Pittswood Birds

At last a decent bit of weather for this mornings full patch walk, ok, it was cold and frosty, but later in the morning if you stood out of the wind it felt quite warm.

First port of call was the tree nursery via Ashes lane, it took a while for the birds to show, but they slowly emerged into the sunlight, MAGPIE, ROBIN, WOODPIGEON, GREAT TIT, JACKDAW, CHAFFINCH, STARLING, and DUNNOCK all went into the notebook straight off, and in the tree nursery I saw the flock of LINNETS leave their roost, not so many today, but I think I missed most of them as I was a bit late out today. Also in the nursery PHEASANT, BLACKBIRD, REDWING, WREN, and BLUE TIT were seen, while flyovers at that point included COLLARED DOVE, FIELDFARE, and CARRION CROW, as I looked back towards the Greenhouse complex I picked up the KESTREL, in its usual hunting place.

Walking on towards Migrant Alley, along the hedge and sheep pasture, SONGTHRUSH, GOLDFINCH, and HOUSE SPARROW were seen, a JAY screeched from a nearby garden, and flyovers from LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL and SKYLARK were had. Lots more Redwing were in the sheep pasture.

At Migrant Alley, as well as seeing hundreds more Fieldfare and Redwing on the horse paddocks and pasture, the more expected ROOKS and BLACK HEADED GULLS were added to the day list.

Onto the College Grounds and gardens, more common species were added, GREENFINCH, GOLDCREST, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, BULLFINCH, GREEN WOODPECKER, and SISKIN, whilst COMMON GULL was seen as I crossed the sports pitch on the journey back.

The second half of my walk started with 36 species on my list, and I thought I would get at least 6 more, it started well enough, and LONG TAILED TIT was noted in the Small Holding, but I couldn't find a Treecreeper anywhere today! MOORHEN was the only bird seen in the wet woods that wasn't already on my list, but COAL TIT, NUTHATCH, and PIED WAGTAIL all called as I went along the footpath that leads to the lake. The lake itself was partially frozen, and all that was seen on it were two MALLARDS.

I walked back home along the edge of the wet woods and marchants field, finding the LITTLE OWL at roost, and as I crossed the field to get to ashes lane a couple of nice flyover species were added, LAPWING, SPARROWHAWK, and probable bird of the day COMMON BUZZARD.

In the end 46 species were recorded, and some nice birds on the list today, but nothing new for the year/month was seen. A 47th species was added from the garden later in the afternoon, when a BRAMBLING visited the feeders, another candidate for bird of the day!

I took lots of pics today here are a selection, some are ok, others well.......

The above female Blackbird was waiting for morsels to be disturbed from the spoil heap of emerging mole, I hung around for the mole to appear but it never showed. :-(

Above and below are shots of a GREEN WOODPECKER, looks like a female.

below is a KESTREL, this one is a different bird to the one that hunts by the greenhouse complex, it hunts at the lake area.

Below is one of the many hundreds of Redwing seen today, every field and paddock had a flock on it.

This Siskin was the only one seen today

The male Bullfinch below was one of 9 seen around my patch, this one was feeding around the Greenhouse Complex, on the old raspberry canes.

Below is a flyover Common Gull

Next is a flyover Fieldfare, there were lots of these about with the Redwing, but not quite as numerous

Last is a couple of Fox Photo's.

I'm behind you mate!!

Oh yes, I'm off then!