Pittswood Birds

It was back to the dull cloudy weather for the last february patch visit, but it was still and mild, which is good for birding. Although I didn't find any new species for the month or year, a steady count ended in a great total for the day of 50 species. The highlight being a MUTE SWAN, that had returned to the lake, which was relatively busy today. A pair of GREYLAG GEESE were there, six CANADA GEESE, 4 MALLARD and 7 MOORHEN (believe me that's quite busy!). In the wet woods all the sometimes hard to find woodland species were located, NUTHATCH, TREECREEPER, COAL TIT, LONGTAILED TIT and GOLDCREST, and just half a dozen SISKIN. Crossing the tree nursery, a male SPARROWHAWK flew fast and low, a Female was also seen later, at migrant alley, where a few FIELDFARE and REDWING were on the Maize stubbles, 20ish in all. Skylarks were singing above and the odd YELLOWHAMMER flew over, but there were more in the wildbird crop along ashes lane, with at least 14 REED BUNTINGS. The last species on the list was CORMORANT, a pair flew over heading north.
February ended with a species total of 67, a record count for February beating last years high of 63.Three species were new to any February, Ring necked parakeet, Woodcock and Red Legged Partridge. The year list is on 73 after two months, a good start, as only 83 species have been recorded in all the January's / February's combined. It's going to be interesting to see if I can reach 100 species before I did last year, if I do at all!

It was too dull for any patch pics this morning, but it brightened up a little in the afternoon, enough to get a pic. of this cock HOUSE SPARROW.

Below is a cock SISKIN, and it's partner below that.

The Big 'February garden Count' ended today, and was boosted by a couple of flyovers, a CORMORANT, and two GREYLAG GEESE flew over my house towards the lake area, giving a total of 46 species, more than I would have thought.