing to the feeders less and less.

another lover of the suet blocks are GREAT TITS

A Blue Tit having it's turn

A COAL TIT watches for a space at the sunflower hearts

This handsome CHAFFINCH picks up any dropped sunflower hearts

One of the garden GOLDFINCH'S. This one was singing in the sunshine

last of all The MARSH TIT, it's hard getting a pic. of these, they don't hang about.