Pittswood Birds

The fine sunny weather continued today, and whilst walking home from work, I saw that the maize stubble at Migrant Alley was being ploughed in, making ready for this years crop. This can often bring down the odd Migrant Wheatear, as I found out a bit later.

Before going to scan the 'plough', I thought I'd give 40 mins to the lake and wet woods, just to check for my first Blackcap of the year, and to see if any more Goosander were about. As it happened neither species were found. At the lake there was just a GREY HERON, sitting atop a fir tree, but there was a bit of interest in the woods, where the pair of MARSH TITS were still active, I really hope they stay to breed. I also watched a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER excavate a nest hole in an old rotten silver birch limb. Song was heard from GOLDCREST, GREAT TIT, COAL TIT, SISKIN, and a TREECREEPER.

The rest of the afternoon was spent sitting on the horse jump at migrant alley, scanning the clods of freshly turned earth, within a few minutes I found a nice WHEATEAR, the second this spring, always an excellent bird to find inland. despite a 2hour sit, I only found the one, but there were other birds to keep me amused, 20-30 PIED WAGTAILS were also chasing down insects on the sun drenched earth, and 2 LINNETS came down for a while, above a SKYLARK was entertaining me with it's trilling song, and a lone HERRING GULL kept coming and going. The usual flock of JACKDAW, CARRION CROW and ROOK were making the most of the upturned soil too. I was a bit surprised that the winter thrushes weren't represented. The FIELDFARE were there this morning, but they go elsewhere in the afternoon it seems.

On the way home I saw a notice tied to the style that enters onto migrant alley, it read ''Footpath Closed'' for the next six months, this is due to the gas pipe line passing through. lets hope the dog walkers take note, I sure won't!!


Above and below are pics. of the Wheatear. It was a bit far out on the plough to get a good photo, but these will do.

Below is one of the 2 dozen or sp Pied Wagtails that were on the plough

Below is the Great Spotted Woodpecker I found excavating it's nest hole

last of all the Grey Heron, surveying the lake from a tree top