Pittswood Birds

A fantastic May morning, the sun was shining, the wind had gone, and it felt warm even at 06:00hrs.

The birds seem to sing even louder in the kind conditions, making it easy to pick out 20 species in the first 15 mins of my walk, the 21st species surprised me a bit,a COMMON BUZZARD flew low, straight over my head as I entered the tree nursery, it was off and away before I had my camera to hand! I heard 2 WHITETHROATS in the nursery, just 2 of 6 seen today, and a group of 8 SWALLOWS flew around overhead.

I got to Migrant Alley before the workers got there, and managed to see a LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL out on the sheep pasture, two SKLARKS on the drilled Maize with half a dozen PIED WAGTAILS, but the best sight was of two CUCKOO'S chasing over, calling as they went.
The scrub at the north end of migrant alley had 3 TURTLE DOVES, and one of 3 LESSER WHITETHROATS seen today.

I walked through the college grounds and gardens, hoping to pick out a Garden warbler, as this is where I had my first one last year, 3 BLACKCAPS sang but the former didn't show. A good amount of species were seen here, MALLARD, MOORHEN, COAL TIT, GOLDCREST, JAY, GREEN WOODPECKER and the first of 8 CHIFFCHAFFS that were seen today, all were added to the list.

I made my way over to the lake area, and was pleased to see not one but two broods of CANADA GEESE, one of 5 and one of 4, all the bird seem to be breeding well this year! I went into the scrub area, and was surprised not to hear any Turtle Doves, but that disappointment was soon forgotten, as I heard, and then picked out, my first GARDEN WARBLER (94) of the year, I watched and listened to it's song, and was doubly pleased to see it being chased by another! A much awaited species joins the list, their arrival being 3 days ealier than the mean arrival date for my patch.

SPARROWHAWK and KESTREL were seen on the walk back home, as was a lone HOUSE MARTIN which brought the day list to an excellent 49, which makes 50 in all for the month, with the GREY LAG GOOSE seen yesterday .

I manged a few pics in the good conditions, below is a male CHAFFINCH
This Sparrowhawk flew over as I was nearing home.

The Blackcap below was in full song, I managed to capture it open mouthed! (the balckcap not me!)

This smart SONG THRUSH was collecting food for its nestlings

Below is the pair of Canada geese that had 4 Goslings

This is one of the Goslings from the pair with 5 young

The day was so warm and sunny that all the creatures seem to be out and about, and these two were making the most of it!