Pittswood Birds

The first full walk round my patch of the month, and it's census time again. Over 700 birds were counted of 44 species. Five species were new for the month, LONG TAILED TIT, BARN OWL TREECREEPER, a COMMON BUZZARD that flew high over Migrant Alley, (a first for any December) and my first TEAL of the Autumn/Winter, a female that was in the wet woods. The mean arrival date for Teal is now 16 November, so it was a little late, but still 3 days earlier than last years.
The most common bird today was the WOODPIGEON 140 were recorded, but good totals of other species were seen including 38 BLACKBIRDS, 29 BLUE TITS, 26 ROBINS, 22 Long Tailed Tits, and several small flocks of SISKIN, numbering 36 in total. Over 50 HERRING GULL flew over in various size flocks, and 25 BLACK HEADED GULL were on the maize stubbles at migrant alley. Also at migrant alley were 15 YELLOW HAMMERS, 8 PIED WAGTAILS, just 1 MEADOW PIPIT, and 3 SKYLARK. It was good to see 9 BULLFINCH'S, 7 were in a sycamore tree, over at the lake area, 5 of them males, a stunning sight with their red plumage. Dissapointing numbers of winter thrushes were seen, just 8 FIELDFARE, and not a single Redwing.
Decembers species total is now on 50. So I need 12 more to equal last years December record total.


Above and below: A male Siskin.