Pittswood Birds

Another week begins, and it's back out on the patch for a couple of hours this afternoon. I went over to migrant alley for a look around the Maize crop, and the sheep and horse paddocks, something that I will be doing a lot of in the next 3 months ( as if I don't do it much now!) as any day now could bring a Migrant 'chat' or Wheatear.

As there were a few sunnny intervals when I arrived, I spent that time hunting for butterflies, I was fortunate enough to relocate the Common Blues and two Small Coppers, as well as the more numerous Painted Ladies, Red Admiral, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Large and Small Whites and Large Skippers. After half an hour or so a large bank of cloud came over, and the wind got up, so I did some skywatching, which as well as the usual LESSER BLACK BACKED, HERRING, and BLACK HEADED GULL my first BUZZARD of the month came over, from the north, Julys' total now stands at 62, seven species off the record set last year.
After getting chilly, sitting in the cool wind, I decided to walk a circuit of the fields, I found LINNETS, SKYLARKS, GOLDFINCH'S, and a GREENFINCH, which had my heart beating a little faster, as it was sat on one of the fences by the maize crop, looking initially like it may have been a 'Chat' from a distance. I'm just getting to jumpy, patience is needed!

Above is the Buzard, being mobbed by crows. ( what do ya mean ''where''!)
Then it came overhead, but it was a bit high.

Back to the butterflies, below is a Small Copper and below thet is two Small Coppers, this represents the peak count ever for my patch!

Below is a Common Blue, and under that is the underwing shot

Below is the old favourite - A peacock Butterfly

Lastly a Gatekeeper, Probably a female I think.