Pittswood Birds

After overnight rain, the morning dawned bright and cool, with a strong cold SW wind. I walked the same route round my patch as yesterday, and was finding the same species quite easily, except for the pochard of course, it's place on the lake had been taken by a pair of MUTE SWANS, quite an unusual occurrence, it's only in the last two winters that this species has been using the lakes. They were obviously used to human presence, as they came right up to me, probably thinking I had some food for them. Other birds on the lake were 6 CANADA GEESE, 4 MALLARD, and 2 CORMORANT, also whilst looking over the lake a single REDPOLL flew over. Siskin were more vocal than yesterday, small numbers were going over, and a lot more drumming from the GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS was heard.

Winter thrushes were few, just 20 FIELDFARE at migrant alley, with 8 REDWING, also 4 SKYLARK and a single MEADOW PIPIT were seen there. Whilst in the college grounds, I turned a corner, and just managed to see a Partridge run into cover, what kind I wasn't sure, as I only got a brief glimpse. I searched the surrounding area but it wasn't seen again - very frustrating! If it was a Grey partridge it would have been the first since 2007. I didn't find any spring migrants, but it won't be long now, I expect the first Chiffchaff to be here in the next 10 days.

One species seen today that wasn't recorded yesterday was LESSER BLACK BACK GULL, that helped todays total to 49, a quite respectable tally for march.

Above: One of the Mute Swans seen on the lake. Below is one of the college lambs, they are now allowed out onto the pasture at Migrant alley.Below is a view over migrant alley looking south, showing the horse paddocks, sheep pasture, the middle section is part of the maize stubble.