Pittswood Birds

At last I got out this morning for the first full November walk of my patch. Unfortunately the conditions were atrocious! I left at 07:00hrs in windy, showery weather, but it just got even windier and the showers grew even heavier as the walk went on.

Just 39 species were recorded in the 3 and a half hour visit, many were missed due to the fierce wind making all song and calls inaudible, except for a lone MISTLE THRUSH which sat atop a tree and attempted to shout down the storm - no wonder the old English name for these birds is Stormcock. Species such as House Sparrow, Greenfinch, Collard Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Goldcrest, all normally easy finds, kept themselves well in cover and none were recorded today.

A group of at least 12 YELLOWHAMMER, seen at Migrant Alley, and a flyover of around 75 FIELDFARE was just about the best action of the day! A KESTREL did attempt to hunt along ashes lane, and of course the SPARROWHAWK was out hunting as well, and I did pick up the REDWING and STOCK DOVE that were the remaining easier species not yet on the months list, but all in all, it was a very unsatisfactory visit - surely I will eventually get some sort of rhythm going for November, it's been a very difficult month, some settled weather might just help!