Pittswood Birds

The last of the sunny weather was had today, (apparently!) and it was a joy to be out on my patch this afternoon. I paid the usual visit to the lake area and the scrubby orchard, mainly to see if any new spring migrants had arrived, maybe a Willow Warbler, Cuckoo, or even the Nightingale ? Alas none had arrived, but it will only be a matter of days now!

Whilst I was there, I heard two BLACKCAPS and 4 CHIFFCHAFFS, all were really giving some song big time, as was a COAL TIT, as if it was trying not to be left out! GOLDCREST and BULLFINCH put in an appearance, and so did the 'scolding' GREAT TIT, which allowed me a nice photo of it.

On the way to migrant alley, I actually found something in the tree nursery of note, or rather going through it, my first Orange Tip butterfly, I think these little beauties are my favourite butterflies.

At migrant alley I sat and scanned the fields, but no migrants were seen, in fact very little passerine action was noted, just PIED WAGTAILS and a single SKYLARK. After 40 mins or so, I decided to take a walk round the ploughed field, paddocks and scrub headland, at the latter another two Chiffchaff were really going for it, and in a sheltered area, out of the wind, I found another Peacock butterfly, and a Comma, but what was nice, was seeing a Tortoiseshell butterfly, another first for the year, this butterfly was really scarce here last year.

As I got 3 quarters of the way round the fields, I scanned the sky, and this time saw a distant BUZZARD, it came ever closer and passed over my head, but it was quite high. I remembered the peregrine saw off the Buzzard, and wondered if it would show up again, imagine how pleased I was when not one, but two showed up! They dived the unsuspecting Buzzard from above, with angled back wings and legs out stretched, what a sight to watch! i got back to my seat and just as I looked up, a KESTREL flew over, another 3 raptor day, now where was that sparrowhawk ? The latter never did show, but as I checked my photo's on the camera ( silly thing to do!) I heard all the Pied Wagtails go beserk over the greenhouse complex, Sparrowhawk I thought, but as I fiddled to get the camera set again, one of the Peregrines flew low over my head, and was away before I knew it, dont sit looking at pictures youve taken in the field! Good tip!!

Above is the angry Great Tit, telling me off.

Above is my first Orange tip of the year, and below a couple of pics. of the Tortoise shell

It was a butterfly day today, here's another Peacock photo.

Here's the Comma that was with the above

Below is the Buzzard that went over

Below is the Kestrel

lastly the two Peregrines that saw of the Buzzard, they were very high up, so not very good photo's, but a good record for my archives.