Pittswood Birds

Many thanks to all for the kind birthday wishes! Alas their weren't any more presents today, not in the form of new migrants anyway. I did get to see a male and female BLACKCAP at the lakeside scrub, and a CHIFFCHAFF was defending his territory with some lound chiff-chaffing. On one of the lakes their was a fisherman - boooo, but on one of the others a GREY HERON was seen, and a family of new MALLARD ducklings were seen, 8 in all, whilst the CANADA GOOSE is sitting tight on eggs on the island. A SPARROWHAWK flew over while I was sitting listening for a Cuckoo, or Nightingale but as neither was heard after half an hour I headed off.

GREEN WOODPECKER, MISTLE THRUSH and a flyover KESTREL were all seen at the tree nursery, and I made my way to Migrant Alley for some more scanning of fields and sky, hoping mainly for a House martin to show. The latter didn't materialise, but LINNET, GOLDFINCH, YELLOWHAMMER, SKYLARK and a loud PHEASANT were all seen, with flyovers by HERRING GULL and LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL, I still havn't seen a Black headed Gull this month yet! Four STOCK DOVES alighted on the plough, but all the corvids were feeding on a huge field, that was being ploughed just of my patch, this is where the Gulls were headed.

A bit of an indifferent afternoon bird wise, but lots of other wildlife was about, here's some pics, some good and some, well, not so good!

This Fox was having a snooze under the polytunnels, nice and warm in there!

Below are three pics of a Willow Warbler, or maybe a Chiffchaff! It was in the hedgerow behind my seat at migrant alley, it gave no call or song, so i'll leave you to make your own minds up!

The pic above shows a bit of an eyestripe, and the pic. below shows quite long wings, and the third pic, shows pale legs, all indicaters of willow warbler, but not as conclusive as if it had sang or called!.........So i'm going for willow Warbler.

This STARLING below was one of a small band, feeding on the sheep pasture.

Below I saw that many of the Bluebells in the wet woods were blooming, great for the Bumble bees

A couple of Butterflies were seen today, but none new for the year. Just this Comma below, and below that another Orange Tip, this one was in my garden, it was initially attracted by my small bunch of Ladies Smock that I put by the pond edge especially for these butterflies.

Below are a couple of Bee flies, which sort I dont know (Greenie or Dean might be able to help!) The floor on the scrub area was teeming with these insects! All I can say is the one in the bottom photo was twice as big than the one below!